Page 79 of All Our Ghosts

Her head tilts back as she lets the warm water run through her hair before looking back at me again. Even with both of us standing here exposed to one another I could still sense the hesitation lingering off of her. Hell, her eyes haven't gone farther than my waist. It makes my heart flutter at the idea that she has this innocence still within her but it also angers me that she was shoved back into it by someone who never deserved any part of her.

I dip my head, ridding myself of the blooming rage, and kiss her, letting the water cascade over both of us. "You're in control here, Kadence," I whisper against her lips. "You say stop and we stop."

She swallows hard and I see her bottom lip tremble softly again. I know that giving her the power to stop this is a huge thing and one that I would never deny her. I pull back slightlyand wait for her to work through whatever is going through her mind.

"I'm okay," she reassures with a shaky breath, "I've never had someone—" Kadence cuts herself off. I wrap around her again as she presses her cheek to my chest once more. "I've just never had the choice before." The words come out thready and strained and it takes everything in me to extinguish the hatred in my chest for the man that broke her.

Instead, I press my lips to the crown of her head and rock her gently under the waterfall. "You'll always have the choice with me."

"I'm sorry," she says against my skin. Leaning back I tilt her chin up with the crook of my finger and smile taking in the glowing jade green of her eyes.

"Don't you ever apologize for what he did," I say firmly. "What happened was not your fault and I will spend every day proving to you that what he did was not affection, it wasn't lust, and it sure as shit wasn't love."

Her eyes flicker between mine, the tears gathering in them quickly well up until she blinks and they spill over her cheeks. Gently, I swipe them away, caressing her cheek. "He doesn't deserve your tears, Sunflower. He never did."

Kadence lets out an exhale as if another weight is being lifted off of her and it kills me yet again to see another brick fall away from her walls. I meant it when I said I'd break them all down to make her feel safe. To wrap myself around the parts of her no one else sees, the parts that she hides away from everyone else to shield her from the bad in her world. If only she'll let me.

I move in to kiss her gently, tangling my hands into her hair. I'm tentative and careful as I press against her. I want her to know that she has access to every part of me. Every jagged edge I have, I'll help her around, and every soft part I hide fromeveryone. She breaks the kiss and takes another breath to look up at me.

"Tell me what you need, Sunflower, anything at all, and I'll give it to you."

She stares back at me, swallowing tightly with whatever she is working through in that beautiful mind of hers.

"I need you," She finally says after a moment.

The corners of my mouth turn upwards. "You have me," I counter and feel her shake her head as I nip at her jaw.

"Ineedyou." Her hands came up to rest over my chest, her right palm planted over my heart. "Please."

My only answer is a kiss as I pull our bodies closer. Slick from the water and just as warm. I hear her whimper as I swipe my tongue over her bottom lip and without hesitation they part, granting me access to delve into her the way I want. Keeping one hand tangled into her hair, I slide the other down her body, barely touching the sensitive area over her hips before gripping her hip, digging my fingers into the soft flesh. In one swift motion I press her against the cool tiled wall and drag my lips to nip at her jawline wrapping my hand around her thigh.

"Lift your foot here," I mumble against her skin and help steady her foot against the corner edge of the shower. She's pliable under my touch and it only makes me harder realizing that she's trusting me this much. Combined with the flutter in my chest, I know she's it.

My hand slides up her thigh, teasing her and watching the way her body shudders and arches towards my hand. My lips find her neck, sucking on the sensitive spot below her ear, only grinning when she moans and grinds against my hand. My cock twitches with every tiny movement and noise she makes.

My thumb slides over her clit, pressing gently and making her gasp. I can feel her nails dig into my back, and knowing thatshe's leaving small crescent moon-shaped marks stokes the fire in my stomach.

"Tell me if it's too much," I breathe against her ear, nipping at her lobe.

She manages to shake her head. "Keep going," she moans and nips at my collarbone. "Please don't stop." Her fingers tangle into my hair, tugging gently.

"Only if you tell me to," I groan, continuing to work her with my thumb while exploring her folds with my fingers.

She's so wet that carefully sliding my middle finger into her is easy. Kadence gasps as another shudder rolls through her, pebbling her nipples. I smile when she begins to rock against my hand, taking more of it each time and using me for her own pleasure.

I pull back to watch her lose herself. Her cheeks are flushed and her hair sticks against her cheeks from the water. She's addicting.

I add another finger, watching as she tenses and relaxes in my arms all within moments. I'm not a small man, and after everything she's been through, I want to make her savor this. I want to show her what sex should be.

My lips attach to her neck, marking every inch of skin I can while bringing her to the edge and enjoying every pretty little sound that she makes. All of it sends jolts of pleasure straight to my cock. I latch on to her nipple, swirling my tongue around it before moving to the other and showing it the same attention.

"Oh my," she breathes, clenching around my hand and forcing a smug grin over my features, against her skin. She's close and it's taking every ounce of my control to hold back. Her lips move to my neck as her hands explore every part of me.

"I can feel you, Kade," I groan. "Fuck." Her moans echo off of the shower walls as I curl my fingers against her, finding thatsoft spot within her that has her knees weak. My lips hover over hers, our breath mingling. "I've got you, Sunflower, let go."

"Hol-den," her voice is strained in response and her head tips back against the wall as she falls over the edge. I don't dare stop as she rolls through wave after wave of her orgasm.

Sweet mewls and praises fill the bathroom, floating through the steam as she comes down from her high. She might have needed me, but watching her in pure bliss only fuels the need I have for her. To mark every part of her as my own if she'll let me.

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