Page 56 of Family Forever
She stared at him like she was waiting for some response, but the emotions running rabid through his body prevented him from forming any coherent thought whatsoever. But he was saved, he didn’t have to think. He only needed to respond as she leaned toward him and pressed her soft, slightly open lips to his. He had dreamed of this day for so long, imagined how her lips would feel against his, and how she would taste. It was a good thing he was sitting down because the overwhelming heavenly feeling slamming though his body would have probably knocked him on his butt.
Dylan wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tiny body onto his lap. He inched his lips back from hers and lost himself in the depths of her ocean-blue gaze.
He cupped her milky white cheeks in his hands, then he eyed her kissable lips. Did he risk another taste? He knew the answer to that question. He was already gone, already hers, had been for some time now, but had just been too stupid to act on it. Not any longer. It was time to let himself go. He wanted her, no, needed her as much as the very oxygen he breathed.
The stairs were not the place he wanted to resume this with her so he rose to his feet with her in his arms. Though he wanted nothing more than to cart her off to his bed, he willed himself to take it slow, and took a seat on the couch, her on his lap, straddling him. He stilled for a moment to realign his thoughts. This was Marissa. He wanted to handle things correctly. He loved her and didn’t want to screw it up, and more importantly, he wanted to make sure she was truly ready. He was all in and wanted to make sure she would be as well.
He leaned toward her and brushed his lips across hers. She parted her lips slightly, drawing his tongue into her warm, moist mouth. Her sweet flavor seeped into his tongue and then filled every cell in his being. He kissed her long and softly. Her lips stayed on his, matching his every move as if she’d already kissed him for a lifetime. Their tongues danced together as if they’d composed the melody together in a past life. Her slim fingers wove through his hair, and she pulled his head more tightly to her. Instinctively, his tongue dove deeper into the unexplored depths of her mouth. He probed desperately, seeking to absorb every bit of her flavor. His arms tightened around the small of her back as he pulled her toward him, the soft curves under the sweatshirt she wore pressed firmly to him. It crossed his mind to remove the cloth barrier between them but that wouldn’t coincide with thetake it slowidea that was quickly being replaced with theno better time than the presenttheory. His logical brain was losing the battle to his illogical body.
Minutes later, Marissa pulled back and stared at him with those bright blue eyes that always caught his attention. Her lips looked puffy. A red hue bordered them. Her normally pale cheeks were flush.
Her gaze stayed on him as her shoulders rose with the deep breath she took, and then fell when she let it out. “I’ve wanted to do that for the longest time.”
“Me too.”
He pulled her to him again and kissed her long and slow, then heated, wet and hard, only coming up for air every so often before starting the process all over again. Who needed sleep? He could do this all night.
It was still dark outside when Dylan’s eyes popped open. He glanced at the living room wall clock. The boys would be waking soon. It was a school day.
Marissa’s head rested just below his chin. Her silky strands of hair smelled like a refreshing spring morning and felt soft against his neck. Her small warm hand lay on his chest. Her breaths were slow and even. It felt so right to have her lying in his arms. Though they hadn’t made love, he felt completely satisfied. She gave him exactly what he needed last night. Support, comfort, love, and understanding, just the nourishment he needed to regroup and face another day. If he felt this good just from kissing and holding her, he couldn’t begin to imagine how he’d feel once he made love to her, the woman he loved.
She stirred momentarily when he slipped out from under her and repositioned the afghan over her.
Dylan tiptoed into the kitchen and started the coffee brewing, and made Nate and Luke’s sack lunches. Aric and Braden opted for the school lunch when they saw the menu. He had nearly a whole cup of coffee down when he heard the boys tramping down the stairs. Surely that would wake the lovely woman on the couch.
“See, I told you Marissa was here,” Luke said to the rest of the group as they filed into the kitchen.
“Shh, she’s sleeping.”
“No, I’m not, and it's okay,” Marissa’s voice chimed in a perky tone from the living room.
She stepped into the kitchen. Her smile lit up the room. “Good morning. You guys want some eggs for breakfast?”
It didn’t matter what she offered to make them, they’d take it just so they didn’t have to make their own meal.
Dylan set his coffee cup on the counter. “Come on, Luke, why don’t we get you dressed while Marissa makes breakfast.”
Luke nodded at him.
“Maybe the rest of you should do the same, then we’ll have time to sit down and eat together.”
Marissa shot him a smile over her shoulder. The boys hustled back up the stairs. They must have really wanted to spend some time with her because not one of them fought or complained the whole while they got ready for school. It was like a miracle. Or was it the sign from God he’d been waiting for.
By the time they returned to the kitchen, she had the scrambled eggs, sausage, and toast on the table waiting for them.
The younger boys talked excitedly to Marissa as they ate their breakfast. He knew they missed her when she was away and he couldn’t blame them. Who wouldn’t miss such a wonderful and caring person? She gave each brother her undivided attention as they updated her on their school, scouting, and sporting activities. Though he was thoroughly enjoying this family breakfast, and the fact that everybody else seemed to be as well, he was also dying to get his brothers on the bus so he could steal a few more minutes of alone time with Marissa before she headed back to school.
He shooed his brothers out the door and returned to the kitchen to find Marissa clearing off the table. “Don’t worry about that now, I’ll take care of it later. What time do you need to leave by?”
“My first class starts at nine-thirty so I have about thirty minutes or so.”
A shiver of excitement shot through him, he could kiss her a lot in thirty minutes. Coincidently, she could kiss him senseless in less than that amount of time, just like she’d done last night. Now that’s something he was willing to risk. At this very moment, he didn’t care if he ever had another coherent thought, he simply needed her lips on his.
Cupping her cheeks in his hands, he tilted her head up for better access to those kissable lips of hers. The hint of sage from the breakfast sausage mixed with her unique flavor tantalized his taste buds. He dipped his tongue a little deeper into the warm depths of her mouth, sensations swirled in his stomach. His body ached with need but thirty minutes was not enough time to do what he wanted with her. Sadly, that would have to wait for another time. With any luck, perhaps this weekend. Cole had offered to come home for a couple of days to help, maybe he should let him so he could sneak off with Marissa for a couple of days.
The renewed energy coursing through his veins was definitely attributable to her presence. Yesterday evening, he wasn’t sure he had the strength to go on, and now, he felt like he could climb a mountain or take on three more brothers. He could do anything as long as she was at his side.
On the verge of needing a crowbar for assistance, he finally managed to pull his lips from Marissa’s. She needed to get on her way in a few minutes.
