Page 45 of No Limits

Pulling into my driveway, I take a deep breath before I get out of the car. I look at my house.Ourhouse. The one Lochlyn and I have together. The one I planned for us to build and make together. Instead, I feel very alone.

Letting myself in and putting my keys in the bowl by the front door, I jump, my hand flying to my chest, when I spot Lochlyn standing against the doorframe that leads from the living room to the kitchen.

“Lochlyn, you scared me. What are you doing here? It’s Friday.” No part of me expected him to be home. Even by dinner. I didn’t actually think I’d risk seeing him until maybe tomorrow, but more likely Sunday for family dinner.

“I took the day off.” He says it so nonchalantly. Like he does it all the time.

My eyes widen and my mouth hangs open. “You what?”

“I took today off.” He hasn't taken a day off in three years. Not a single one. Not really.

“Why?” Neither of us has moved from our spot. My feet are glued in place by the front door. Lochlyn is still leaning against the doorframe like the wall will collapse if he moves. Reading him, I know he wants to come over to me, wants to touch me, hold me, but is holding back. As frustrated and hurt as I am, I wish he would.

“Shay, you’re the most important thing in the world to me and I love you more thananything. I haven't lost sight of that. But I stopped showing you. That’s on me. I can't even begin to apologize enough. I sat up all night trying to figure out what I can say to you to make things better and I realized…nothing. There’s nothing I can say. It’s what I have todo. I have to make you the priority again. So yes, I took today off, in the hopes you were going to come home, and we could be together. And if you don't want to spend time with me, I understand that. But I need to be here.”

My eyes stay locked on his. But I can't move. His gaze is so intense, his words making my heart race so fast I’m afraid it will take off in flight.

Lochlyn must sense my hesitation because he pushes off the doorway and takes the few big strides that close the gap between us. Cupping my face, he pulls me against him as his mouth claims mine. There’s an urgency to his kiss, the way his tongue begs for entrance, the way his hands slide down my body.

I've missed it. The desperation that used to exist between us, the way he couldn't keep his hands off of me, and it seemed like he'd die if he didn't get to touch me soon. It’s been gone for so long that now to have it back, it’s almost more than I can take.

My body reacts in the opposite way I want it to by bursting into tears. Pulling my head to his chest, he wraps his arms around me and rocks slightly from side to side.

“I’m sorry, Shay. I’m so sorry. I’m going to be making some very serious changes in my work ethic and setting my priorities straight?”

Walking backward, Lochlyn brings me over to the couch. The one I picked out alone because he was so busy working. If I think about it, with the assistance of his credit card, I furnished most of the house by myself, with Chelsea in tow.

Lochlyn pulls me right into his lap, tucking my head against his chest, under his chin. The circles on my back soothe me, as does Lochlyn’s sandalwood scent that surrounds me.

Once my breaths have leveled, and my eyes are dry, Lochlyn’s fingers roam further than my back. He starts with slight dips along my hips and thighs before he moves them along the inner seam of my jeans.

With his free hand, he cups my jaw and turns my face to his, gently connecting his lips with mine. His hand slips into my hair as his lips turn more forceful.

Adjusting me on his lap, he slides out from under me, positioning himself in front of me. When I part my legs for him, he quickly moves into place, laying me backward on the couch.

He rests on his forearms on either side of me, balancing his weight so his chest just barely grazes mine. A slight dip of his hips and his erection presses right against my thigh.

“I need you, Shay. I need to make you come. I need to know I still have that effect on you. Please.” There’s desperation in his words, his voice. How could he possibly think that he doesn’t have that effect on me anymore? We’ve gone through a rough year, but I still love him beyond measure. There have been times that I haven’t had an orgasm, but that was simply due to his lack of caring and trying to get me there.

Linking my fingers behind his neck, I pull him down on top of me, crushing the air from my lungs and slamming our mouths together. It almost hurts, but I need him as much as he needs me, maybe more.

“Are you still mine, Shay?”

“I’ve always been yours, Lochlyn. Always. And nothing can ever change that.”

At my confession, he groans and drags his rock-hard length along my clit as his mouth closes on my neck, sucking, licking, and biting. As he kisses his way down my chest, he groans and drops his head.

“I’m too tall for doing this on this damn couch.” With a devilish smirk, his eyes meet mine. “We’re going to go buy a new one tomorrow. But for now…”

Jumping to stand, he quickly grips my waist and throws me over his shoulder, smacking my ass as he makes his way upstairs.

When we get to our room, he practically throws me on the bed, quickly diving on after me and slowly gliding his body up mine. Sometimes, he does these little things—new ones that he’s never done before or old like he used to—that bring me back to our early times together.

He bends his head to kiss along my neck, making his way down my body and stopping between my thighs where he peppers kisses as he unbuttons my jeans.

As he stands to throw my pants on the ground, he reaches behind his head and yanks off his shirt. It’s always stolen my breath when he does it that way, his muscles flexing perfectly.

Moving back over me, he glides his palms up my legs until they reach my hips, where he dips his finger under the waistline of my panties and slides them off.

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