Page 146 of Off the Pitch

“Thanks,” I said, warmth flooding my chest. Whatever happened, I knew I had family in David; someone who would always be there to give me an ear and chocolate biscuits and maybe a nudge in the right direction.

Not that I’d tell him he was right because that would make him insufferable.

Chapter Twenty-Five

KitSomeone named Gael rang? He said something about your order being ready to collect? I’m hoping you know what this cryptic message means

HugoOmg my cheese is here!!

KitYou have a cheese dealer?

Kit

The front door was unlocked, and I took a deep breath before pushing it open.

“Kit?” Hugo appeared around the corner, his face etched with worry that gave way to relief as soon as he saw me. “Thank God.” He strode towards me and wrapped me in his arms, pulling me to him and whispering in French. I buried my face in his chest, breathing in his soft sandalwood and vanilla scent that I now knew was a mix of his bodywash and cologne.

“I’m sorry I freaked out,” I murmured. “I guess I was just afraid that you’d think I was a mistake and realise you didn’t want me. I’m so used to people not wanting me that I just assumed that you wouldn’t want me too… even though I know you and Hélène don’t get on.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,mon chéri,” he said with a kiss to the top of my head. “I’m the one who needs to apologise. I should have told Hélène it was over a long time ago. Really over. And I should have taken her keys. And I should have told you every day how much you mean to me because I never ever want you to doubt how much I want you in my life. You are everything to me,mon coeur.”

The crushing band in my chest eased, and I felt like I could breathe again. A little smile spread across my lips as Hugo’s words sank into my soul.

“I think I understand why you did it. Not cut ties completely, I mean.” I looked up at him, taking in every tiny detail of his perfect face. “It’s hard to be on your own. I don’t think anyone wants to be lonely, and sometimes I think that means we cling to things that aren’t good for us, just because it’s easier than being on our own. I’m the same, I guess. I just worked myself to the bone all hours of the day and night so I didn’t have to think about how lonely I was. We’re like two very afraid peas in a pod.”

“How did I get so lucky?” Hugo said, his finger reaching up to caress my jaw, and I melted into his touch. “You’re so smart.” He leant down and drew me into a kiss. “And kind.” Another kiss. “And wonderful.” Another kiss, his tongue sliding into my mouth.

Then he pulled back a little, gazing deep into my eyes, and I felt the emotion pouring off him. “I’m so sorry if I made you doubt, if I ever made you think you were less or that I didn’t want you. You changed my life, and I love you, Kit. I love you so much.”

I heard myself breathe in sharply and felt my heart stop for just a second, as if time had come to a temporary halt. He loved me. Me.

He lovedme.

“I love you too.” I raised myself onto my tiptoes, pressing another kiss to his perfect lips. “More than anything.” I kissed him again and again, my hands reaching around his neck and pulling him to me, while his arms wrapped tightly around me, his fingers stroking up and down my spine.

Love and desire flooded my body. I wanted him. I wanted to make him mine, and I wanted to be his. I wanted to get lost in his body, his touch, his kisses until there was nothing of me left.

“I want you,” I said against his lips, my breath coming in pants.

“Are you sure?”

“More than anything.”

I’m not quite sure how we made it to our bedroom because all I could remember was kissing him endlessly. I didn’t want to stop touching him, even for a moment, which did have its disadvantages, especially when it came to removing clothes.

I kicked off my shoes, and somehow shed my jacket onto the floor outside our room. I pushed Hugo against the door, desperate for his mouth as my fingers sought out the bottom of his t-shirt, pulling it over his head and exposing the planes of his stomach.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” I said as I ran my fingers across his hot, smooth skin. I wanted to run my tongue across it, exploring every inch and finding all the sensitive spots that drew the moans I loved so much from Hugo. I pressed a hand to his chest as I stood on tiptoes to kiss down his jaw and onto his neck, licking and sucking at the spot above his collarbone that made him melt. Hugo gasped, and I felt his erection pressing against my hip. I slid my other hand down to tease it, caressing it slowly through the fabric of his jeans.

“Fuck,” he gasped, his own hands reaching for my shirt. “I need you.” His fingers tugged weakly at the hem of my t-shirt, and I let out a low chuckle, stepping back and pulling it off, dumping it unceremoniously onto the floor.

“Is that what you wanted?”

“You know it.” He reached out, dragging me in for another kiss, his lips hot against mine. I hooked my fingers into his jeans, pulling him across the room before pushing him onto the bed. I straddled his thighs, running my fingers over the stiff peaks of his nipples before tracing them over his body and down to his jeans, popping open the buttons. Shuffling back, I dragged the jeans over his hips, taking his boxers and socks with them, leaving Hugo naked and spread out before me.

Fuck, he was beautiful. And he was mine.

My cock throbbed, leaking precum into my boxers making them sticky and uncomfortable. There was an easy way to deal with that though. I slid my jeans off, letting them pool on the floor. Hugo’s eyes were wide with lust, and he pulled his lip between his teeth as he looked at me. My boxers followed my jeans, and I crawled onto the bed, pushing between his thighs. I loved the way he felt underneath me, and I loved watching him fall apart.

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