Page 118 of The Keeper

A slow breath gently filled his lungs. His hold around me tightened. The duality of never wanting this moment to end and knowing I’d probably be the one to screw it up tore me up inside. The little nagging voice in my head kept screaming I didn’t deserve this. I didn’t deserve him.

“You have no idea how happy that makes me,” he whispered. “How happy you make me.”

All the different versions of a once impossible reality collided, silencing my destructive inner monologue. They blended and fused into something singular. Something complete.

If this is what falling in love felt like, I can’t possibly imagine how anyone could bear the weight of not surrendering to it.

I climbed onto his lap and straddled him.

“I’m sorry I fucked it up before I left.” I trembled. “Being with you at your townhouse and…I loved every minute. I wish I’d told you that instead of…I wish I could take back what I said to you.”

“I’m here now, aren’t I?”

I nodded.

“So, we start with a clean slate.” He caressed my thighs. “You and me.”

“You and me,” I repeated. And then I kissed him.

I kissed him until static blurred my vision and I couldn’t picture a time when we weren’t kissing or holding one another. I kissed him in the slowest, deepest way possible.

As rough as I like it, this moment of quiet softness felt just as powerful. The giving and taking. Delighting in the silkiness of his mouth and tongue. Savoring him.

I pulled back, admiring his drunk-with-lust expression. Hooded eyes. Parted lips. Raspy breathing. Hair untamed.

“That was incredible,” he said, sounding dazed.

“You’re incredible.”

He smiled. “Now I know it’s the endorphins talking.”

“Stop it,” I half-scolded.

He opened his mouth to say something and stopped. His brows knit together in thought when he looked at me. Then he cast his eyes down.

I twined my fingers through his hair and pulled it so his eyes met mine again.

When I pressed my lips to his again I felt his hunger and need. He took control, fisting his hand in my hair and tilting my head where he wanted, taking my mouth how he pleased. I could tell from his sighs and moans that he was just as far gone for me as I was for him.

“Tell me what you’re feeling,” he demanded quietly.

I didn’t know what to say. Well, that’s not true. I knew what I wanted to say but I wasn’t ready. Neither of us were ready to say it or hear it.

“If you can’t say it, I want you to show me. I want you now. Like this.” His clipped, intense timbre returned. “Undress.”

I stood up and removed the rest of my clothes, watching him watch me.

“I think you should keep yours on,” I said when he started lifting his shirt. Shooting me a curious glance, he stopped.

“Do you?” He unzipped his jeans. “Any particular reason?”

“I think it’s hot and I haven’t stopped fantasizing about having sex with you again while you’re fully clothed.”

“As a gentleman, who am I to deny you that request.” A devilish grin curled his lips as he lowered his pants just enough to free his fully erect cock. “Come here.”

He yanked me onto his lap, guided himself inside slowly and groaned into my neck.

“Too good,” he rasped. “You feel too fucking good.”

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