Page 81 of Edge of Desire

I rubbed her back while she talked. Just having her in my arms felt like a miracle.

“Thinking is a good thing, Avery.”

“I suppose it can be because I learned a few things about me. I can’t live your lifestyle, Preston. I don’t want to have to worry that someone is out to kill you or me every day.”

I breathed deeply. “I don’t want that either.”

She leaned back a bit, just enough to look at my face. “But what about your job?”

“I’m on a year’s leave of absence right now, if that tells you anything.”

“What about after that?”

“It’s up to you. What do you want to do?”

“I want to stay here.”

“Then we’ll stay here. I’ll go anywhere, Avery, as long as it’s with you. It’s your call. I’ll do whatever it takes. I only know that I want to do it with you.”

“I can’t go through that kind of hurt again.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to, nor would I put you through that. I’m not saying our lives will be perfect and we’ll never have disagreements. That’s unlikely, for us or anyone. But my heart and soul are yours. Forever and not just for a month or two. I can’t promise we won’t have ups and downs, but I will promise I won’t ever lie to you again or hurt you the way I did last summer. I swear this to you.”

Twenty-Five

Avery

My heart jumped to my throat as his eyes grabbed mine.Warm golden flecks sparkled in their depths. My belly fluttered with a million butterflies as desire peeked out its head. His voice ignited the embers I’d pushed down these last few months, but every word that fell from his lips increased the fire that was brewing.

I fisted his shirt in my hands and slowly drew him toward me, desperate now for his taste on my tongue. His eyes shifted slightly, asking if I was sure. Oh, was I ever sure. I’d been without this man for too long and we had tons of lost time to make up for.

Our mouths were a mere breath away from each other’s when he whispered, “Please tell me I’m not dreaming because you’re all I’ve thought about, night after night.”

“It’s no dream, Preston. Kiss me.”

He crushed his lips to mine, and dear God, how I had missed the feel of him, the taste of him, the scent of him. All I wanted was to focus on how Preston’s tongue danced with mine, tasting every secret place in me. He held me tightly to him, but the best part of all was when he whispered those special words against my lips. “I love you so much.”

When we broke apart, he walked us backward to the bed and pulled me on top of him as he fell on it.

“Avery, please tell me to stop if this isn’t what you want. I’ll let you be our guide. To be honest, I’d be happy holding you all night, if that’s all right.”

“Don't stop. I want to touch you. All over. Now. And I want much more than for you to hold me.”

“I think that can be arranged.” He smiled.

He flipped so I ended up on my back and he rolled over so he could strip off his clothes. I grinned as I enjoyed the view. He was, as usual, perfectly sculpted and far beyond eye pleasing. When he was naked, he came to me, took my hands, and pulled me to my feet. He ran his fingers beneath the hem of my sweater teasing my flesh before he slowly drew it over my head. My breath quickened when the cool air caressed my skin. He reached behind me and unclasped my bra, but I was surprised when he didn’t immediately remove the thing. I went to shrug it off, until he placed his hands on my arms, stopping any movement.

“You want me to keep it on?” I asked.

“Mmm,” was all I got back. That is until his head dropped to the strap that had slipped down my arm. He looked up at me then, smiled, and pulled off the bra with his teeth.

I released my breath, trying to control the fire that had now turned my blood into a raging inferno. His tongue quickly made its way to my pebbled nipples, and I groaned, “I think I’m going to fall.”

“I won’t let you fall, Avery. Ever.”

His mouth returned to my breasts, teasing and sucking my nipples until I didn’t think my body could stand it any longer.

Then he undid my jeans, slid them off my hips, stood there and stared. This was when I became uneasy because I hated to be on display.

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