Page 68 of All My Firsts

I was struck with the beauty of the man above me. The way his hair framed his face, falling around his jawline, a bit long and in need of a cut. His stubble was longer, not shaven in days while on vacation, but I didn’t mind. It was sexy as hell. His arms were flexed as he held his weight off of me, his arms looking their biggest and showing off his tattoo. I reached up to run my finger along the lines of it and loved that it sent shivers through his body.

He started to take his shirt off in that way I loved as he lowered himself onto me, but Istopped him.

“Not yet,” I said. “I’m still enjoying the view.” Eventually, I reached down for the hem of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head. My hands wandered from his face down to the taut pectoral muscles covered in the wings of his eagle. I pushed myself up a bit so I could place kisses across his chest, causing an audible moan to escape from him.

“Lanie, you’re killing me.” His head was thrown back, his eyes closed. I continued admiring his muscular abs by running my fingers over the bulging planes of eachone of them.

“Did you know you have eight of these, not six? Is that normal?” Giggling when he moaned again, I knew he wasn’t happy with my line of questioning. I finally made it down to my favorite part, that sexy V. I’d admired this part of him for so long, dreaming of seeing it up close, feeling it. My fingers ran along each side of the tight muscles to the band of boxer briefs peeking out of his jeans, my finger dipping below for an extra touch. My mouth inched forward, aching to taste him. The softness of my lips against the flexed muscles of his abs caused a throbbing sensation between my legs. I rubbed my thighs together, seeking relief, as my tongue darted out to taste his skin. The saltiness of him combined with his heat made me want to devour every inch of his body. And he enjoyed that, moaning again.

This time, his moan was guttural, carnal.

Splaying my palms on his lower abdomen, I rubbed the entire area. I pushed my hands around to his backside, feeling his tight ass through his jeans, now wishing they were off. I quickly reached around for his button. He made quick work of that by standing up and taking them and his shirt off in a matter of seconds. My hands immediately went around him, finding his taut ass as he climbed on top of me, naked.

“I think it would only be fair for you to take your clothes off, too.” His forehead was on mine, his eyes closed, and his voice was strained, asif in pain.

I knew I was doing this to him, and it actually made me feel good, kindof powerful.

“Can I take your clothesoff, Lanie?”

I loved that he still asked my permissionevery time.

I loved him.

“Please do. Now.”

He made quick work of that as well, nothing romantic like the other times. This time was different – it was need. Once we were both back on the bed, him on top, he looked in my eyes. His arms cradled my head, his knee separating my legs, our mouths only centimeters apart.

“I need you; I need to be inside you.” His hair fell over his eyes as he spoke. I reached to push it away as he said, “I love you.”

I nodded. My permission was granted, and he pushed his body into mine.

“I will always love you, birdie.”

Our bodies found a rhythm.

“I will never hurt you,”he promised.

That rhythm became stronger, faster.

“You will always be mine, and I will always be yours,” heproclaimed.

He never once took his eyes off mine.

“God, I love you,”he declared.

Our bodies slowed, and Xander lowered his head next to mine, kissing my cheek, my ear. He held me tight, as if he thought he was goingto lose me.

“Xander, I love you, too.”

Chapter 18

It was weird to hear the landline ring as Xander and I were getting our coats on. We were heading out to the station to meet up with Bryce and some of his coworkers for lunch.

“It’s probably just a robo call,” I told him as he looked toward the kitchen, listening to the phone ring and ring. He looked torn aboutwhat to do.

“You’re probably right, but we don’t really get those anymore. What if it’s someone who really needs to get in touch with us?” He’d already started taking a few steps toward the kitchen when it stopped ringing, stopping him in his tracks. “Well, whatever. If they really need us, they’llcall back.”

And it started ringing again.

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