Page 55 of The Now in Forever
“I’ve thought about this for so long,” he whispers, his voice thick. “I’ve wanted you for years.”
It’s all I’ve ever longed to hear. I turn to face him, taking his jacket off, lifting his shirt up over his head. Unbuckling his belt and letting his pants fall to the floor. Our skin presses together.
He lays me down on the bed, starting where he left off, kissing my collarbone then moving down to my breast, taking my nipple into his mouth. He sucks harder, and I cry out with pleasure. Want pulses from deep inside me. I take his hand and move it between my legs, showing him exactly what I want. He moves rhythmically as pressure builds up, starting at my thighs, moving to my chest.
I whisper in his ear, “Do you have a condom?”
My skin feels cold as he moves away momentarily, running to the bathroom. The condom is on before he’s even back in bed. I laugh.
“That was fast.”
He licks at my neck. “Don’t worry. The rest won’t be.”
He moves his mouth to my ear, taking the soft lobe in his mouth and nibbling while he moves his other hand down my body, squeezing my breast on the way down, running his hand across my stomach, then finding my most sensitive spot and swirling.
I reach for his length, taking him in my hand, and he gasps at my touch. Running my hand up and down before I line us up, I say, “I need you.”
His pupils flare as he moves slower than I think he ever has in his entire life as he pushes inside, filling me inch by inch as he watches my face.
I lean my head back, moaning as he pulls out and does it again, this time going even deeper.
“Is that too much?”
“No. I want more.” I breathe out, my thighs shaking.
He thrusts deeper, picking up the pace, and I arch into him, increasing the pressure.
“I could watch you like this all night.”
His words make me clench harder, and an animal noise escapeshim. He pulls out and enters me again slowly, but I can’t take it anymore. I need more; I need him faster, harder.
Rolling on top of him, I settle myself down on the length of him as his hands grip my hips then my ass.
I brace myself with my palms on his chest, his tattooed skin underneath my fingers. He moves one hand to my breast, half sitting up to take it into his mouth. It’s too much and not enough. My whole body convulses as he sucks strongly on my nipple, and I come down harder on his erection.
I freeze, stars filling my vision, my body taken by wave after wave. I feel Ed clench and swell, and then he stills as well. When I open my eyes, he’s watching me, his jaw slack, his eyes smoldering.
“You are so beautiful.”
I flop down on the bed, and he lies next to me, running his hand on my arm. I roll into him, his arms around me, my head on his chest.
We melt into each other as the night stretches in front of us.
Morning comes fasterthan seems decent. I don’t even know what time I eventually fell asleep last night, tucked in the crook of Ed’s arms, the small spoon to his big spoon. The light outside is pearly pink. Quietly, I move out from our cozy nook to go check on Anh. I put my dress back on, wishing I had something else to wear, but I just have to go down the hall, one door over in fact.
Shoes in hand, I go barefoot, theShiningcarpet in the hallway soft under my feet. I open the door and head straight to the bedroom. Anh is still sleeping in the king-sized bed, a red satin sleeping mask snug on her face. Relief washes over me. I should’ve checked on her last night, but I was too swept up in the moment.
I’m about to head back to Ed’s room, snuggle back into the warmth of his body, but I realize I don’t have a key to get back in. Instead, I grab some cozy clothes out of my luggage—a threadbare T-shirt with Queen of Mystery printed on it and a pair of sweat shorts—and take them into the bathroom. I stand for a long time under the warm waterof the shower, replaying last night's events in my head. Ed’s lips on my neck, on my stomach, on my…
Anh rushes into the bathroom, interrupting my thoughts. I peek out of the shower curtain; she’s hunched in front of the toilet, retching. Hopping out, I wrap a towel around myself quickly and hold her hair back.
After a few minutes, she presses the handle and sits on the cold tile floor. I move my hand to her back, rubbing slow circles.
Anh wipes her mouth. “I should not have finished that champagne.”
“Oh, honey. Come on. Let's get you into bed.”
I help her back to the king-sized bed, and we find a trashy reality TV show marathon on the hotel’s cable. We look at the room service menu, but Anh throws it across the room. “It all sounds disgusting.”
