Page 44 of Reckless Roses
“That was…” Words are lost on me, but it’s my breath that’s stolen as August slowly stands and I take notice of the wet spot spread across the center of his jeans.
He bites his lip, running a hand through his hair before grabbing his glasses.
“Did you come?” I ask, lifting my gaze to meet his.
He swallows, face flushing brighter, and it might be the most erotic thing I’ve ever seen. “Can I be honest?”
I can’t believe he has the gall to ask, considering I’m splayed out naked beneath him, my release still dripping off his lips, and he just came in his pants. “I think we’re past asking that, Augustus.”
A hint of a smile accents his mouth as he shakes his head. “This,” he motions toward me, “is the epitome of every fantasy I’ve ever had. Seeing your body—inking it, piercing it, claiming you in any way I could…those were all fantasies too. But fuck, Elena, never in my wildest dreams could I allow myself to imagine what you’d look like when you come, writhing on my face, moaning my name. It was too painful—too far-fetched. I’ve fucked my hand to thoughts of you so many times. Seeing you in the flesh like this?” He lets out a breath. “You didn’t even have to touch me.”
My heart thrashes against my ribcage as my mind fights for a response, but I’m not sure words exist for the way this feels. All my mouth is capable of producing is, “Come kiss me.”
He leans over the chair, positioning himself between my legs, careful of my fresh piercings and sore chest. As he presses his lips to mine, it’s wet and erotic and romantic and soft all at once.
“I can taste myself on you,” I whisper into his mouth. “I like it.”
He groans, “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I bite down on his lower lip, sucking my climax away. “It tastes like you belong to me.”
“I’ve always belonged to you, Elena.”
I pull back, moving slowly as I take his face between my hands, forcing his gaze to mine. His eyes pull me in like gravity, and I fall headfirst into a kaleidoscope of green.
“I belong to you, too. I think I always have.”
He drops his forehead to mine, bringing one hand up to cup my face—a gesture so tender in comparison to everything else we’ve just done. A sigh leaves his lips, and the sound isn’t sated and content like I’d expect in this moment. It’s tormented, tortured, hesitant.
“Don’t tell me this is a one-time thing.” I laugh, but it falls flat.
August shakes his head against mine. “No, Elena. This is a forever thing.” His thumbs brush against my cheeks softly. “I don’t want to fuck this up. I’ve waited an eternity to have you like this, and I don’t want to let it go.”
“So don’t,” I whisper, grabbing his wrists.
“I don’t plan on it, but I’ve got to talk to my brother before we go any farther. I won’t have any part of you and me riddled with guilt over him.”
I don’t feel guilty at all. I closed the door on Zach and me the moment he closed the door to my apartment for the final time. And I padlocked it when I found out he has known for years how his brother felt about me—and manipulated us both to prevent me from choosing August.
Because if I had known, if I’d been given that choice to make, I would’ve chosen August. Every single fucking time. Because even when my brain was left in the dark, my soul knew something deeper existed there. He was where I felt safe, seen, and understood. He was my other half—he still is—and no part of me will ever feel guilty for finally making the right choice where my heart is concerned.
But I nod anyway, because I know at the end of the day, they’re brothers, and while I know with certainty August will fight for us, I want his relationship with Zach to endure as little damage as possible.
“I understand.” I smile at him, caught in the maze of his gemstone eyes.
“I know you down to the depths of your soul, but I want more than that now. I want to know how you need to be loved. I want to learn how to keep you the right way, Elena.” His eyes light when he smiles back at me. “I won’t touch you until I can talk to my brother. I’m going to tell him you’re the love of my life, and now that you’ve given me a chance, I won’t let go of it. I’m holding on with all I’ve fucking got, and until I can ensure he understands, I can’t touch you again.”
“You’re already torturing me.” I laugh breathlessly. I do understand where he’s coming from, but as emotion builds behind my eyes, I realize he’s what I’ve been waiting for all this time. He’s the only person I’ll ever trust to love me the right way. “I want to learn how to love you, too.”
He presses his lips to my nose, and this time when he sighs against my skin, it’s full of relief and conviction—full of love. “When I love you for the first time, Elena, I’m going to do it right. I’m going to make sure it’s the last first time for both of us.”
Stealing a kiss from lips that seemed to have awakened the stars inside my soul, I whisper, “You’ll be worth the wait.”
“You’ve always been worth the wait,” he whispers back.
16
AUGUST
