Page 12 of Spring Fling

I cut him off by rising on my tiptoes and pressing my lips to his. He made a surprised sound in his throat before pulling me against him, his arms wrapping around me like he'd never let go. The moment our lips touched, a wave of intensity crashed through me, releasing a year's worth of bottled-up wanting. Our kiss turned hungry and deep, each taste making me crave more. My anger about Ariana, my confusion—it all melted away under the burning need to have him again.

He pulled back slightly, breathing hard. "Are you sure?" he whispered, his fingers gently tracing my cheek.

"Yes," I said, my voice shaking with need. The pull between us was too strong to deny anymore. "I need this. I need you."

His answer was another kiss, deeper this time, erasing any doubt I might have had. My blood rushed hot through my veins, heat pooling between my thighs. He moved us until my back pressed against the wall next to the bed. The lamp cast our shadows large against the wall as I moaned softly when his mouth found that sensitive spot where my neck curves into my shoulder. My fingers fumbled with his shirt buttons, desperate to feel his skin. The shirt fell open, revealing his chest—firm and familiar, every muscle exactly as I remembered from our night together.

Our clothes came off in a hurried mess: my tank top pulled over my head, his pants dropped to the floor, my underwear sliding down my legs with his help. The feeling of his bare skin against mine made my head spin. All my frustration transformed into hunger, a deep ache to have him completely.

We stumbled toward the bed, half-laughing at how clumsy we were, half-crazy with wanting each other. His mouth left a trail of hot kisses along my collarbone while his hands squeezed my hips, each touch sending shivers through me that made me gasp. I dragged my nails lightly down his back, making him groan deep in his throat. That sound alone made me even wetter, making me press my body against his hardness.

His hands slid under me, fingers spreading across my lower back, pulling me closer. "God, you're gorgeous," he whispered against my hot skin, his lips brushing me as he spoke. "Even better than I remembered."

I nipped at his earlobe, loving how he sucked in a sharp breath. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him against me, closing any space between us. The friction made us both moan as our bodies remembered exactly how to move together, like we'd never been apart.

When his mouth moved down to my breasts, I arched my back, my fingers tangling in his hair. His tongue circled my nipples, sometimes gentle, sometimes more demanding, until they were so sensitive I could barely stand it. My hips rocked against him instinctively, silently begging for more.

His hand slid between my legs, teasing me with light touches up my inner thighs until I squirmed beneath him. When his fingers finally found my center, I gasped loudly in the quiet room. He knew exactly how to touch me, watching my face as he circled my clit with perfect pressure that scattered my thoughts.

I wanted to make him feel as good as he made me feel. I pushed gently against his chest until he rolled onto his back. The surprise in his eyes turned to heat as I trailed kisses down his torso, feeling the muscles tense beneath my lips. I took my time, savoring the salt of his skin, the rapid rise and fall of his breathing.

"Daisy," he whispered, the word catching as my tongue traced the line of muscle that disappeared beneath his boxers. I tugged them down slowly, my eyes locked with his as his erection sprang free. I wrapped my fingers around him, enjoying his sharp intake of breath.

I teased him with slow strokes at first, watching how his jaw clenched with restraint. When I finally lowered my mouth to him, his hands tangled in my hair with a groan that sent a thrill through me. I took him deeper, alternating between gentle suction and long, slow licks that made his thighs tense under my palms.

"God, that's amazing," he murmured, his voice strained. His hips moved slightly, carefully, as I worked him with my mouth and hand together. The power of bringing him such pleasure was intoxicating.

Just when his breathing became ragged, he gently guided me up. "Wait," he said, pupils dilated with desire. "I don't want to finish like this."

He flipped us over in one fluid motion, his mouth finding mine in a passionate kiss before moving down my body. "My turn," he whispered against my skin.

"I want to taste you," he murmured, shifting lower. Before I could respond, his mouth replaced his fingers between my legs. I cried out, arching off the bed as his tongue worked magic, his strong hands holding my thighs apart. He looked up at me, the sight nearly pushing me over the edge.

"Hayden," I gasped, my voice raw. "I want you inside me."

He kissed his way back up my body, positioning himself between my thighs. Our eyes locked as he slowly pushed inside. We both froze, overwhelmed by the perfect connection. The world disappeared, narrowing to just us and this moment we'd found again.

He moved with deep, measured strokes, each one hitting exactly where I needed. I clutched his shoulders as pleasure built in waves. His pace quickened as my hips rose to meet his, our bodies finding rhythm as if we'd never been apart.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, drawing him deeper. He groaned against my neck, his forehead pressed to mine as our breathing mingled. His hand slipped between us, fingers finding my clit.

"Look at me," he said softly. "I want to see your face when you come."

The combined sensations—him filling me, his fingers circling my clit, his intense gaze—sent me spiraling into orgasm. Pleasure shattered through me in pulsing waves as I cried out his name.

Watching me unravel broke his control. His thrusts became urgent, his breathing harsh. When he came moments later, he moaned my name like a prayer, his body shuddering against mine.

We collapsed onto the tangled sheets, sweaty and breathing hard. The lamp's soft glow highlighted the sheen on our skin as our hearts raced together. My fingers traced lazy patterns over his chest, feeling it rise and fall rapidly. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, resting his forehead against mine.

"Daisy," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "I've missed you so much."

Tears pricked my eyes as emotions swirled through me, realizing we'd found something I thought was gone forever. "I missed you too," I admitted, still catching my breath. "I tried to forget, but I couldn't. Not really."

He pressed soft kisses along my shoulder, his arms wrapping around me as we curled together under the rumpled sheets. My body still tingled with aftershocks of pleasure, and I could feel his heartbeat gradually slowing against my chest. All the tension from the festival, the jealousy—everything melted away into this peaceful bubble. For the first time since I arrived in Wintervale, I felt truly calm.

We stayed like that for a long time, exchanging gentle touches and enjoying the afterglow. Every so often, he'd brush my hair away from my face and kiss my temple softly. My heart squeezed with feelings I hadn't expected. I hadn't realized how lonely I'd been, trying to make it on my own as a florist with something to prove. Lying in his arms, I remembered how good it felt to let someone in, to share my excitement about each flower, each bloom that made the world more beautiful.

"I don't know how tomorrow's judging will go," I mumbled against his neck. "But I feel stronger now, if that makes sense."

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