It did feel so incredible. Electric. Joaquin had never experienced something like this before — such a vibrant, intense connection with another human soul. And he never wanted to now. He was meant only for Nadia.
They'd still have to hide, in a way. Around her cousins, until Joaquin figured out the right way to approach it. He'd have to corner Rafael on a good day, with no alcohol around. Maybe he'd time it perfectly so that Phoebe was there, too. Level-headed and kind, and one of Nadia's closest friends. She'd understand, and in turn, Rafael would, too.
"I did that too. I'd just show up, hoping you'd be around."
He smiled at Nadia, rubbing at her side gently.
It must've been … late. Two in the morning, if he had to guess? Maybe later? And all of the physical exertion was catching up to Joaquin now. His breathing slowed. His eyes felt impossibly heavy. And as much as he wanted to fool around some more, he was too exhausted to do a good job, he thought.
He yawned, attempting to blink the tired away. No luck.
"I'm fucking exhausted," he admitted. He pulled her closer to him. "Are you ready for bed? You wore me the fuck out." He laughed. It wasn't a bad thing.
'I did that too. I'd just show up, hoping you'd be around.'
Oh, my God. Another thing for Nadia to file away carefully, the confession he gave her at the party, the knowledge that Joaquin also used to show up to events, hangouts, parties— not knowing if Nadia would be present, but hoping regardless.
She smiles. Scoots and shifts closer into his hand rubbing at her side.
There's a yawn Joaquin's fighting, and Nadia can feel one of her own threatening to erupt— and why wouldn't it? After the night they've had?
'I'm fucking exhausted,'
She melts, formlessly as honey when he pulls her in close.
'Are you ready for bed? You wore me the fuck out.'
A loud giggle at that, at odds with the sleepy pull of her eyelids, weighted like lead.
"I wore you out? Because of all the fucking crazy orgasms you worked hard to give me?"
A huff, a giggle and Nadia summons just enough strength to leverage her torso up, plant a kiss of thanks against his mouth before collapsing back down on the bed. Blissed out. Boneless. Tired.
Nadia giggles to herself, eyes heavy.
"I'm so fucking ready for bed. I'm excited to fall asleep and wake up and realize you're next to me."
A yawn; she can't fight it off now.















