Page 139 of Be My Compass

I speak with my concentration. With the smile on my lips. With the intensity in my eyes as I press against the places where fires are started and swept through and burn bright. Where the mouth meets skin. And longing meets relief and release.

I’m there.

And so is he. Though I’m not sure he understands what I’m saying.

His fingers dig into my legs. My hands press against the lock and key. Push. Balance. My hips move to the rhythm of his heartbeat. It’s skittering. Frantic. Too fast. Too—I slow it down. Move to a beat of my own. To something languid and smooth. Like silk brushing my palm.

He releases control. Allows me to take it. To feel it in my palms. To wrap my fingers around it and squeeze. He lets me own it and I tell him how I feel in the quiet spaces where my lips meet his ear.

I tell him it’s okay when we shower together. Hand plastered on the glass wall. Water trickling down into crevices and mouths and grooves. Red and pink reflects in the droplets. Sunrise creeping into a new beginning.

I tell him it’s okay when we make breakfast together. When his big fingers reach out. Turn the dial on the stove to low. Then off. When we find creative ways to sully the kitchen counter.

Sweat-drenched bodies ride the swells of heat we create when we touch. It’s there in the kitchen, my back against the wall and my legs around his waist, where Kastle finally hears me, my words, my message.

And he smiles, that stubborn I’m going to do what I want grin that tells me he made a vow last night that he’s going to keep. He will make it up to me whether I like it or not. He will spend the rest of his life loving me more and deeper and harder.

I rest my head on his shoulder as we catch our breath. Run my nose over his neck. Inhale him. Inhale us.

This new ‘us’ that bends and contorts into places I’ve never seen before. That fills up holes and kisses bruises and makes the ordinary magical. I capture sunshine in my fingers and hold on to my friend. My best friend.

Thirty-Two

Kastle

I haven’t seen my cell phone since last night. My secretary probably thinks I’m dead. And I am. Kaelyn’s touch is heaven and the burdens of a new day can’t resurrect me from this bliss.

I’m busy this morning.

My body has… other priorities.

I keep ignoring my phone.

Pretend it doesn’t exist.

But it keeps ringing.

Keeps screaming.

Kaelyn moans. “Get that.”

I bring her fingers to my lips and kiss them. “It’s probably my assistant. I have a meeting.”

“Mm-hm.”

I reach for my cell phone while Kaelyn rolls away from me and starts to dress. My eyes remain on her gorgeous body and I grin as I remember tasting every inch of it. How sweet it was. How pliable beneath my tongue.

I prop my head on my elbow and check the phone before Kaelyn steals every thought from my mind.

It’s Heath.

My eyes widen.

I answer immediately. “Hey, bro.” My voice is scratchy. Unrecognizable to me.

Heath pauses. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I sit up. “And Glory?”

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