Page 98 of The Very First Night

I gently tug at the hairs at the nape of his neck and, with his hand gently cupping the side of my jaw, he slants his lips over mine once more with a relieved sigh. I taste peppermint on his lips as he deepens the kiss, his tongue teasing mine and igniting a fire in my belly. My spine arches toward him, craving more of his intoxicating touch.

Tanner’s touch is featherlight as he traces the buttons of my oversized button-down, his hands moving with a tenderness I have never experienced before. Each button comes undone with agonizing slowness, and I can’t tear my eyes away from the sight of this man who has so completely consumed me. He moves to hover over me, his breath warm on my skin as he reveals more and more of my body with each unfastened button. It is intoxicating and mind-boggling all at once.

With each tug of his fingers, the buttons give way and the panels fall open like a flower blooming. My heart races as his eyes focus on the delicate black lace that covers my breasts. The anticipation builds as he slowly reaches out to touch me, gently tracing the outline of the bralette with his fingertips before ghosting his pointer finger languidly over my hardened nipple, obvious through the sheer lace fabric.

As his fingers brush against my skin, my breath catches in my throat. A wave of heat washes over me, and I can feel the dampness between my legs. It’s impossible to ignore and all I can think about is how incredible it will feel when he reaches lower.

Leaning downward, Tanner flicks his tongue over the thin scrap of fabric separating him from my breast before latching his mouth over the hardened peak. He bites down gently, causing the breath that was previously lodged in my throat to break past my lips with an intoxicated moan.

“God, I missed that sound,” Tanner mumbles as he presses a kiss to the scalloped edge of my bralette.

A laugh crawls up my throat. “It’s only been a week.”

He nods. “Yeah, but I know you. I could tell you were overanalyzing it and I was worried.”

“Don’t be,” I whisper in an attempt to reassure him. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

This appears to appease him as he peels back the dainty fabric to expose my wet, pebbled nipple to the crisp air before his lips wrap around it, the warmth of his mouth causing my head to fall back against the pillow.

Patience in the bedroom is something that Tanner and I have yet to find a middle ground on. While he loves to draw everything out, to savor every last moment, all I can think about is how badly I want him buried inside me. We can savor it later.

“Tanner,” I whimper as he presses featherlight kisses from my chest to the waistband of my black leggings.

“Hm?” he responds, but doesn’t stop his advance and begins prying the thin fabric away from my skin achingly slowly.

“Tanner. Please.”

“Please what?” The laughter he’s holding back is almost enough to make me combust.

“You know what,” I grit out through my teeth.

He pauses as he drops my leggings and panties onto the floor by the bed. His eyes meet mine as he cups himself through his strained jeans. It would be an erotic sight if I didn’t know that he is more than likely trying to keep himself in check.

I don’t want him to keep himself in check, though—I want him to let go. Every desire to joke with my best friend about the situation melts away when his eyes meet mine again; the most beautiful green I’ve ever seen.

“Please, make love to me.”

The weight of my words lingers, the stark difference between what we’ve been and what we are now clear to both of us for what might be the first time. However, despite everything that’s happened—despite the breadcrumbs I accepted from Elijah for so long, all the pain he caused—despite the instinct to back away, I stand firmly. Even though my brain won’t stop screaming “Danger!” I don’t pry my gaze away from his.

Slowly, Tanner reaches for the button on his jeans and pops it open, then swiftly pulls down his pants and boxers, revealing his muscular thighs. His cock is hard and I can’t help the warm wetness that pools between my thighs at the thought of him inside me.

He crawls back onto the bed, his body hovering over mine. I spread my legs eagerly, hoping he’ll finally satisfy the ache between them. But instead of plunging inside me, he teases me with his cock, brushing it against my wetness as I squirm and beg for more. He leans in closer, pressing his chest to mine and locking eyes with me, a small smile forming on his lips. I can feel every inch of him against me, but he doesn’t give in to my desperate pleas just yet, teasingly grazing my slick entrance. I beg for more, but he remains calm and in control, taking his time to savor every moment. His eyes lock on mine as he reaches up to brush away the hair plastered to my forehead.

“Kat?” he whispers against my lips.

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

It’s vulnerable and emotional and, for the first time ever, I’m not terrified of what’s to come. Actually, I’m excited for it.

“I love you too,” I whisper back, and he takes this moment to push past my entrance devastatingly slowly. I gasp as he enters me with excruciating leisure. My body responds eagerly, adjusting to his girth and clenching tightly around him. Wave after wave of pleasure crashes over me as he moves inside me, igniting every nerve ending in my body.

When he’s seated fully inside, he pauses for a moment, his body still and steady. I feel every inch of him pressed against me, every muscle tensed with anticipation. But it’s not just the physical sensations that hold him back—when our eyes meet, I can see the intensity in his gaze. He’s relishing this moment, allowing himself to fully indulge in the pleasure and connection between us. And so I do the same, letting go of any inhibitions and simply reveling in the sensation of being fully united with him.

Time seems to stand still as we both bask in the raw intimacy of our bodies intertwined.

Intimacy in a way that I’ve never experienced before; true intimacy with the man I love…and, for the first time in my life, the man who loves me back.

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