Page 87 of Edge of Desire

“Okay.”

He laughed and I knew why. It wasn’t going to be that easy, but I would try. The trouble was it would be hard to automatically get rid of years of being told you were something you weren’t.

He nibbled my neck and then leaned back. “Don’t doubt what I tell you about yourself. Ever.”

I covered his hand with mine and laced our fingers together. “I’m pretty sure I’ll need therapy to get rid of that and I’m okay with going. We need to find someone good to help us.” Then a thought struck me. “I may know someone. Justin and Pearce grew up with a guy named Phil Sorenson who’s now a psychiatrist. I know Justin went to him after he and Terri got in that car accident. And my sister-in-law Lexi saw him too. I could get his phone number from Justin. Maybe he’d do online visits with us.”

“I’d be willing to do that. It would be nice and convenient.”

I promised to call Justin. “He and Caroline will want to know what’s going on with us anyway.”

“True and better sooner than later. They’ll both strangle us if we don’t call soon.”

“Maybe later today, then. So, did you want to ski today?” I asked.

“I would love it. I want you to take me to the back of the mountain and teach me some of your special tricks.”

Covering his body with mine, I framed his face and touched my thumbs to his cheeks. “I have no special tricks, but I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

He kissed me, like he hadn’t kissed me in months. And then he answered, “I watched you ski for the last few days. You’re phenomenal and superfast. I couldn’t keep up with you. Where did you learn to ski like that? I want you to teach me how.”

I chuckled at that request. “Preston, I’ve been skiing since I was four. My family would come here every winter, mostly during the holidays, and my dad would bring me back during my spring breaks. I picked it up right away and loved it. You might say I have a knack for it. It was always something I did better than my brothers.” Then something hit me. I squinted my eyes at him for the second time that morning. “Have you been spying on me?”

“Kind of,” he admitted. I sighed. “Why?” he asked.

“It was you! I’ve had this feeling someone’s been watching me. And now I know why.” I pinched his abs. Then my palm drifted up and brushed his nipple. “I think I want to get my nipples pierced,” I said.

He stiffened and growled, “Absolutely not.”

“Why not? Yours are pierced.” I looked at him and watched his entire demeanor harden as something darkened his visage.

“It was done to me, Avery. It wasn’t a choice.”

“Oh.” I sucked in my breath. That was one more tick off the list he hadn’t yet shared. I smothered him in my arms. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know or I would never have suggested it.”

“It’s all right.”

I cupped his face and said to him, “Preston, that’s part of your past. It’s just a painful memory, honey. Look at me. I’m here and we’re in this together. But I’m not gonna lie. I adore your pierced nipples. They’re a huge turn-on for me.”

He looked at me and his gaze darkened with a different kind of heat. “I know.” Then his lips were on mine again as his tongue found its way into my mouth, instantly setting me on fire for him again.

Preston always surprised me, and this time was no exception. I found myself on my hands and knees, sitting over Preston’s face. His tongue was doing all sorts of naughty things to me as his fingers joined in the game too. They moved in a rhythm that sent me tumbling over the edge. Before I had time to think, Preston moved behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist.

“You might want to hold on to the headboard for this.”

“Oh yeah?” I moaned.

“Oh yeah,” he said with smugness.

He spread my legs further with his, he knelt between them and placed a hand on my throat, tilting my head back. He took his time entering me, kneeling over me. Once he was fully seated, his thrusts turned hard and fast. He was right. I needed that damn headboard because I would’ve jettisoned right off the bed if I hadn’t been holding on. I came with a vengeance, crying out and contracting around him incessantly, until I collapsed on the pillows, with him still inside of me. He rolled me on my side and spooned behind me, kissing my neck and cheek, chuckling at me.

“I tried to warn you,” he said, and I elbowed him.

I crawled on top of him and kissed him. Dragging my thumb across his bottom lip, our eyes met and held each other’s. “You know how much I love you, right?”

“Yeah, I do. And I hope you feel that love returned.”

“Oh, I do. Um, Preston, there’s something I want us to do, or at least try again. And if you hate it, we can stop. But I want to please you and I also think you need to bury your past.”

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