Page 40 of Deep Waters
“Rae,” I said gently when I got my mirth under control. “Do you want to explain?”
She bit her lip, suppressing a grin. The flare of mischief in her eyes nearly stopped my heart. “Do I need to?”
“How long have you been walking around with my face on your pussy?”
“Technically… this is just your face on my underwear. I’m hoping your face on my pussy comes later. The underwear was a Christmas gift.”
I scrubbed a hand across my face. “I’m afraid to ask from whom.”
“My Secret Santa.”
“Secret Santa orSatan?” Her smirk was a silent dare. “Never mind. I definitely don’t want to know. That’s Future Zach’s problem.”
“Oh yeah? Then what’s Current Zach’s problem?” She arched on the bed, reaching for me.
I winced, remembering one important detail. “The fact that I don’t have any condoms.” I held her gaze. “Not that we need to take things that far. I’ve waited half my life for you—what’s a bit longer?”
She huffed a small laugh, the kind that sounded like it should come on the heels of a sob.
“We’ve both waited so long already… I hope I’m worth the wait.”
“Hey.” Her gaze skipped past mine, staring over my shoulder. Like she didn’t want me to see the uncertainty lurking there. “Hey,” I stroked her cheek, “I have no doubts, Rae. Not about that.”
She bit her bottom lip, worrying it between her teeth. That small sign of doubt cracked my ribcage, gripping my heart and twisting it until it threatened to pop loose and tumble into her hands.
“I don’t have a lot of experience,” she blurted. “Sexually,” she added abruptly, as if her meaning had been in doubt.
I threaded my fingers with hers, rubbing her knuckles. Some of the tension in her jaw relaxed, and I counted it as a victory. “I’m not worried. I think, when it comes to us, it’s going to be like breathing.”
“Sometimes I’m not that good atthateither,”she muttered.
“Then it’s a good thing I’m CPR-certified, both ready and willing to provide mouth-to-mouth.”
She squeezed her eyes closed. “Zach.”
I dropped a kiss on her nose, following it with one on her right cheek. Then her left. I rained more and more kisses on her cheeks, chin, her ear. Any bit of skin I could access, until she was buried in affection, laughingly batting me away.
“That tickles — I give,” she bit out between giggles.
Brushing her lips in a gentle kiss, I smiled against her mouth, delighted when she opened hers, seeking a deeper connection.
Part of me wanted to rush her to orgasm. Bury my face in her sweetness and get her off quickly. Prove to her once and for all that friends and lovers was an unstoppable combination. But it warred with the need to pause. Savor. Sip from her sweetness. Roll it on my tongue. Revel in the freedom to finally—finallymake her mine.
Years of restraint. Of boundaries.Poof. Gone.
I traced kisses from her delicate neck to the swell of her breasts, pleased when she clutched me to her, just as eager for my attention.
“Captain, you’re going to have to tell me what you want.”
“You.”
Her quick answer drew a rolling chuckle from me, turning my amusement raw when she shivered beneath my lips.
“Good answer. There are no bad ones. But I was hoping for something more specific.” I propped my chin on her sternum, glancing up coquettishly through the valley between her breasts. Idly, I stroked from her hips, nipping in at her waist, up her ribs toward the rosy peaks.
“For instance, your breasts are gorgeous handfuls. Do you like them stroked?” At her shy nod, I continued, “How about licked?” She nodded again. “Hmm…”
I traced soft fingers across her flesh, swirling around her areola. Watching her carefully for a reaction. Pleased when she shifted restlessly beneath me.
