Life In Reverse(67)

I smile back but my face is hot, eyes fixed only on him. “Yeah. You.”

Evidently, that’s all he needs to hear before he rises to his feet and strips off his clothes. Not bothering to wait, I do the same until his eyes blaze, roaming my body like he’s lost in the desert and I’m his only hope for survival. In all fairness, my gaze is wandering everywhere, too. From his broad shoulders down to his toned arms, to a wall of rippled muscle. Then lower to his erection, thick and beautiful.

“It’s all for you,” he grins, and my gaze swoops to his face. “Only for you,” he clarifies, eyes holding an intensity that makes heat gather between my legs.

I’m not sure what I expect to happen next, but he tackles me and we fall onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and laughter that is so much like us it makes me glow inside. In an instant though, his body covers mine, the laughter gone. All I hear is the sound of our breathing. All I feel are his lips coasting down my neck, my belly, between my legs.

“Oh, God,” I moan, letting my thighs fall open, aware of how wet I am, of how much I want him. His tongue does things to me I never knew were possible, gliding through my folds, back and forth, in slow, lingering circles. “Vance,” I whimper, latching onto his bicep and urging him forward.

He slides up my body, face so close to mine I can smell myself on his breath. “I love the way you taste,” he whispers, and then he kisses me, begging for entry into my mouth that I readily give him. It’s strange at first, but I don’t mind it. “I want to be inside you,” he rasps when he gently pulls back, and I nod my response because the emotion is too much. He strokes a finger over my chin before disappearing to the floor to find his wallet. My mind catches up with my body that this is really happening. But I’m not scared. I’ve never wanted anything more.

I watch as he tears open the package and rolls the condom over his erection, returning to me. No words are exchanged between us, and I don’t need any. Everything I need is clear in the depths of his eyes and the openness of his smile. I know that I’m the only one he allows to see this side of him. It makes a ball of happiness unfurl in my stomach, warm, like rays of sunshine.

“Ember,” he murmurs, breath stuttering in his chest as he guides himself inside of me, easing in slowly. It’s a feeling of fullness that already existed in my mind and heart—and now in my body. “Okay?” He studies my face for any signs of hesitation. But he won’t find any.

“Yes.” I smile, losing focus as he slides in then out, in then out. Long, drawn-out movements that overwhelm me. My hands leave his back and cling to his shoulders, muscles hot and damp under my touch.

“Breathe, Ember.”

Emotion gets the best of me and a lone tear comes out of nowhere and rolls down my cheek. Vance kisses it away. “We just fit—”

“I know. I feel it too,” he whispers, his expression filled with tenderness. I bring my hand around to caress his jaw and smile up at him. He has so many sides, and I love them all.

The wave hits me then, all at once, a series of small gasps falling into the air between us. “Vance, I’m—”

“Let go,” he urges, his body thrusting at a faster pace as he leans down to kiss me. I moan into his mouth, giving him this last piece of myself and waiting for him to do the same.

“Ember….” He groans his release as his head drops, hair brushing against my skin, lips pressed to my neck. “I love you.”

My words are barely a whisper. “I love you, too.”

I feel his smile. “I know.”

Neither of us move as our breathing slows then levels out, returning to a steady rhythm. Eventually, Vance rolls away, disposing of the condom before claiming his spot next to me. He tugs my body close, my back to his front, until no space exists between our heartbeats. A contented yawn lifts itself from my throat and Vance chuckles. “Tired already?”

“Yes.” I wiggle against him. “And it’s all your fault.”

“Funny, I don’t feel guilty at all.” His fingertip skates along the inside of my arm. The tickle brings a smile to my face. “In fact, I was hoping we could go another round.” I hear the grin in his voice and I wedge myself closer, if that’s possible.

“Just one?” My eyelids feel heavy and although my mind wants to stay awake, my body has other plans. As I drift off, a blissful sigh floats from my lips. “You came back… for me.”

“I did,” he whispers, mouth resting above my ear. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“Me either,” I admit in a soft murmur, sleep taking over my thoughts. “I really love you.”





EMBER SAILS OFF into sleep. Her warm, bare skin against mine. As her chest rises and falls, her breathing becomes deep and even. I force my eyes to remain open, wanting to remember this moment. To engrave it in my mind. I wonder if that’s possible. If you try hard enough, if you can will your brain to remember something.

But it doesn’t matter now. Any apprehension I had is trumped by this crazy love I feel for her. My chest explodes with it. I’ll admit, being present in my own life is strange. Not allowing my choices to be derailed by a crippling fear of the future. Because Ember is right. Life doesn’t come with guarantees and I’d rather have a shot at happiness with her, than none at all.