Easton laid me on the bed, supporting his weight above me. I reached up and held his face in my hands, gazing lovingly into the eyes of the man that had come to mean a great deal to me.
Barely two weeks ago, I was convinced I had lost him. That it was my destiny to be alone for the remainder of my life. Tyler was my one true love, and a person normally didn’t get that a second time around. With Easton back and my foolish assumption being simply that—a foolish assumption, I’d say we beat the odds.
“Before we go any further, I want you to know something—”
“Not now, Easton. We have plenty of time for talking later.”
“No. Lilly, you need to hear this first. I need you to know.” Meeting his gaze, I witnessed the glimmer of love in his eyes. “No matter what you decide, and no matter what I said, I’m here for you. I will stand beside you one hundred percent. I love you, Lilly, and I hope you know I will do anything for you.”
His words touched me somewhere deep, springing tears to my eyes.
“I don’t deserve you. You know that?”
“Stop talking nonsense.” He pressed a soft kiss to my lips then moved to pecking a trail of warm kisses along the underside of my jaw. “We’ve already been through this before. We all deserve to be happy.”
I nodded, deciding to take his word for it. This was not the time to argue.
Sliding my hands downward, I reached under his shirt and tugged at the hem. Easton climbed off the bed, stood to his full height, and pulled his shirt from his body.
Ten days had been way too long not to have any kind of contact with him—physical or otherwise. I lay there, appraising the beautiful man before me. In my eyes, everything about Easton was perfect. From the tattoos that partially decorated his skin, to his hard chest and defined torso, and to those eyes that drove me wild but brought me comfort each and every time.
I reached for the waistband of his shorts and pulled him closer. Rather than lay above me, he traced the tip of his nose from my rib cage down to the hem of my top, driving the material upward, exposing my needy flesh.
“I’ve missed you. I’ve missed us.” He pressed his lips in the valley between my breasts, grazing his teeth over each hard nipple, slowly inching his lips back down and stopping right above my core.
Heat infiltrated every crevice of my body and a swarm of butterflies took flight low in my belly. Foretaste was an absolute torture. How I had managed without him, even if only for ten days was beyond me.
“Easton.” I let a slow smile build as my fingers raked through his hair. “Please,” I begged unashamedly. This was more than just my needing him, this was the turning point that would bring us back together and seal a bond that could not be broken. Tampered with, but never broken.
“I got you, Sunshine.” With slow torturous hands, Easton unbuttoned and stripped me of my clothes, tossing them haphazardly to the side. “Exquisite,” he murmured while kissing the inside of my thigh before pushing to his feet. “Take your bra off.” I reached behind myself and unhooked the lace garment while he watched. Heat burning the center of his orbs and his lips parted as he stepped out of his cargo shorts. “I need to love you, Lilly,” he urged desperately before settling between my thighs.
My sex pulsed, and my clit throbbed in greedy anticipation. My hands ached, wanting to grab his hips and meet him halfway, but I forced myself to hold my composure. He was taking this slow, and I needed to follow his lead. Up until a moment ago, we had no idea where we stood—together or apart.
Easton lined himself with my entrance, took each of my hands in his, and slid them above my head. I lay caged beneath him, waiting for the second our bodies would connect and become one.
The first thrust was smooth but strong, causing my back to arch in response. The initial feel of him filling me still took a little getting used to. My eyes fell shut, and I took in every sensation I felt from our connection. Easton and I fit perfectly together.
For quite some time, Easton didn’t speak, and neither did I. Instead, we moved together, relishing in each other’s groans of pleasure. He was showing me just how much he loved me. Awakening parts of me I had no idea existed.
He gave equal attention to each of my aching breasts, tugging on my hard nipples with his teeth while sliding in and out of me, teasing a slow burn of pleasure.
“Easton,” I moaned his name, desperate for more.
“I know, Sunshine, I know.”
As he gradually picked up the pace, the tingles increased, creating the familiar coiling sensation that made my sex ache. Raising my hips, needing to meet his thrusts, I wanted nothing more than to chase my orgasm.
I was desperate for it.
I needed it more than the next inhale of breath.
“Fuck, Sunshine,” he growled low, squeezing our fingers tighter together. “Spread your legs wider,” he ordered, and I willingly adjusted my body, instantly feeling him deeper inside me. “You’re squeezing me. You close?” I nodded, but he asked again. “Sunshine, tell me. Are you close? I can’t hold on much longer . . . fuck!” he grumbled, picking up the pace in hopes of reaching his own release. “Tell me,” he growled.
“Yes!” I responded on a loud and drawn out moan. “Fuck, yes! Easton!” He angled his hips, and I was done. Screaming his name, digging my head back into the mattress as my release claimed me seconds before he followed.
We lay there connected, Easton panting into the crook of my neck, mumbling incoherently. I could feel the sweat on my hairline and the stickiness from his skin pressed to mine and I loved every second of it.
I love him.
After a while, our breathing slowed, and he lifted onto his elbows without losing the connection of our bodies.
“Sunshine,” he spoke low and gravelly.
“Hmmm.”
“Is it okay if we just stay like this? I don’t think anyone would mind.”
An unexpected giggle bubbled from my chest, happy that we were headed in the direction of making things right. My mind replayed his words right before he claimed my body and how he would support my decision, no matter the outcome. I toyed with the idea once more, but my decision to hold off was solidified. If I wanted a fighting chance with Easton, I would have to wait and see if things worked out between us. This wasn’t the right time to be bringing a baby into the world—let alone one from my deceased husband.
“As nice as that would be, do you mind if I take a shower?” I kissed his shoulder, my hands roaming the length of his body while I debated asking him to join me or not.
“Of course not. You don’t even need to ask.”
He threw himself to the side and groaned. “I miss you already.” He chuckled. “I’d join you, but I can’t feel my legs, yet.”
We both laughed.
“You rest, I won’t be too long.”
Opening the glass shower door, my heart melted. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of my shampoo and conditioner still sitting in the same corner where I had left them. I turned the water on, and when steam filled the room, I stepped under the spray.
My toes curled in delight as soon as they touched the hot water. Happiness flowed through me. I had Easton back. He was all mine and wasn’t going anywhere.
Maybe you should tell him just how much he means to you. How much you love him, too.
Easton definitely deserved to know. There was no longer a reason not to express what I truly felt for him. It was time.
“Sunshine,” Easton shouted from the bedroom.
“Yes.”
“Hurry. I need you back in bed.”
I did just that. Still wrapped in a towel, I crawled into bed with him.
“I love you.”
“And I love you.”
He held me close, letting me drift to sleep in the safety of his arms.