Page 82 of Edge of Desire

“Please let me have my moment, babe. You’re so fucking hot.”

I bowed my head, unable to look at him. This was crazy awkward, and I’d never feel at ease being naked and exposed like this.

His arms wrapped around me and then I was spun so my back was flush against his chest. He held me tightly to him as his hands slid over me. I leaned my head back and rested it on his shoulder.

“Is this what you want?” he asked me. His hands moved to places that made me crave him even more.

“No, I don’t like that very much. You’re going to have to do a bit better than that,” I teased.

He was fast. Really fast. I was tossed on the bed on my stomach, and he was straddling me before I could think. His hands roamed everywhere, massaging, manipulating, and soon his tongue followed. I was a moaning mass of orgasmic activity. In fact, he created a howling creature out of me.

After he was pleased that I was satisfied, we made slow, deliberate, passionate love as we gazed into each other’s eyes and held each other’s hands. It was sensual, erotic, primal, but soulful and heartwarming all the same. Yeah, I had certainly missed this, much more than I’d admitted to myself.

Twenty-Six

Preston

The room was warm and the heat from our bodies made covers unnecessary, which was great by me. It made it easier to enjoy the dips and hollows of Avery’s curves, as we lay together afterwards.

There were so many things we needed to work through. I refused to skim over anything, because I wanted her to be certain she was making the right choices this time around.

“Avery, I’ll go wherever you want to go, and do my best to make you happy,” I began.

She groaned. “I was hoping we wouldn’t have to discuss this tonight.”

“This is all about you and what you want. There are only two things I want … you and your happiness. I’m willing to give up everything to be certain that happens. I’d like to talk about this so we can move forward, if that’s what you still want to do. Babe, you know everything about me. I’ve never sugarcoated things and won’t ever do that. I’m not a guy who leads a charmed life of perfection, where everything falls into place perfectly. In fact, it’s much the opposite for me. But I’m loyal, I’ll always have your back, and do my best to protect you at all costs. You’ll have my undying love until I breathe my last breath. Now the question is whether you want me in your life as is.”

She ran her hand across my chest until she got to the tattoo of the sun that was obscured by the clouds. Once there, her fingers lightly tripped over it, then she traced it with her tongue. Heat built and I was afraid she was trying to distract me, so I called her on it. “Your mouth is perfect, but are you trying to divert my attention? You’re already aware you do a damn good job of it.”

She stopped moving and said, “I don’t want to think about any of this right now. It’s been too long since we’ve been together. That’s what I want right now. Not words and talk of how fucked up you are. Okay?”

“Fair enough.” She made her point. We’d return to this conversation in the morning or soon after that. But she’d have her way tonight.

The rest of the night we alternated between making love, sleeping, kissing, touching, and other things, but we never talked about anything serious.

Once during the night, when she was sound asleep, she woke me. Initially, I was disoriented from sleep, but I heard her voice. “Don’t let me go.” She was weeping, her cheeks glistening with tears. I didn’t understand why she would say this. “Don’t let me leave again. I never want to be away from you.”

Gathering her into my arms, I held her close and softly spoke to her, telling her I would be by her side forever, if she’d have me. I caressed her back, dried her tears with my thumbs, and continued to speak to her, until she calmed and slept peacefully once more.

Avery was still asleep when I awoke. Not wanting to disturb her, I gently disentangled myself from her arms and slid out of bed. The night’s memories washed over me like a soothing balm, but I worried over how she would react once she woke up. Would she regret what had taken place? Would she want to discuss the future? Was there even a future for us?

I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and then checked out my reflection in the mirror. A man with a furrowed brow and intense gaze stared back at me. I was scared to death. Yeah, I’d faced life-threatening situations where fear nearly paralyzed me, but I’d never been this terrified in my life. I’d concocted contingency plans if things didn’t work, but my life wouldn’t be worth a damn.

Avery was everything to me. These last few months had proved that. I promised myself I would do anything to win her back, but if she decided that wasn’t what she wanted, I would leave and never bother her again.

When I got back to the bed, she was stirring. “Good morning there,” I whispered as I brought her closer to me.

“Hmm,” she hummed as she stretched. Then she curled next to me, putting her face into the curve of my neck. Her breath wafted over me, and my muscles contracted in response.

Her arm reached across my chest as her fingers teased the piercing on my left nipple.

“If you keep that up much longer, you better be prepared for the consequences.”

“Why do you think I’m doing it? But let me have a minute first.” She offered me her best smirk and then rose from the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“Where do you think?” She gave me one of her funny head jerks. She had to use the restroom. I was such an idiot sometimes.

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