Page 31 of Haven Bound
“Austin…” Her voice sounds like it’s buried beneath water. It's too far away to hold on to in the storming sea. Then there’s a new pressure at the back of my neck. Her hand.
I can feel her body pressed against mine like an anchor keeping me from getting lost in the waves. Then her arms are wrapping around my shoulders, her face nestling into the crook of my neck as her sweet vanilla scent envelops me and the storm that had been building in my chest completely fades away.
24
Chelsea
At some point duringAustin’s confession, I’d gotten lost in the pain and disgust that laced his words. My heart ached with every word. I realize that leaving me seven years ago was his attempt at keeping me safe. He either didn’t want to drag me into that lifestyle with him or he thought I couldn’t handle the darkness that it would entail. What he didn’t know was how dark and tortured my life had already been. He didn’t see that he was my light source and that I would’ve gone anywhere with him by my side.
The shadows that clouded his eyes and weighed heavy on his shoulders became more evident with each piece of his story. His quick breaths, the inability to focus, and the way his voice had softened with each word were all indicators that his mind was somewhere else. Without giving it a second thought, I was pulling him into a hug with my arms around his neck, letting my body settle against his.
I remember reading once that being hugged can have a calming effect. As silly as it sounds, hugs can reduce stress and lower your heart rate, which then lessens the feeling of anxiety. In the same way that the extra pressure from a weighted blanket or pillow helps me to feel calm and grounded, I hoped that hugging Austin would help ground him too.
I've never been the type to crave any kind of physical contact. It's most certainly not one of my so-called love languages. However, I wasn’t prepared for the way it would feel to be back in his arms like this, to inhale his citrus and sandalwood scent and feel like I’m finally home.
“Chelsea,” he rasps. His large hands trail down my back and settle on my hips as he gently pulls free from the embrace. His eyes have taken on the color of a storming sea, and I so desperately want to get lost in the waves. “I’m not a good person. I’ve ki—”
I reach up and press my fingers to his lips to quiet him. “Yousavepeople, Austin.” His eyes fall shut, his breath shuddering as my words settle within him. “I can’t even imagine how many lives you’ve saved over the past seven years or how many more you will save in the years to come. As far as I’m concerned, you’re thebestperson, Austin.”
His lips are crashing against mine like waves against the shore before I can utter another word. His hands grip my waist tightly as he pulls my body against his. I can feel the hard evidence of his arousal pressing against the zipper of his jeans. I’ve never been as frustrated by layers of clothing as I am right now.
I slide one hand up the back of his neck and rake my fingernails over his scalp, tugging on his hair and gripping the front of his shirt with the other hand as though he’ll disappear if I don’t hang on to him. A deep groan rumbles from his chest as he moves a hand to my neck, his thumb caressing my jaw as his fingers brush against the wet strands of my hair. He tilts my head and swipes his tongue across the seam of my lips, requesting access.
Feeling his tongue glide against mine sends a fire blazing through my veins, and I can't stop the whimper that escapes me.The groan he released a moment ago has me wanting to find out what other sounds I can cause. I’ve never wanted anything as desperately as I want him. Raking my nails over his scalp once more, I give a gentle tug to the hair at the back of his head before trailing my hands down his back until they rest at his belt.
“Fuck, Sunflower,” He rasps as he slides his hand from my waist down to my ass, gripping it and pulling me impossibly closer. “I’ve been dreaming of what it would be like to kiss you again for years. You have no idea how many nights I spent wishing you were next to me.”
My mind is suddenly filled with visions of Austin laying in bed alone at night, stroking himself while memories and fantasies of me flood his mind.
“Did you…” I can feel my cheeks heating at the words that I fail to speak.
“Did I… what?” A knowing smirk pulls at his lips. Like he knows exactly what I want to ask but he refuses to answer without me first voicing the question.
My gaze falls to his lips as I slowly drag my teeth over my bottom lip.
Just say the words, Chelsea.
“How many times have you… gotten off while thinking of me?” I ask, looking back up to meet his eyes once the words are spoken.
I watch as he drags his bottom lip between his teeth, his eyes darkening as he leans in and says, “Over the years as we’ve been apart, every single time that I gave in to that desire, it was to thoughts of you.” His deep voice sends a pulsing heat to my core. My hands tighten at his waist.
“Sometimes,” he continues, his hand at the back of my neck, grabbing my hair into his fist and tugging my head back in a gentle pull. “I’dimagine you naked and on your knees in front of me, your mouthwatering curves on display as you sucked me deep into your throat.”
His other hand moves along the waistband of my shorts, teasing just beneath the fabric. “Sometimes, I’d imagine you straddling my hips as you rode my cock.”
He kisses the area just below my ear and then slowly begins to trail his lips along my jaw. He moves his hands to mine, guiding them beneath the fabric of his t-shirt. A shiver runs down my spine at the feeling of his skin beneath my fingertips.
Taking a small step back, our eyes lock on each other for a moment. The desire coursing between us intensifies.
I need this.
I need him.
Holding his gaze, I sit down on the edge of the bed and scoot back, giving him room to follow me.
Austin slowly begins to unbutton his maroon dress shirt, flicking the buttons open one by one. His storm-filled blue eyes remain locked on mine. He pulls his arms free and lets the shirt drop to the ground at his feet. Seeing his bare chest in front of me, I take a moment to admire his body and the light dusting of dark hair that runs across his chest and from just below his navel to beneath the waistband of his black pants.
He leans forward and braces his hands on the bed, still standing at the edge of it as his gaze rakes over my body. Despite the heat pooling between my legs, I can’t help but squirm beneath his gaze.
