She sniffs and wraps her fingers around my wrists before resting her forehead against mine. “Because I love you, and I have needed you so much.”
“I’m here now.”
“I want to trust you, but my heart …”
I lift my head back. I can’t see her, but I can feel it all. Her tension and fear is like a living thing between us. “My heart is yours, Bean. It always has been.”
“And mine is yours.”
“Then let me love you. Let me prove it.”
Heartbeats pass between us before she nods. “You chased me.”
“I’ve never stopped. No matter what you thought, I’ve been chasing you, running but not willing to let myself catch you. It took me far too long to realize I’d been fighting for the wrong thing.”
I pull her lips to mine and kiss her tenderly. The taste of her is something I’ve never forgotten. She’s life and air and everything good in this world. Her fingers glide up my chest and settle against the back of my neck, gently stroking the skin there.
We kiss, languidly and tenderly, only breaking long enough for me to lift her into my arms. Sydney squeals and grabs on. I move to her bed, laying her down carefully before climbing in next to her. I don’t expect anything to happen. Hell, I’m not even sure she is allowed to, but I want to hold her.
I need to feel her sleep beside me, knowing she’s mine and she’s chosen me.
She shifts closer, tilting my face to hers and then kissing me on her own terms. I give her what she wants, pouring everything into the kiss. Sydney moves so she’s straddling me. Her kisses become deeper, longer, more urgent.
“Syd,” I croak her name, both wanting her to stop and never stop.
“I need you.”
“We can’t.”
“I can.”
God, she’s going to kill me. I try once more to do the right thing … to hold her off until I can call her doctor and make sure. “We can wait. Holding you is enough.”
She sits up, her long hair flowing around her. The moonlight filters through the big windows, allowing me to see just her profile. “It’s not enough for me.”
Her hands move to the hem of her shirt, and she pulls it over her head. She takes my hand and places it on the soft skin of her belly. There lies our child. The baby who brought us back to each other.
“You’re so beautiful,” I tell her.
“Touch me, Declan. Make love to me.”
I lean up, practically growling and unable to stop myself at her soft plea. I want nothing more than to make her feel my love.
My hand moves up to her breast, lightly stroking the top of her nipple. It pebbles beneath my touch, and she lets out a breathy moan. I roll it between my finger and thumb, plucking, and then wrap my other arm around her, pulling her to me.
She braces over me, and I pull her nipple into my mouth while playing with her other breast. Sydney’s head flies back, and I swear that I could fucking die at the sight of her.
“Lie down for me,” I tell her.
Thankfully, she obeys. I pull my shirt off, hating that there isn’t enough light in here for me to see her clearly. I want to watch her, see her face, bask in the desire that will swim in those blue eyes. I want it all. Remembering that she has half this house remotely operated, I lean over and grab the small remote that operates the fireplace and let that roar. Then I push the button she hit that turned candles on.
Now the room is set perfectly.
And then I look at her, watching the lights dance across her skin.
“I love you,” I tell her.
“I love you.”
“You have to promise me that if you feel anything …”
Her fingers graze the whiskers on my cheek. “I promise. I need you.”
I need her more than air. I lean down, bringing our lips together, and kiss her with all the emotions in my heart.
Sydney is mine.
While she always has been, now it’s different. We aren’t kids making stupid promises we can’t keep. This is a love that’s strong, been through hell, and has found its way back to heaven. We’ve battled and won. She’s the prize. She’s everything.
I pull her so we’re face to face, not wanting to put any weight on her. I slide her shorts off, slowly revealing her skin. A shudder passes through Sydney’s body. The last time we made love, everything changed. This time, it won’t be that.
Instead of her leaving, I’ll hold her.
Instead of tears, I want smiles.
There is nothing of myself that’s being held back. All of me, all that I can give will be hers to have.
I move her back and trail kisses down her body, push her legs open, kissing the insides of her thighs and drawing out the anticipation.
“Dec, please …”
“Please what, Sydney?”
“More.”
I push her legs higher and run my tongue along the seam of her pussy. “More of that?”
She groans. “Yes.”
I do it again and make sure I flick her clit. “More of that?”
Her fingers slide into my hair, wrapping around the strands and tightening. “Only you, Dec. Please.”
That pushes me over the edge. I lick and suck, pulling her deeper into the abyss. She moves her hips, seeking more. I hold her down, wanting to control the pace. There’s a great joy in drawing it out, hearing the whimpers escape her throat, making the moment last longer.
Sydney has always been fire in bed. She’s never been afraid to ask for things or tell me what she wants. I know her body as well as I know
