Page 79 of What Comes After

Because it didn’t matter to me now. All I cared about was being right where I was—in his arms, our bodies pressed close together, and his lips on mine.

I couldn’t even begin to quantify what I was feeling.

Years.

God, it had been years of remembering what we had and believing I’d lost it forever.

Now, it was back. He was back.

And everything about him and this moment was consuming me.

The scent of him around me, fresh and spicy, warm and woodsy, only pulled me in closer to him. It was subtle yet inviting, drawing me in deeper.

I’d been trying to ignore the masculine scent of him for weeks, and I’d been mostly successful. But now I didn’t stand a chance, because as I had the aroma invading my nostrils while he kissed my lips, it was mixed with the sounds coming from him.

Deep rumbles from his chest vibrated against my body. They started there and became what could only be described as satisfying groans, the kind you’d expect to hear after someone took a bite of their favorite dessert. Only in this case, with the way Theo was kissing me, his soft lips claiming mine in a way I didn’t know was possible, it was safe to say Theo thought I was a delicious treat.

But what affected me more than the scent and sounds was the feel of Theo. Or maybe it was the feel of us together. I didn’t know how to describe it. He’d released my hand a long time ago, slid his arm around my waist, and tugged me close. My body tight to his, Theo’s other hand drove into my hair at the side of my head, settled at the back of my skull, and his fingertips pressed in every so often, matching the moans as they left him.

The physical closeness, the complete lack of space between our bodies, finally felt like it matched the connection we’d had in our hearts for years. The way Theo held me was possessive yet gentle, like he wanted to claim me at the same time he thought I was precious to him. I loved the dichotomy between the power and strength of his hold and the warmth and tenderness of his touch.

All that I was experiencing made it impossible for me to avoid the buildup of desire and longing. I loved what was happening, but I was desperate for more. But no amount of hunger for Theo could bring me to pull my mouth away from his to ask for what I wanted. My fear that he might come to his senses and put a stop to this altogether was far too great.

But no sooner had I had that thought when Theo tore his mouth from mine. With his forehead pressed against mine, both of our chests rapidly rising and falling with our labored breaths, he asked, “What’s happening here?”

He knew.

He had to know the answer to that question already.

But perhaps this wasn’t about him not knowing so much as it was about him wanting my admission of it.

This was my chance, my opportunity. My moment.

I’d had plenty of bad ones over the course of my life, but this one felt different. Being held close to him, emboldened by the words he’d just shared, I felt confident I could take this moment and make it beautiful, make it the best one of my whole life.

“I fell in love with you when I was thirteen years old,” I started, a bit breathless. “I fell off my bike, and you came to my rescue, patching me up. That was the moment I knew how much I loved you, and there hasn’t been a day since when I’ve ever stopped.”

“Jesus,” he hissed, angling my head in a way that put me in the perfect position for his mouth to descend on mine once more.

While this kiss didn’t last nearly as long as the first one, Theo added another element, which made it that much more enjoyable. His tongue ran along the seam of my lips, a silent yet unmistakable demand for access. I granted it, and the moment I felt his tongue inside my mouth, a shot of desire went right between my legs, forcing a moan to escape.

Theo pulled back once more, the grip he had on my hair much firmer than before. “What are we doing?” he asked, his voice deep and husky.

A smile formed on my face, a sense of pride moving through me. I’d made Theo McCormick sound like he was riding on the very edge of losing control. It was almost like having all of my wildest dreams come true.

Almost.

“We’re doing what we should have done a long time ago,” I whispered. “You’re going to make love to me tonight, Theo.”

He released my hair, the backs of two of his fingers stroking tenderly down the side of my face. “Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

“I’ve had more years than I care to admit to prepare for it. I think I’m beyond ready,” I confessed.

He dropped his mouth to mine, pressing several chaste kisses against my lips. Then I was up in his arms, and Theo was carrying me through my apartment to my bedroom.

Any and all thoughts or worries I had about where I lived or what he might have thought no longer existed.

I was with Theo.

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