Coming Home(163)

She began to move against him with more insistence, and he lifted his head then, kissing her deeply. Leah could feel his arm muscles flex around her as he pulled her against his body.

“God, it’s like I can’t get close enough,” he breathed against her lips, and she moaned softly, tightening her legs around him.

They continued moving together, their pace steady and passionate and more intimate than anything Leah had ever experienced. When her body began to tremble, she closed her eyes.

“Open your eyes, Leah,” he whispered.

She did as he asked, bringing her hands to the sides of his face as she dropped her forehead to his. Their lips were parted and centimeters away from touching, but rather than close that distance, they stayed that way, their lips ghosting over each other’s with each movement.

Danny’s hand on her lower back pressed her more firmly against him, and with one last roll of her hips, the tension in Leah’s belly shattered as a sated cry fell from her lips. Seconds later she felt his fingertips digging into the flesh of her back, and then he was groaning as he followed her over.

She had never been with anyone else this way before—and the fact that she could feel his release only amplified her own. Leah clutched at him, trying to keep herself grounded as her body broke apart over and over before it slowly pieced itself back together. They continued to sigh and pant into each other’s mouths until both of their movements wound down and eventually stopped.

Leah felt him start to lie back, and she unhooked her legs from behind him, bringing her knees to rest on either side of his waist as he pulled her down onto his chest. Her body rose and fell with his labored breath, and his hand came to her hair, holding her against his heart.

After a minute he rolled them gently so they were lying on their sides, and Leah reached down and found his hand, intertwining their fingers. Danny brought their joined hands to his mouth, kissing hers before he brought them back to the bed and began playing with her fingers.

“Do I get birthday cake in bed now?” she asked, and he laughed softly.

“As soon as I can move.”

Leah smiled before she snuggled closer. “Don’t move yet.”

Danny hummed contentedly. “As you wish,” he murmured, and she grinned before closing her eyes with a gratified sigh.

They stayed that way for hours, alternating making love with talking quietly as Danny gently trailed his fingertips over her skin. She wanted to stay awake as long as she could, wanted every last minute with him that she was entitled to. But as the night crept on, her traitor eyelids grew heavy until finally, she couldn’t keep them open anymore.

She had no idea how much time had passed before her eyes flew open in the darkness, and she turned quickly in a panic, clutching air until she felt his arms wrap around her.

“Shh,” he whispered into her hair. “Shh, I’m right here.”

She turned her face into him, nuzzling his chest as she tried to slow her breathing and her racing heart. “Danny,” she murmured.

“I’m right here,” he repeated against the crown of her head, his voice a strained whisper.

“Okay,” she said sleepily, and it wasn’t long before the rhythmic beating of his heart and the familiar scent of his skin lulled her back to sleep.

Seconds or minutes or hours later, she gasped loudly as she threw her arms out in search of him, relaxing with a small whimper as her body came in contact with his.

His arms tightened around her. “Baby,” he crooned softly. “I’m here.”

This time she was lucid enough to hear how broken his voice sounded, and she exhaled softly. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.