Page 105 of Lotus

An undecipherable groan is her response, and I lift my chin to watch as she unravels. Her knees start to quake, her skin pink and flushed as the heel of my hand takes over for my thumb and palms her with fevered strokes, my fingers buried deep and thrusting hard.

“Oliver… shit,fuck… fucking kiss me,” she rasps out, her entire body teetering on the edge. Sydney tugs me down by the roots of my hair, her mouth open and needy, and when our tongues crash together with demanding urgency, she crumbles.

Sydney climaxes against my hand, nails digging into my scalp, her moans trapped inside my mouth, crawling down my throat as I plunge my tongue into hers. She is quivering, blissfully breaking, clutching onto me for dear life.

And I savor every moment of it, a smile spreading against her open mouth with the knowledge that I am responsible for her ecstasy—with the realization that I want to be theonlyone responsible for her ecstasy…forever.

When Sydney is breathing heavily below me, body still shaking with the aftermath of her release, I remove my hand from her underwear, our mouths parting for air. I look into her glazed-over eyes, my own heated stare fanning the flames. And just before I kiss her again, she reaches for my hand—the hand that is slicked and glistening withher—and guides it to my lips.

She wants me to taste her.

Eyes holding with hers, I dip those two fingers into my mouth, tasting the evidence of her pleasure. I lick and suck, never breaking our powerful hold, and it’s a raw, intoxicating moment, watching her watch me, noting the way her own tongue pokes out to wet her lips. She is aroused by the image.

When I lean back down to capture those lips, Sydney is already tugging down my sweatpants, and a tremor of anticipation and thrill courses through me.

It’s not long before I’m sheathed inside of her once again, our hands interlocked above her head, mattress squeaking, moans overlapping, hearts bound and branded with the beats of one another’s.

And soon, the morning has passed us by, and we both realize we completely forgot about our breakfast.

Sydney naps in my bed, exhausted from our morning of lovemaking, and I find my own eyes drifting closed when Gabe collapses beside me on the sofa, startling me.

Shifting into the present moment, I heave in a tired sigh, unprepared for the lecture I’m about to receive. “You don’t have to say anything. I already know your thoughts on the matter,” I tell him, swiping my palms against my thighs.

Glancing to my left, Gabe runs his tongue along his teeth, eyes narrowed. A smile follows. “I’m done hassling you about it, man. You two are like fuckin’ magnets, apparently.” He leans back, head dropping to the cushion with a heavy exhale. “Besides, I’d be a giant hypocrite at this point.”

“How so?” I wonder.

“One date… onegoddamndate, and I’m already crazy for this girl. I’m basically Syd, and she’s kinda the chick version of you, but I can’t seem to heed any of my own advice. I can’t possibly be the right guy for her, you know? I’m a mess… like Sydney.”

“Neither of you are a mess. You are both amazingly kind, generous, funny—I’m enamored with Sydney in the same fashion Tabitha is enamored with you, I’d imagine.”

“I’m absolutely terrified I’ll break her after she’s overcome so much. And fuck, man… she’s overcomeso much. The shit she confided in me last night…”

I quirk a half-smile in understanding. “It’s hard to break someone who has already experienced the worst out of life. We tend to be fairly resilient.”

Gabe eyes me with something akin to respect, his features relaxed, gaze soft. “You know, I’m really glad you made it out of there. I’m glad…” His lips twitch, rattled by his own vulnerability. “I’m really glad we’re brothers again.”

I return the sentiment. “You and Sydney have certainly been my guiding light amidst all of the challenges I’ve faced. I’m very thankful to have you in my corner.”

Gabe nods, clearly touched, his chin dipping downward. “I’m not good with this sappy shit,” he chuckles, scuffing a hand through his hair as he fidgets in place. “So, I’m changing the subject to something more relatable: sex. Details, dude.”

It’s my turn to fidget. “I’m not comfortable discussing our intimate moments, Gabe.”

“Come on, Oliver, it was your first time. How was it? Was your mind blown?”

Heat creeps up my neck, but I can’t help the small grin that pulls at my lips. “It was… quite pleasant.”

“Quite pleasant?” he mocks with finger quotations. That familiar eyebrow raises with the curve of his mouth. “You’ve got to give me something.”

“I will not.”

“Brother to brother, man to man.” Gabe places a hand over his heart. “On my mother’s grave, I won’t tell a soul. Justonedetail from last night.”

“Your mother lives in Delaware.”

“Dude. Metaphorical.”

I sigh through a laugh.Relentless. “All right, one thing…” I turn to him, head cocked, grin in place. I draw out the silence for dramatic effect, then reply, “Sydney Neville makes a remarkable Strawberry Daiquiri.”

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