Caroline

“Let’s go to my room,” I say on an exhale.

His eyes, heavy with lust, take me in and he kisses me again, deeper this time. His tongue presses against mine, stroking and tasting me. My nipples harden and press against the fabric of my bra and goose bumps blanket my skin.

“You turn me on. I need you so badly,” Ethan says as he swoops me up in one swift motion, arms cradling me under my legs. I need you, too. I thread my hands around his neck and let out a giggle. He whisks me into my bedroom and sets me back onto my feet. “Arms up.”

I do as he asks and he tugs my dress up and over my head and tosses it on the floor. Unclasping my bra, he removes it and it joins my dress on the floor. His hands come up and caress the sensitive skin on my sides and glide up to the outer swell of my breasts causing me to quiver. His mouth is on my nipple and I arch into him, enjoying the sensations that surge straight to my sex. “I need you, too,” I rasp.

Ethan’s eyes meet mine. “You’ve got me. All of me.” He slides down to his knees and tugs my thong off and I step out of it. He removes his shirt and takes one of my legs and anchors it over his shoulder. “Hold onto me.”

Grasping his strong deltoid, I stare down at him as his tongue sweeps over the delicate skin of my clit. My pulse quickens at the immediate onslaught of sensations. His finger comes up and presses into me and his mouth never leaves my core. Another finger joins the first and he goes deeper now and my body begins to tighten, tension building from being caressed inside and out.

Throwing my head back, I close my eyes as I start to see stars, focal points of light as pleasure intensifies with every flick of his tongue and thrust of his finger. I grip his shoulder and my knees start to weaken.

“I’ve got you. It’s okay to let go.”

“Yes,” I moan and the first wave of my orgasm begins, his mouth never leaving my sex as I shudder and ride it out. Ethan’s hands are on my hips stabilizing me, holding me close until the last wave passes. “I need to lie down.” In fear that my legs won’t hold me up, Ethan guides me toward the bed and when the back of my thighs hit the mattress, I fall backward and allow all of my muscles to sink into the bed.

Ethan strips off his jeans and boxer briefs. My lips part and my breath hitches seeing what I do to him. He’s hard and ready for me. I reach over and grab a condom out of the nightstand and he tears open the wrapper and puts it on. The mattress dips as he climbs on and hovers over me, fingers in my hair as he says. “Ride me, gorgeous.” Before I can object—which I wouldn’t—he flips us over and I’m straddling him.

His arms come around me and I suck his bottom lip into my mouth, licking and teasing him. His hips move up and his erection slides over my sex. I sit up and grasp his chest, loving the feel of his taut muscles under my hands. Bending my knee, I grasp his hard length in my hand and ease him in inch by inch, allowing myself to adjust to his size. We moan together as I take him all the way.

One of his hands tugs at my nipple while the other digs into my hip guiding me up and down. I ride his length, shallow and deep, fast and slow. Leaning forward, I lick around the circle of his nipple, sucking it to a hard point and he wiggles under me. He guides my head to his and the heat in his gaze is so intense with longing and desire, I moan, “I love you, Ethan.”

His mouth crashes into mine, his tongue pressing against my lips and I open to him, taking in all his lust and hunger and giving him back my own. His hips thrust up into me, driving hard and fast. Friction and pressure build at the same time Ethan’s muscles tense.

Ethan is here with me, making love to me. It’s incredible that he’s giving me another chance, that he still wants me with all my scars and flaws. I feel like the luckiest woman alive.

In a sudden rush, my belly clenches and a climax rips through me.

“Yes, baby. You feel so good,” he says and shudders underneath me.

We clutch each other, holding on until our breathing subsides. He rolls us onto our sides and I gaze into his eyes. I’ve got so many questions on my mind, but I don’t want to ruin the moment.

“What is it?” Ethan asks. “We just had mind-blowing sex and you look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

My throat goes dry with the heaviness of his question. “I want more. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the sex, but I want to go to bed with you every night and wake up next to you every morning.”

He smiles, his full lips and eyes sparkling. Pulling me close, he squeezes me to him. “I love you, Caroline. If I wasn’t clear before, I’m all yours. I’m ready to move in together if that’s what you want.”

Snuggling into him, the beating of his heart is a comfort to me. “Where? Nashville or Pennsylvania?” For the first time, I ask the question and I don’t care what the answer is.

“Doesn’t matter. Here or there. I simply don’t care. I’m ready to change my life and you’re the reason why.”

“What about your parents?”

Ethan’s arms tighten around me. “They’re going to be okay. I talked with my mom today. I called her when we were at the bar. She’s ready to make a change, and when I’m honest with them, I think they’ll be ready, too.”

Kissing him, slow and soft, I pour my love and support into it. “It’s all going to work out. I feel it.”

“You do, don’t you?” He pulls back, scanning my face.

I give him a peaceful grin, fully confident in myself and my gut. Everything is clear all of the sudden. My dad used to have moments like this. He just knew things. I remember crying after I left an important exam, convinced that I failed it. My dad told me that I passed and not to worry. He said he just knew. He was right. It’s the same now. “Yes. Trust me.”

Reaching behind his neck, I pull him into me and lock my lips to his, my heart happy and full.

“If you keep kissing me like that, I’m never letting you out of this bed.” He rolls on top of me and presses his forehead to mine, eyes dark and full of longing.

“That’s what I hoped you’d say.”

And with that we don’t leave my room for the rest of the night.