Page 43 of Guarded (Hopeless Blessed #3)

Noah

I didn’t say anything to Jem as we dried ourselves off. We didn’t bother with clothes. As far as I was concerned, I’d rested enough. I’d loved our bath, and I’d loved the way we’d both opened up even more.

Now I was ready to reconnect with him in a different way. He was right—what we had wasn’t about sex. I didn’t need to do anything to keep his attention on me. But that didn’t mean I didn’t want to. The fact that Jem had prioritised my well-being over sex meant everything to me.

Before we got to anything physical, I was going to thoroughly lay Jem’s fears to rest. I’d told him once before that I’d never allow him to be trapped in Hell, but either he didn’t believe I was capable of it, or he’d forgotten.

Either way, I was going to remind him. There was absolutely no one—not Lucifer, not even God herself—who was going to imprison my mate.

I would not allow it.

When we were both dry, I led him to my bed. I pushed on his shoulders gently until he took the hint and lay down.

Straddling his waist, I put my hands on his shoulders, pinning him in place. Some of my hair came loose from my bun, falling onto his chest. “Right, Jeremiah.”

“Uh-oh.” His hands rested on my hips as mischief sparkled in his eyes. “Am I in trouble?”

“You will be if you don’t take in every word I’m about to say. Believe me, a lap will be the least of your worries if you don’t.”

Jem smirked as his cock twitched against my arse. “Is it bad that you being mildly threatening is turning me on?”

I fought the urge to grin. No. Serious face. He needs to understand this.

“No, but if you don’t listen, I’ll upgrade the ‘mildly’ to ‘terrifyingly.’”

His hands stilled where they’d been exploring my lower back and his face turned solemn. “I’m listening. I promise.”

“Good.” I didn’t take my eyes off his as I spoke my vow. One of the most earnest I’d ever make. “I will never allow you to be imprisoned, Jeremiah. Not in Hell, not in Heaven. Not here on earth either.”

A mixture of emotions flashed across his face. “That’s sweet, Noah, but?—”

“But nothing.” I cut him off firmly. “I mean it, Jem. Mating bond or not, you’re mine now. I won’t let anyone take you from me. I don’t care if it takes my immortality to save you, I’ll gladly give it to know you’re free.”

“I don’t want that,” he whispered. There was only fear in his eyes now. “You can’t do that for me, Noah. Promise me.”

“No. I’m sorry, but no.” I smirked arrogantly. “Fortunately for you, the likelihood of that happening is extremely small. You’re forgetting that I’m kind of a badass. ”

There was a ghost of a smile on his lips. “Like I could ever forget that.”

“I also have an entire unit who’d fight alongside me,” I reminded him. “It wouldn’t be me alone.”

“I’d never ask them to do that.”

“But I would,” I said simply. “You’re worth saving, Jem. You want to protect me, but you best believe I’m going to do the same for you.”

His smile was more fragile than any I’d seen on him before. “You’re something really special, Noah. I hope you know that.”

Jem wasn’t the only one struggling to wrap his head around things. That he thought I was special was going to take me a long time to accept. “I must admit that I’m kind of sad you gave in so fast. I really was hoping to fuck my message into you.”

His lips twitched. “How would that even work?”

I shrugged. “Figured I’d fuck you for a bit, pull out, then refuse to put it back in until you listened.”

His hands heated as his pupils dilated. “Fuck. Now I hate myself for being so reasonable.”

I trailed my fingers up his neck and traced the shape of his lips. “Are you saying you want me to fuck you, Jem? Because we don’t need an excuse for me to do it.”

I definitely didn’t need a reason or excuse to top him. I was dying to be inside him. Then, to have him inside me. Honestly, being vers was awesome. I knew it wasn’t for everyone, but it certainly was for me.

I found myself flat on my back before I even registered that he’d moved. He towered above me, a filthy smirk on his face. “Oh, we’ll get to that. First, I need another taste of you.”

Like I’d refuse. I swallowed a moan as he kissed his way down my torso. He paused at my pelvis, burying his face against the skin and inhaling deeply. “You smell good enough to eat.”

He followed that by licking up my shaft. There was no hiding my moan now. It echoed loudly around the room as my back arched clean off the bed.

Jem chuckled darkly, his forearm going across my hips. He looked up from between my thighs, flames flickering in his eyes. “Do I need to pin you down to worship you, sweetheart?”

A memory flicked through my mind. Lyle tying me down as he listed all my faults.

“Yes,” I rasped. “Pin me down and worship me. Please.”

I wasn’t certain what Jem saw in my face, but his expression softened. “I’ve got you, sweetheart. I’m going to worship you and make you come. Then, when you’re ready to go again, you’re going to fuck me, just because you can. Sound good?”

Good? It sounded perfect. “Yes.”

Jem didn’t take his eyes off me as he licked around the head of my cock. My hands scrabbled at the sheets as I searched for something to anchor me. To stop me floating away entirely.

He groaned as he lapped at my precum. “Delicious. Give me more, sweetheart.”

My cock disappeared into his mouth. Deeper. His throat. My toes curled as I repeated his name like a mantra.

I wasn’t the only one making noise. Each bob of his head was accompanied by a moan or a satisfied grunt. After a few minutes, Jem’s arms wrapped around my thighs, pulling me closer to him. He lifted my rear off the bed, forcing me deeper down his throat .

He wasn’t pinning me down now, but holding me in place. It was even fucking better.

Fuck. Oh fuck. Tingles were shooting up and down my spine already, but I wasn’t ready for this to be over yet.

I tugged at my hair until the bun came free, trying to ground myself. It didn’t work. How could it, when Jeremiah was devouring me? There was no finesse, just a feral hunger for me. It was so fucking new for me. I couldn’t get enough.

He swallowed around my cock and my vision whited out. “Fuck, Jem. I’m close. So close. Oh, god.”

I was breathing fast now. Sweat glistened on my skin as Jem took me closer to the edge. I couldn’t stop myself rising higher. I was completely out of control. I swore it was only Jem’s hold that was keeping me in place.

His hand snaked up suddenly and grabbed my wrist. He tugged until it was above his head and my cock jerked as his meaning hit me.

He wanted my hands in his hair. For me to fuck his face.

I almost came right there and then. This was another first for me. Just being on the receiving end of a blow job was a novelty.

I’d never experienced one like this.

I put both hands into his hair. There wasn’t much to grab, but I made it work. I remembered fleetingly that Jem used to have long hair.

I wonder if he’d ever regrow it?

That could be fun. Maybe he’d like having it pulled as much as I did. From how he was moaning at the light tugging I was doing, I suspected he would.

With his hands encouraging me, I let my instincts guide me. My hips started to thrust of their own accord, burying me deeper and deeper in Jem’s throat .

He took every inch of me, his flame-filled eyes never leaving mine. My hands stayed in his hair, his cupping my cheeks as I fucked up into him.

“Jem,” I moaned, unable to hold on any longer. “I’m gonna come. I’m coming.”

I loosened my fingers so he could lift his head, but he didn’t. No, he held my pulsing cock in his mouth until it went soft, swallowing every drop I gave him.

“Shit, I don’t…” I gasped, pressing a hand to my chest and willing my heart to slow. “Jem…that was…”

He chuckled as he lowered me to the bed and kissed my inner thigh. “Not going to lie, it’s doing my ego good to know you came so hard you can’t finish a sentence.”

I stared up at the ceiling, utterly dumbfounded. “I can’t…just, fuck.”

More amused laughter. “You just lie there, sweetheart. I’ve got some worshipping to do.”

In the back of my mind, I knew I should point out that he’d just worshipped me with his mouth. That he’d already done more than I’d ever experienced or expected. Unfortunately, the ability to speak coherently still eluded me.

So instead, I remained still as Jem kissed his way up my body. I listened to his reverent praise as he complimented each place his lips touched. I was mute as his words washed away everything that had come before.

By the time he reached my face, tears were silently pouring down my face. He froze as he saw them. “Sweetheart, what is it? Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” I shook my head furiously. My throat tried to choke the words off again, but I refused to let it. This was too important. “No, Jem. You’ve done everything right.”

He wiped my tears away, his brow furrowed. “Then why are you sad? ”

“I’m not sad, I’m happy.” I rolled us over so he was beneath me. “You make me happy, Jem. I’m so lucky to have you.”

He stroked my face. “I’m just saying it how I see it, Noah.”

“And how you see me.” A sob caught my words, and I had to pause for a moment before continuing. “How you see me is better than I could’ve ever wished for. I’ll never stop being grateful for it.”

“I don’t need you to be grateful, Noah.”

“But I am all the same.” I dropped a kiss on his left cheek, then his right. “I’m grateful because you see me as someone worth being with.”

I pecked at his lips to silence his words. He’d had his turn, and it was mine now.

“You make me laugh.” I kissed his chin.

“You’re funny.” His throat.

“You’re sincere.” His clavicle.

“You’re kind.” His chest.

“You’re thoughtful.” His abs.

“You’re considerate.” His hip.

“You truly want what’s best for me.” His inner thigh.

He grabbed my hair, gently, but hard enough to get my attention. Hard enough to have my cock stiffening again. “I do. But right now, I also want you to stop teasing me.”