The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller(70)

Slowly, he trails his fingertips along the curve of my hips…the tops of my arms…the elastic of my cap sleeves. He tugs them over the crest of my shoulders, and his mouth disengages from mine as his hands find their way to my jawline. I release a moan when he presses upward with his thumbs, forcing my head back and exposing my neck as he licks and nips his way to the hollow of my throat.
With his lips no longer on mine, a moment of clarity passes, and before this goes where I’m pretty sure it’s headed, I need to tell him about my indiscretion. The one mistake that could end all of this before it starts.
“Kaeleb.” My voice is throaty as my fingers find his face, splaying along his cheeks, trying to force him away from away from my neck. “Kaeleb, I need to tell you something.”
His body stiffens against mine before his head rises, bringing his face in line with mine. As he peers into my eyes, a moment of realization flashes across his face. He lowers himself and whispers in my ear, “I don’t want to know. I just need to know if you were safe.”
A relieved sob forces its way through my constricted throat as I nod my head, his scruff grating against my cheek as his warmth breath hits my ear with his own exhale.
“I’m sorry, Kaeleb.” The words become lodged as I swallow. “I was so lost. Searching for…something. Anything to take away the pain.”
He leans back and his thumbs stroke my cheeks as he shakes his head. “I’ve made mistakes too, Bree. You know that better than anyone. If you think I have any right to judge you for what you’ve done, you’re mistaken. This moment, right now. This is what matters. Not the f*cked up shit we’ve done in the past.”
He swipes another rolling tear. “This is our moment. A beginning and an end. Are you with me?”
My lips break into a comforted smile. “I never want to be without you. I love you, Kaeleb.”
“I love you too, Bree. Always have. Always will.” After another pass of his thumb alongside my cheeks, he fastens his fingers around my nape and crushes his lips to mine.
My arms circle around his neck and a moan escapes into his mouth, prompting his own guttural groan to pass into mine. Our bodies mesh together as I sink into his hold, his hands releasing me to find the zipper on the back of my dress. He unzips it slowly, sending shivers down my body with a rush of cool air and anticipation as he slides it methodically along my arms and over my hips. My knees lift, allowing him to free me of my constraints, and his eyes darken as they roam over my naked skin. My panties are removed as well, leaving me on my knees in front of him, completely stripped, free of clothing and inhibition.
My fingers find the hem of his undershirt and I lift it just as deliberately along his arms and over his head, fully appreciating every little bit of this moment that I can. My virginity may be lost, but I know this isn’t about sex. This is about two people who are about to give the ultimate gift to one another. Sex is one thing, but the act of making love, of joining together as you give your heart, your mind, your soul to another person, that’s something that I never want to forget.
When my hands slowly rise to his belt, my teeth find my bottom lip and I glance upward at his beautiful face. His eyes find mine, half-open and hooded, darkening another shade once my fingers make contact. We stare at each other, never breaking our connection as I unbuckle his belt, slide his pants over his lean hips, or when I pull them off and throw them to the floor. Our gazes remain locked as we take in the meaning of what’s about to happen. My entire body hums with desire, causing the air to become electric between us as his heavy-lidded eyes hold mine. Full of anticipation, need, longing, passion.
His arm hooks me around the waist as he flips me onto my back, his body settling snugly between my legs. The weight of his elbows dips the bed beside my head as he presses his hardness right where I need it the most. Pressing up on my heels, I grind against him hungrily, the feeling euphoric as he lowers his head to my neck; our slick, sweat-covered chests sliding with our movements. My nipples pebble with the friction as my legs find their way around his waist, locking around his back, pulling him closer. A hiss escapes his mouth, only to be silenced as his lips seal over my breast. The warmth of his mouth and the teasing of his tongue send my back flying off the bed as my hands find his hair. Tugging and pulling it, I allow him to work my other breast.
“Kaeleb, please.”
His mouth releases me, but his tongue doesn’t. With one long stroke, he trails his way from between my breasts, along the center of my neck and over my jaw, ending with his teeth grazing my chin. A surprised gasp parts my lips and Kaeleb takes full advantage as he dips his tongue into my mouth, sweeping over mine, sending my body into a heated frenzy. I release my hold on his hair and swiftly pull his boxers over his waist, only to let my feet do the rest of the work. My fingers dig into his flesh as he presses against my core, releasing another deep groan into my mouth. He soon positions himself at my entrance, but suddenly pulls back, sending my body into panic as his warmth vanishes.
“Bree, I need to—”
“No, you don’t,” I cut him off breathily. “I’ve been on the pill since I was twelve.”
A satisfied laugh fills the room. I open my eyes to see a cocky grin on his lips. “Eager are we?”
I don’t smile.
I don’t laugh.
I don’t respond.
I don’t do anything but reach up and grab his neck to heave him back down and devour his mouth with mine. He kisses me back, our lips working with equal fervor before he breaks away, looking me directly in the eyes as he positions himself for entry. My entire body quakes with his approach as he whispers in my ear, “You know, if the sun and the moon were to actually collide, it would set off a cataclysmic reaction of epic proportions. Are you ready to have your world completely obliterated?”