Page 35 of Five Goodbyes

“You’re an evil, terrible, horrible tease. You know that, right?” I whine.

Another round of cards gets dealt. We start making our bets, and then I lose my composure as she reaches for the honey, her fingers delicately dipping into its golden depths. With a smile that radiates mischief, she brings her fingers to her mouth and closes her lips over the top of it. I watch, captivated, as her fingers leave her mouth, and she pushes them to me in a tantalizing invitation to taste the golden sweetness.

“Your turn, Hunter,” she says, her voice a playful whisper. “What will it be?”

I take a moment to savor the possibilities. My gaze drifts across the table, landing on the syrup bottles lined up like vibrant jewels. A mischievous grin tugs at the corners of my lips as I reach for the rich, velvety chocolate sauce.

“Two honeys, one whip cream, and one strawberry syrup.”

“That’s a big bet,” Jasmine purrs.

“And I haven’t even said where I plan on putting them,” I say. There isn’t any joke in my voice.

The aroma of chocolate is still sitting in my nose, wine still coating my palate, and undertones of honey dancing on my tongue. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation, the room alive with an electric energy that crackles between us. As I take a bite into a strawberry that Jasmine offers, the flavors explode on my tongue — a delightful dance of sweet and bitter, an indulgence to be savored.

Jasmine leans back in her chair, a look of satisfaction painting her features. “Cheers to us, Hunter,” she says, raising her wine glass. “To these moments of pure bliss, and the love that binds us.”

I begin to offer my glass to hers, expecting the sound to echo through the room. Then my action stops as she slowly begins to pour wine onto her chest. Just enough for a thin line to run down her stomach and stop at the top of her finely manicured pelvis. The evil smile she gives me makes my throbbing shaft involuntarily jump.

“Nope,” she says as I begin to get up from my seat. She pushes me back with her foot.

We continue our game, the cards now a mere backdrop to our sexual tension. Time loses its significance, and the outside world fades. There's only the here and now, and I feel like my heart won’t take much more of this.

I can’t tell you what my cards are. My brain’s shorting out. I don’t know if I’ve ever been under so much sexual pressure. When Jasmine laughs at her winning hand, I melt.

“Take it off!” she cries.

I do as commanded, standing, and letting my boxers drop to the floor. My hand slams onto the table for the support I need to continue to stay upright while that honey is drizzled over me. As soon as her tongue reaches my skin I black out. The reward of losing.

“Jasmine,” I say softly, breaking the silence after she brings me to another dimension.

“Hunter,” Jasmine slowly says, satisfied with a job well done.

“Thank you for being the light in my life, for creating these moments of pure joy.”

She turns to me, her eyes shimmering with affection. “No, Hunter,” she replies, her voice filled with love. “Thank you for being my rock. Together, we create magic.”

Now that I’ve lost the last hand there’s no holding me back. It won’t take me long to recover, and she needs to be satisfied, so I quickly scoop her up and passionately kiss her as I carry her down the hall and to the bedroom. This night isn’t going to end any time soon. I just pray I never wake from this reality because it’s exactly where I need to be.

Chapter Twelve

I wake with a jolt, the blinding sun rays penetrating through the sheer curtains, announcing we’ve overslept. My heart pounds as I glance at the clock on the nightstand. 10:30 AM. We’re supposed to meet Jasmine’s parents in half an hour. Frantically, I leap from bed, feeling a surge of panic coursing through me. My body aches in all of the places I’d like to gloat in, but the fear of being late to one of the biggest days of my life overrides all joy from a long, beautiful night of lovemaking.

“Jasmine!” I exclaim, my voice full of urgency. “We’re late. We need to get dressed and get out of here. Your parents will never forgive me if we show up late.”

Jasmine, still drowsy, turns toward me, a smirk dancing on her lips. She lazily stretches. “Relax, Hunter. They’ll forgive you . . . eventually. I, on the other hand, won’t forgive you for what you did to me last night with how sore I am all over. How is it even possible for you to go four rounds? I can go ten, but you . . . well . . .” She trails off as she looks down at the currently growing arousal in front of her. This woman makes me do things that should be impossible. I might be in my prime, but I’m not Hugh Hefner.

I shoot a playful glare her way before hastily grabbing clothes from the wardrobe. With every one I put on, I feel the seconds slipping away. Jasmine watches me with amusement, her laughter filling the room.

“Come back to bed, Hunter,” she teases, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “I’ve seen you get dressed for a night out in record time. I have faith in your speedy . . . skills.”

I shake my head as my body urges me to take her up on the offer. “Down boy,” I murmur before chuckling, trying to keep my composure amidst the frenzy. “No sex for you, woman. Yes, you’re right. I've mastered the art of last-minute dressing. But meeting your parents adds an extra layer of pressure. Get your sexy ass out of bed. I mean that both literally and figuratively.”

She grins and makes a show of slowly rolling out of bed. This may be the only time in my life this will happen, but as she walks over to me, completely naked, helping me find a perfect tie to complete my outfit, I don’t push her against the wall and take her right here and now. She sighs in disappointment when her seduction doesn’t work.

“Don’t worry, Hunter. You’ll charm them today like you have every day they’ve been here. And even if there are issues, my irresistible smile will win them over.”

I smile back at her, feeling the tension ease. Being with this woman is better than any anxiety med on the market. She’s my other half. “So it’s your smile that will do the trick, huh? Well, I’ll make sure to keep you by my side throughout the entire morning.”

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