Page 52 of The Love Audit
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Jasmine
There are lots of ways to wake up in the morning: a blaring alarm clock, the sun shining through a bedroom window, or the wail of an ambulance siren zooming down a city street. The best way by far is waking up with Derek Carter’s head between my legs, with his tongue caressing all of my intimate places, and with his fingertips gripping my thighs to hold me in place.
“That feels so good, Derek,” I said in a sleepy moan before reaching down to caress his scalp with my fingernails. He stopped moving suddenly and before I could ask why, a smile spread across my face, and I added, “Sir. That feels so good, sir.”
He returned his attention to my core before I peeled back the duvet to watch him work. He briefly picked up his head and smiled at me before leaning down and sucking the pulsing button between my labia, eliciting a guttural moan of pleasure. I desperately hoped he wouldn’t make me wait before coming this time, because I was on the edge of an explosion that was in no danger of stopping.
“Yes, please,” I screamed a moment later as an orgasm ripped through my entire body, making me spasm, twitch, and dig my nails into Derek’s scalp. The sensations were so overwhelming that I tried to squirm away from his frenzied tongue, but he held me in place while continuing to devour me like I was his last meal. He finally relented once I begged him to stop, and he kissed his way up my body, finally planting a firm kiss on my lips.
“Good morning, kitten,” he purred in a low growl, wearing a self-satisfied grin that displayed two rows of perfect, gleaming white teeth.
“Great morning, sir.” I sighed and pressed our lips together before sliding my tongue into his mouth, savoring the lingering taste of my pleasure.
“What do you have planned for the day?” He played with one of my nipples through the cotton fabric of my T-shirt.
“I told Eleanor I’d help her with some planning for the annual Founders’ Day picnic today,” I answered, “but that’s not until later this afternoon. What do you have planned for the day?” I planted a kiss on his nose.
“Well”—he took the hem of my shirt and began to slowly slide it up my waist—“I was hoping that I could spend the day making love to you in every corner of this bedroom.” He raised an eyebrow before pulling my shirt over my head. “You are so beautiful, Jasmine. Every inch of you is beautiful.” He lowered his face between my breasts, inhaling loudly before planting kisses and licks on my sensitive flesh.
“I would love to spend the day making love to you,” I said in a half whisper, half moan. “Has the day already started?”
He chuckled and sat up before his face grew serious.
“Jasmine, before we do this, I have to tell you something.”
“You can tell me anything.” I placed my palm on his cheek, caressing the stubble with my thumb.
“I need to tell you this before things go any further with us, because this could change things between us, and I would hate for you to do something that you might regret later.”
“Derek, I’m a big girl. I make my own choices, so whatever you’re about to tell me, I can handle.” I fought to maintain eye contact with him, but my heart was racing. I desperately searched his face for any clue of what his next words might be. The silence between us stretched for long moments before my patience cracked.
“Do you have an STI?” I asked. “Because if that’s it, it’s nothing to be ashamed of if you—”
“No, Jasmine. I don’t have any STIs.” He cracked a small, relieved smile, which disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. “Do you have an—”
“No, I don’t.” I shook my head. “So what do you have to tell me?”
He heaved a deep sigh, but he didn’t answer me.
“Derek!” I almost shouted. The suspense was killing me.
“I love you,” he blurted out. My heart stopped, and my stomach dropped. Derek was wearing a shocked expression, making me wonder if that’s what he had really been planning to tell me, because he looked just as surprised by his words as I felt.
“You love me?” I repeated and pushed myself into a sitting position.
“Yeah,” he said in a whisper. “I do. I love you. I’m in love withyou, Jasmine.” He sounded as if he was talking to himself more than to me. It was as if he was just discovering his feelings in this moment.
“Is that really what you wanted to tell me?” My heart was still racing, trying to wrap my head around everything that Derek was saying to me while still trying to recover from the massive orgasm Derek had just given me. That moment felt like it happened a lifetime ago to a completely different person.
“I needed to tell you.” He clasped my hands. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”
“Derek,” I whispered, unable to form any other words.
“But it feels right. It’s the only thing in my life that I don’t have any doubts about, but it scares the shit out of me.”
“You’re scared?”
