stared into his eyes. It wasn’t awkward or weird, either, which was amazing. He pulled away for a second, his tongue trailing along my lip lingeringly.
“I love you,” he whispered.
I had been speechless throughout his spiel, unable to tell him how I felt, but now the words came out without hesitation.
“I love you,” I said.
He groaned and put his lips back to mine. He forced my lips apart and thrust his tongue inside my mouth with renewed hunger. He gently swept his fingers across the bare skin above my tank top and I shivered. I pulled away from his mouth.
“Make love to me,” I demanded.
He didn’t react right away. He took his sweet time letting his fingers glide across my skin. He made goose bumps pop up along my arms and he smiled.
“I have never, ever been more turned on or wanted to make love to a woman so badly.” He grinned. “But we still need to talk.”
“Mmm. Talk later, sex now,” I said as I pressed my lips persuasively back to his.
He laughed and I groaned in frustration when he pulled away.
“Mallory, sex doesn’t solve problems. Conversation does,” he said.
I noticed his eyes kept falling to my legs, which were bare under the short skirt I wore. I wondered if I could seduce him. I smiled an evil smile as I put said plan into action.
I scooted back on the countertop and lifted my right leg so my foot rested flat against the cool marble and I was exposed to his eyes. I wore a little red thong, but I pulled it aside and touched myself. My fingers traced the delicate folds of my core and I was wet already. I held my panties to one side with my left hand while my right hand explored. I flicked and rubbed and circled myself, moaning from my own attentions.
“Mallory,” Luke warned.
He didn’t take his eyes off me, though.
I closed my eyes as I approached an orgasm, picturing Luke’s hands on me, inside me. He yanked my hand away from my body and my eyes flew open. He knelt before me and pressed his tongue to me. He licked and sucked on my pink flesh until I was just about to come again.
When he pulled away, I nearly pulled his head back until I realized he was standing before me, undoing his jeans. I licked my lips in eager anticipation of what was to come. He rubbed his rock hard member, not that it needed the stimulation. He was ready. So was I. When he rubbed himself against my clit, I moaned. I needed him more than I needed anything in my life. He rolled on a condom that magically appeared.
I cried out when he entered me and he froze, only half-way in.
“Did I hurt you?” he whispered as if he was afraid of the answer.
I kissed his lips and smiled at him.
I answered him honestly. “Of course not. It hurts being away from you.”
“Thank God.”
He thrust the rest of the way into me and I was so full—full of Luke, full of life, full of love. And I had him to thank for giving me such wonderful fulfillment.
TWENTY-FOUR
Luke
I was slumped over her body where she lay on the counter. My jeans were wrapped around my ankles and I was fully sated and exhausted. But I lifted myself off her limp body; she was as worn out as I.
“I guess you weren’t the only one who learned a thing or two in college,” I whispered against her ear as I got up.
She giggled as she rubbed her cheek against the marble countertop.
“Bathroom?”
She pointed in the general direction of the hallway adjacent to the living room and I took off.
When I returned, she was sitting up on the counter, her skirt properly adjusted and her hands folded demurely in her lap, as if I hadn’t just rocked her world. I walked right up to her and kissed her pretty mouth. She sighed and moved to put her arms around me again. But I knew where that would lead.
“Let’s talk,” I suggested and helped her off the counter.
We sat on the couch and she tucked her body into mine. We were comfortable as we sat and the silence wasn’t as bad as it had been before.
When she hadn’t answered my declarations of love, I immediately assumed the worst. But that kiss had broken the tension and it seemed to free her mind. Her love was all I needed in this life.
“So, can we