CHAPTER 20

SKYLAR

I’ve laid down the gauntlet, and this time, there’s no turning back. No more asking him to wait. No more running away. As a young girl, Scott Rivers was the only boy I ever wanted, and tonight, as I gaze into his eyes, I know without a doubt he’s the only man I’ll ever need.

Scott takes my invitation to kiss me and does just that. He makes everything perfect. He leans in, dotting the corners of my mouth with kisses so light you’d hardly know they’re there. But I feel them. Oh, boy, do I feel them. As his lips blaze a path across my jaw, my hands grip his waist in a weak attempt at holding him hostage. I want so badly just to pull him against me. Demand that he take me. I want to feel the weight of his hard, lean body crushing mine. But the painstakingly slow pace of his lips on my skin tells me he has no plans of rushing this.

Our mouths mesh together. Tongues swirling together in a slow, luxurious dance as his hands tease my sides.

“A girl could get used to this,” I murmur.

“Go ahead. I plan on keeping this up for a while,” he says between kisses. His fingers continue toying with the hem of my loose-fitting tank before finally slipping beneath to graze my ribcage. His lips come back to tease mine with deep, wet kisses that sound almost as good as they feel. His thumbs tentatively graze the side of each breast, and I silently beg him to keep going. But he doesn’t. Instead, he stops kissing me altogether and rests his forehead against mine. He lets out a low whistle and moves his hands in slow circles over my lower back. He swallows hard, and I peer up at him from beneath my lashes. “You sure you’re okay with this? ‘Cause I don’t want to do anything to ruin this night.”

We all have that one special moment. It’s usually something you’ve anticipated. Prayed for. Dreamed of night after night after night. And when it finally happens, you give yourself a mental fist pump and tell yourself that nothing, NOTHING, will ever top this moment.

My moment had always been the first time Scott kissed me. There have been many times when I found myself looking back on that afternoon. The way he looked at me just before leaning in and claiming my mouth with his. And even though he spoiled me with a thousand more kisses that had left my head spinning, I told myself that nothing would ever top the way that first kiss had made me feel. But I’d been wrong.

So. Very. Wrong.

“Scott”—I lift my chin to make sure he doesn’t miss a single word of my reply—“I’ve never wanted anything more.” He doesn’t move. Doesn’t utter a sound as I take my hands and follow the same path his have just taken on my own body. I tease slowly up his sides and over the muscles of his chest before snaking around to knead the rippled muscles in his back. My fingers grasp the hem of his shirt and start easing it off. “Take this off,” I order, and he complies.

He watches quietly as I trace the large tattoo that starts at his shoulder blade and snakes its way down his side. It’s a sexy tribal design, and I’m not sure what it represents. I don’t bother asking. Right now, it doesn’t matter. When my touch becomes too much, he pulls me into a fierce embrace, kissing me like he’s a starving man. Our tongues weave a frenzied dance, while our hands continue exploring the curves of each other’s bodies. While it’s been years since we’ve been intimate, we move as if it was only yesterday.

“I’ve missed these lips,” I murmur between kisses. “I love kissing you. I love having your hands on me, your mouth on me. Please, Scott. Make love to me.”

“I’ve waited an awful long time to hear those words again. I want you, Skylar, but if we go through with this, I need you to know that this won’t be just another hook-up for me. The moment I slip inside of you, that’s me staking my claim. In that very second, you’ll become mine.” His declaration sends a shiver down my spine as the space between my legs throbs with need. His hands move back under my shirt, and this time, they keep going until his thumbs tease my pebbled nipples. His head dips and his breath teases my ear. “Is that what you want?”

“God, yes. Take me. Make me yours,” I beg shamelessly.

His hands slip down to cup my ass as he lifts me up to his waist. My legs wrap around him as he walks us back toward the bed. I’m lowered down until I meet the soft mattress, and he bends over, kissing me softly on the lips as he slowly begins to undress me. He pops the button on my jeans then pauses to kiss me. Slowly, the zipper is lowered as his lips work their way down the column of my neck. His eyes lock with mine, never leaving me while he works to peel the denim from my body. I rise, lifting the tank over my head. My breasts are so small there’s really no need for a bra with this shirt. A sultry smile curls the corners of his mouth.

“My God. You’re delicious.” He licks his lips before falling to his knees before me.

His eyes search mine once more, seeking permission. We’ve been this far before. I’m sure that night must be fresh on his mind right now. I know it’s on mine. But this time, there’s no hesitation. No doubt on my end. I’ve wasted years cursing my past fear of what this act of love would mean for us. His hands wrap around my ankles, then he slowly makes his way up each leg and comes to rest on my hips. He hooks a finger under the fabric then steps back to slip off my panties. The next thing I know, I’m being covered in light kisses. He starts with my foot, nibbling the pad of my big toe before trailing his tongue slowly along the arch. He continues working his way up my leg, pausing behind each knee where he licks and sucks until I’m squirming and panting beneath him. He laughs and continues to follow the invisible course he’s mapped out on my body. Every touch and tease leaves me a panting, sweaty mess.

Skilled fingers tease the apex of my thighs, and I whimper with need. A devilish chuckle falls past his lips when he removes his hand to resume kissing me.

“You’re evil,” I tease when we finally break apart.

He shakes his head while cupping my breast with his hand. “Not evil, just patient. Some tasks require extra special attention.”

I throw back my head and laugh at that. “I see. So now I’m a task?”

He dips his head to my breast, his mouth less than an inch away when he smiles and admits. “Baby, you’re right at the top of my to-do list.”

I close my eyes and fall back against the pillows, while he continues to worship my body. By now, I’m so worked up I’m ready to climb him like a tree. His tongue parts my slit, and he quickly takes me over the edge. My climax is so strong I can’t keep from screaming out his praises.

Good God, who knew a man could be so skilled with his mouth.

He crawls up my body to lean over me, not even giving me time to catch my breath before sliding two fingers inside me, moving them gently in and out, while his tongue repeats the gesture inside my mouth. He pumps twice, curling them back toward his chest, then repeats the motion over and over until I’m begging him to fill me.

“No.” His head shakes back and forth and he continues the pleasurable torture. He doesn’t stop until my body is twitching and trembling beneath him. “You’re beautiful when you come. You know that?”

He kneels between my legs, his eyes never leaving mine as he rolls on a condom. This time when he settles between my legs, I lift my hips to meet him. The crown of his swollen cock breaches my opening and he enters, slowly at first, giving my body a chance to acclimate to the welcome intrusion.

“You okay?” he grunts, not moving, because right now, everything feels so tight. So good.

After a few seconds, I begin breathing again and we both begin to move. I lift my body and move my hips in time with his, our rhythm increasing with each thrust. We roll over and I ride him. Meeting what he’s giving me thrust for thrust. He bucks into me with wild abandon. Grunting and moaning. Praising everything from God to Jabba the Hut for the way my body hugs his enormous cock. When I increase my pace, begging him to go deeper, he damn near loses his mind.

“Fuck, Skylar. I’m already worried I’ll break you in half. Are you sure?” he asks before continuing.

“I promise, I’m fine. Please, keep going. You feel so good,” I moan. He thrusts harder. Deeper. Bucking into me with a passion so fierce it only makes me crave him more. I press back against his raised knees, and he gives one final thrust, bottoming out, and I see flashes of light. Beautiful splashes of pink and white. Bliss.

“Scott,” I plead as my body tenses, preparing itself for another orgasm.

“It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you.” He cups my hips with his hands, holding me up. “Let go.” And I come apart again as he stills beneath me, filling me with his own release.

We collapse on the bed, drenched in sweat and blissfully spent from our lovemaking. We lie there, arms and legs tangled together, and he dots my face with kisses.

He falls back against the pillow and tucks me under his arm. “That was insane.”

“Good Lord. Is that what I’ve been missing all these years? Had I known that, I believe I’d have made the trip to Detroit a hell of a lot sooner.” I chuckle against him.

He joins me in laughing but turns serious fast when he rolls me over onto my back and hovers his lips above mine. “Well, Blondie. I’m not going anywhere, so I guess we better get busy making up for lost time.”

SCOTT

I wake before dawn and roll over to find Skylar lying on her side facing me. I watch quietly while she sleeps, studying the way her chest rises and falls with each breath she takes. She looks so peaceful. So much like an angel. As I stare, I find myself thinking about returning to a life without her in it. She’s only in town for a short time; before we know it, she’ll be on a plane bound for Atlanta, and then what? I’ve lost her once, so I know exactly what that feels like. I know we’ve just reconnected, and it’s probably too early to be feeling this way, but I meant what I told her last night. The moment I entered her… she became mine.

I’ve always considered myself a little possessive. It’s not that I’m trying to be a dick. I just like things a certain way. I like being in control and setting the pace. Back when Skylar and I first started dating, I’d been extremely possessive of her. The thought of another guy looking at her, or even thinking of her, used to drive me out of my mind. But Skylar never minded it. She’d never had anyone feel that way about her, so she welcomed my attention. God knows she deserved to have someone looking out for her. Over time, that possessiveness transitioned into protectiveness, and then the thought of anyone hurting her in turn made me want to lash out and hurt someone else.

But what if you’re the one who ends up hurting her? What do you do then?

Answer: You self-destruct.

I smile like a fool when I think of the way she let me hold her last night as she fell asleep. It reminded me so much of times gone by. No one else knew of the emotional turmoil Skylar endured while growing up. When we were kids, I vaguely remember her always sitting off by herself while the rest of us kids played games as a group. In middle school and high school, it had been more of the same. I remember the day I looked at her and saw her. I mean really saw her. For the first time.

It was fifth period History and the whole class had gone to the library to work on an assignment. I’d been sitting with my friends, copying the answers from Tessa Baker’s already completed assignment, when she walked in. I remember that moment, because I saw her and it was as if time stood still. I spent weeks trying to get her to talk to me. She was painfully shy and sometimes tested my patience, but for some crazy reason, I loved bothering her. I knew if I kept bothering her, I’d finally get her to crack. The first time she smiled at my efforts, I knew I had to keep trying. In the end, it had all been worth it.

Skylar stirs, her eyes fluttering open to land on me. She gives me a sleepy smile, and I can’t resist giving her a kiss on the tip of her nose.

“Good morning,” she says softly.

I smile and pat the space next to me for her to fill. “Good morning to you. You sleep well?”

She scoots over and snuggles tightly against my body. “I most certainly did. I’m pretty sure it had something to do with the company. Or maybe it was the sex.” She drags her hand over my hip.

“When we get back to Detroit, we’ll have to test out both of your theories.”

She laughs a happy laugh and gives my arm a squeeze. “I think maybe that could be arranged.”

“What time is your flight?”

“Eleven. What about you?”

“What do you know? Mine’s at eleven, too.” I waggle my brows suggestively. “If we’re on the same flight, maybe we could sneak off to the lavatory and test out your sex theory.”

“Oh, God. I am not having sex with you on an airplane.” She smacks at my arm.

“Good point. You’re pretty noisy in the sack.” I laugh and reach an arm around her waist. This time when she goes for me, I grasp her wrists and roll her over onto her back. With my free hand, I pull down the sheet to reveal her naked body. True to herself, she turns shy now that I’m looking at her in the light of day. I lower my mouth to her parted lips and do my damnedest to quell her insecurities.