The silk caressed my bare skin, whispering around my thighs as I slowly walked towards him. He spent so much time taking care of me, making sure I was happy, that I was safe. It was my turn to do the same for him. He'd insisted that he didn't need it, that loving me was all he wanted, but I'd told him the truth. That I wanted to do this. I needed to. I had to know that he needed me as badly as I needed him.

He sat on the couch and I paused for a moment to admire him. He'd just come in from work and still wore his dress pants and shirt. The tie and jacket hung over the arm of the couch and his shoes were by the front door. He'd undone the top two buttons of his shirt and his hair was tousled from pulling off his tie. His eyes were fixed on me, a smoldering shade that reminded me of the sky on a hot summer's night.

He was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, and I knew that went beyond the physical. He had an amazing heart and mind. Smart, sweet and strong. If I'd ever dreamed of a prince coming to rescue me, I would've made him exactly like Rylan. He was the only man I'd ever really wanted and the only one I ever would want.

I knew people would say that I was being foolish, that after a while, anyone would get bored with the same person, that it was natural to want to look elsewhere. I didn't accept that. What I felt for Rylan was deeper than anything I'd ever felt before. Sometimes, I thought it'd be too much, that I wouldn't be able to contain it all. It was like some sort of hot, liquid energy pulsing under my skin and if I wasn't careful, it would burst out and set everything around me on fire.

Napalm.

That was what it was like, I thought. It burns and consumes, unable to be quenched.

He shifted on the couch, the movement pulling me away from my thoughts and back to the reality of him. I started walking again, one foot in front of the other to make my hips sway. As I went, I worked loose the belt to the robe and let the sides fall open. I smiled as I saw Rylan swallow hard. The soft material brushed against my breasts and legs as it moved with me. I didn't look down, but I knew it was revealing my body in small strips, playing with the shadows to hide as much as it showed.

I stopped just before my knees touched his. He started to reach for me and I shook my head. I fully intended to enjoy myself, but right now, it was all about him. I ran my foot along his calf and then settled it next to his knee on the couch. The position made the robe fall away from my right side, exposing me more completely.

I didn't say a word as I trailed my fingers over my thigh and across my stomach. His eyes followed the movement and he drew in a sharp breath when my hand dropped lower, fingers combing through the thin layer of black curls that I kept neatly trimmed. My own eyelids fluttered as I slid a finger between my folds. I was hot and slick already, desperate for him. I was always desperate for him. Even when he was inside me, it wasn't enough, not until we reached that point when we were no longer two bodies but as close to one as was possible.

My clit throbbed as I lightly touched it and I moaned, pressing harder. I felt his hand close around my ankle, strong fingers solid against my skin. He didn't touch me anywhere else, but his thumb moved in slow circles and I found my fingers matching his movement. My free hand rose to my breast, sliding under the robe to cup the mound. I squeezed it as my stomach began to tighten, my fingers unerringly finding my nipple. The sensitive flesh hardened as I began to roll it between my thumb and forefinger.

My head fell back as I used my fingers to spread my lips. My palm rubbed against my clit as I moved my hand lower, penetrating my pussy with my middle finger. I heard Rylan groan as I began to work my finger in and out. I was nearly dripping, but still tight. My fingers twisted my nipple, pulling at it until I was shuddering as I came. I pressed my hand against me, riding out my climax even as Rylan's fingers tightened on my ankle.

My legs were shaky as I put down my foot. I started to raise my hand, but Rylan reached out and grabbed my wrist. His eyes locked with mine as he drew my hand to his mouth and slid my fingers inside. His tongue rasped against my skin as he cleaned off my hand, then moved down to lick my palm.

I stepped closer and he parted his legs so I could stand between them. I leaned down, taking his face between my hands as I claimed his mouth. I kissed him slowly, exploring his mouth, tasting myself. His hands slid up my thighs to palm my ass. When he started to sit forward, I ended the kiss and gently pressed him back. He gave me a puzzled look, but didn't argue.

I went to my knees between his legs and he swore softly. I pushed his hands away when he made a move to undo his pants and set about doing it myself. I tugged his pants and underwear down together, freeing his cock from its confines in one move. It curved up against his flat stomach, thick and swollen. A drop of pre-cum glistened at its tip and he hissed when I darted my tongue out to taste it.

I teased him with my fingertips and nails, keeping my touch feather-light as I moved down his shaft and back up again. Over and over I repeated the movement, smiling as he hit his hands against the couch and swore. When I went further down and began to caress his balls, he cursed me, then begged for something he couldn't quite put a name to.

When I took the tip of him between my lips, his hips jerked and I could feel him fighting for control. I didn't give him the chance though. I dropped my head and took another couple inches, maneuvering my tongue around his soft flesh. I took his balls in one hand and held the base of him in the other. His fingers curled in my hair and I could feel the tension radiating through him. I looked up at him and saw the question in his eyes. When I felt his hands start to push me down, I knew he'd seen my answer.

I let him take control. At first, he moved me, lowering my head until my lips brushed against my hand, then pulling me up until only the head remained. I kept my breaths slow and steady, waiting for the twinge of panic, but it never came. All I felt was the heat of arousal spreading through me as he changed what he was doing. He held my head still and began to raise his hips, thrusting into my mouth, first with care, and then faster. I took him all, let his cock stretch my mouth until my jaw ached, felt him nudging at the back of my throat. When I felt his balls start to tighten, I released them and slid my hand beneath him. The moment my finger teased against his asshole, his entire body jerked, then stiffened.

I swallowed as he came in my mouth, not spilling a single drop. His hands dropped from my head and I let his cock fall from between my lips, still half-hard. That was good, because I was far from done with him. Aside from the sound of his breathing, Rylan was silent, watching me. I smiled as I climbed up onto the couch, rubbing my body against his as I went. I felt his cock twitch and my smile widened. He definitely had another round in him.

I stood on the couch, one foot on either side of his lap, then leaned forward so that my knees were resting against his shoulders. I ran my fingers through his hair, then used it to tilt his head up to look at me. Slowly, I inched forward, keeping my eyes on his until his mouth was right where I wanted it.

“Yes,” I moaned as he ran his tongue along my slit.

He reached up and grabbed my hips, fingers digging into my ass as he held me in place. I put my hands on the wall for balance and was immediately glad I had as his tongue began to move over and around my swollen clit. I closed my eyes as he coaxed me towards another orgasm. Every pass of his tongue sent another wave of pleasure washing over me, fuel for the coming fire. My hips moved in small, circular motions, wanting him everywhere at once. It was tongue and lips and teeth and so much sensation that I thought I was going to explode.

And then I did, crying out his name. My legs buckled and he slid me down his body until I was settled in his lap. I rested against his chest for a moment, limbs limp as my nerves sung. There it was, that steady heartbeat that kept me grounded. Even fast, it wasn't erratic and I clung to that sound.

His hands were under the robe on my back, fingers moving up and down my spine in a soothing motion. I could feel his cock under me, hardening as I shifted my weight on his lap.

When I could move again, I rose up on my knees. He was ready again and I began to slide down on him. I groaned as he stretched me, thigh muscles quivering as I forced myself to go slow. His hands were on my waist and I could feel him holding back. Even taking my time, I needed a moment when I finally came to rest with him deep inside me. I slid my hands under his shirt, nails raking across his hard abs and then up to his nipples. He swore when I teased them and then again when I began a gentle rocking motion.

My entire body was one throbbing mess of nerves, each one raw and waiting for the next climax. I braced myself against his chest and began to ride him. I used everything that I'd learned, taunting him with changing speed, squeezing him, grinding down so that my clit rubbed against him. I kept expecting my muscles to start burning, but they didn't. Electricity raced from cell to cell, invigorating me, driving me. I wanted him to feel it too. I needed him to feel what he did to me.

I gathered him in my arms, pulling him up until I could rest my forehead against his. The cotton of his shirt created the most delicious friction against my nipples and I writhed against him. There was so much I wanted to say, so much I didn't have the words for. All I could do was show him.

I took his mouth, pouring everything I was feeling into that kiss, into the way my body moved with his. And as he exploded inside me, he whispered against my lips how much he loved me, how he would always be there to protect me and keep me safe.

I smoothed his hair back from his face and told him that I would do the same. He smiled at me and shook his head.

“No, my love,” he said. “That's my job. And nothing will keep me from it.” He leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against mine...

My eyes opened and I could still feel the ghost of his kiss on my mouth. My eyes burned with tears, and for a moment, I let myself believe that I didn't know why.

But I did know.

Rylan protected me, made me feel safe, and I would always be grateful for that. But it was time for me to do the same for him. I hadn't been holding out hope for us to get back together, but I'd still been clinging to the memory of him for strength, and I couldn't do that anymore. I needed to do what was best for him and completely let him go.

I pressed my face against my pillow and let myself have one final cry over Rylan Archer.