Love’s Healing Redemption

Chapter 8 Commitment

He says, “Come here,” pulls her back to the desk to sit on his lap, and tells her. “We both know this is going to change things, but if we are diligent and honest with each other, it will work out great, not only helping others, but we can have a great life too if you only let it happen. I will fight by your side. I’m not going anywhere ever... Zora. Can you try and do the same?” He asks, and she grabs his face, pulling him in for a deep, passionate answer that completes every sentence, every question, nothing hidden.

“Mmm’ she moans as he pulls away. “Okay, so, now what?” she asks while tilting herself in his lap and unbuttoning a button on his shirt while looking at him through her eyelashes, a clear invitation to something a bit more enjoyable... Val’s breath catches as her fingers work the button free. His hand moves to her waist, steadying her against him as she settles deeper into his lap and he responds with ‘Now? Now we figure out if you’re serious about staying.” His voice is rough, edged with want. His thumb traces circles on her skin. “Because once we cross this line again-in daylight, in my office, with Marco probably listening through the door-there’s no going back to pretending this is temporary. You sure about this, counselor?”

He asks while his dark eyes search hers, waiting. The city hums below them. Enzo shifts outside the office door, and she smirks and licks her lips, then just kisses his collarbone but doesn’t say anything she doesn’t have to as she moves her lips up his neck.

Val’s breath hitches; his hand tightens on her waist as she traces the hollow of his collarbone and neck with her tongue and lips. A moan escapes him with the low sound of approval, want. His fingers find the nape of her neck, threading through her hair. He tilts his head, giving her more access, letting her set the pace. She is claiming him now, and he will let her do it at her pace, even if it's driving him wild. Outside, the afternoon light slants gold across the mahogany desk as he sets her on top.

Marco’s footsteps fade down the hallway. Even he knows when to disappear. Val’s other hand slides up her spine, deliberately slow. His heartbeat accelerates beneath her mouth as he says, “You’re going to undo me, Zora, right here. Right now.” This is not a question, more of a confession. His grip on her neck gentles, becomes almost reverent as she continues. She starts kissing his shoulder as she removes his shirt, slowly, passionately showing him exactly what he wanted to know without words, just two people in full agreement that they were going to go into this together as one, starting right now.

Val’s control shatters as his hand moves from her neck to cup her face, drawing her up to meet his mouth. The kiss is deep, unhurried-a man surrendering to certainty. His other hand slides beneath her shirt, warm against bare skin. He stands, lifting her effortlessly, and carries her to the leather sofa along the far wall. The city sprawls behind them, indifferent to what they are doing. He moans her name softly as he lowers her down slowly, his body following hers.

His pants hang open now, her handiwork visible. His dark eyes never leave hers as he settles against her, one hand braced beside her head, the other tracing the outline of her breast under her shirt as he slowly removes it from her body. He begs: “No more running, no more questions, we are now just us... His voice is rough silk as he says Please tell me you want this… And she moans out Yes, yes, please show me how you feel. Don’t hide anything from me please; I need to know.” Val’s hands move with purpose now-no hesitation, no restraint.

He undresses her slowly, kissing each inch of her skin; he reveals. His breath comes harder as he tells her. “I’ve wanted this since the first moment I saw you, having you completely like mine. Three months of watching you live, of knowing you didn’t know I existed, yet wanting you more and more.” His voice breaks slightly against her collarbone at the confession. He pulls back just enough to look at her fully, his dark eyes raw with emotion.

“You terrify me, Zora. You make me want to be better and burn everything down simultaneously. I’m all in, no walls, no machine. You broke the machine and left only the man. Just the man who’s undone by you.” He lowers himself against her, skin to skin. “Mmmmm.’ She moans softly as his mouth finds her breast. She pulls him closer and starts to pull at his pants, releasing his massive, straining manhood from its cage. She then starts to stroke him up and down while she looks him in the eyes, never leaving them.

Val’s breath catches as her hand wraps around him. His eyes flutter closed for a moment before snapping back to hers-dark, molten, undone.“Ahh-Zora…” he moans as his hips move into her touch, controlled but urgent. His mouth finds hers now. Kissing her deeply as her strokes continued, his voice is ragged against her lips. He pulls back just enough to position himself, his forehead resting against hers... His hands grip her waist, anchoring himself. “You’re killing me. Look at me, keep looking at me.’

His entry is slow, deliberate- a man savoring every second of connection. A low groan escapes him as he sinks deeper. He begins to move, each thrust purposefully, his dark eyes never breaking from hers. There's nothing mechanical about this-only a man present and completely hers. “Mmmmm ~God Yes,” he moans, “you feel so tight and perfect.” He hits the spot that makes her see stars, and she lets out a moan so seductive and sensual that it momentarily stuns Val, as he has never heard anything like this before, before her… Val stills; that sound-raw, unguarded, purely hers-hits something primal in him, and he loses control, moaning, “Ahh~f**k, Zora.. Yes…”

His rhythm breaks for a moment. He pulls back just enough to watch her face, to see what he’s doing to her. His jaw clenches with the effort of staying present, of not losing himself entirely as he begs, “Again, do that again…” His voice is barely a whisper, almost a plea. His hips move deeper, finding that same spot with precision.

His hand slides up her ribs, possessive and reverent. “You’re mine, Say it. Mmmm~please, Zora..” Not a command… A desperate need to hear it from her lips while he’s buried inside her, while there’s nowhere left to hide… “Oh MY God, Yes, Yes Val, I'm yours only. Please, please don’t stop”, she begs as she starts to reach her peak.

Val’s control ignites into something primal; his movements become faster, deeper-no longer gentle but fervent, claiming. He moans against her neck, his hands gripping her hips to pull her closer with each thrust. “Mine... Only Mine… Mmmmm Yes, Yes,” he groans again. His breathing is ragged, matching the rhythm of his body against hers.

His forehead presses to hers, dark eyes locked on her face as she falls apart beneath him. Every muscle in his body tenses with the intensity of it. As he comforts her with his words of “I’ve got you, I’ve got you, Zora~I’ve always got you.” His voice cracks with emotion and desire intertwined. His pace quickens, chasing them both toward the edge.

The city blurs beyond the windows as her name becomes a prayer on his lips as he loses himself in her, in this moment where there’s nothing but them, and they both crash over the mountain together, spent and intertwined as one in body, mind, and spirit.

Val collapses against her, his breathing ragged and uneven. His arms tighten around her waist, keeping her anchored to him as the world slowly comes back into focus. Minutes pass, neither moves. His heartbeat gradually steadies against her chest-a rhythm she can feel, proof he’s real and not some fantasy. He shifts just enough to look at her, brushing damp hair from her forehead.

His dark eyes are softer now, vulnerable in a way that makes him look even younger. “Stay with me tonight, tomorrow, next week, as long as you want… Stay.” His voice is quiet, an almost uncertain man unused to asking for anything.

Outside, the city lights begin to flicker on as evening approaches. Enzo whines softly at the office door, needing to be let out for his evening walk. Val doesn't move right away to answer. Nothing exists beyond this moment. She thinks for a moment and responds with “How about we find something that is for us both, not my place, not your place, where I can feel the ghosts of past p***y…”She smirks, but something that is us and only us.

Val laughs-a genuine, surprised sound that echoes through the office, not expecting her to be so blunt. “A fresh start, he says happily. There’s a property upstate, a renovated farmhouse on fifty acres, overlooking the valley. I bought it five years ago-never used it. Not even one night. No memories there, no ghosts, just land and sky and us. What do you think?” His dark eyes gleam while telling her, and he shifts slightly, still holding her close.

“We could go this weekend, ride your motorcycle up there if you want. Enzo would love the space. You could paint the rooms whatever color you want. We build it together from nothing.” His voice drops lower, intimate; he hisses her forehead and finishes, “Our place, Zora, just ours…” She nods and says, “That’s way more my style, but can you handle being away from the city? Don’t you need to monitor your business or something?” She asks, worried that she is being an inconvenience yet again, then the thought appears in her head: “Does it have a Helipad? So you could get back fast if needed. I don’t know if you have that kind of access, but…. “Val shifts his weight, considering the question seriously. His hand traces lazy patterns on her shoulder as he answers... “There’s a pad on the eastern ridge; a helicopter can be here in forty minutes from the estate.”

His eyes meet hers, and his jaw tightens slightly as he pulls her closer. “I can handle it. Marco handles most operations now-that’s the whole point. I’ve been building toward stepping back for years. I’m tired of it, Zora of the pain, suffering; I need something different. But you’re right, I need fail-safes. I’ll have secure lines installed, two security rotations on the property perimeter to ensure our safety. The city doesn’t own me anymore, Zora. You do if you want me.”

A pause; real vulnerability crosses his face when he asks, “Can you handle that? A man trying to be something different? With you, I want to be better. I guess I’ve always wanted it, but having you allows me to reach for it. Zora looks deeply into his eyes, contemplating the question…. “Umm, I think I will need to see how it goes... This... it sounds too good to be true….” she answers in all honesty.

Val nods, understanding the caution. He rises, pulling on his shirt without bothering with the buttons, and extends his hand. His dark eyes were steady, patient as he replied, “Tomorrow morning we’ll take the helicopter at dawn. No surprises, no tricks, just land and sky and a man trying to prove to you he’s real. Bring whatever you want. Stay as long as you need to decide. It’s our time to build our new life, and I truly mean that; if you want, I’ll even put the deed in your name to prove it.”

She gasps and shakes her head. “No, I don’t need that; I just need time. You don’t have to buy me to get me to stay. I am choosing to trust you despite how f*****g crazy this is.”