Falling Fast (Falling Fast #1) - Tina Wainscott Page 0,63

Oh, so right.

He rocked his head back and closed his eyes, sinking into the rhythm with her. He guided her hips, then cupped her breasts. His thumbs stroking her nipples increased the sensation between her legs, deep in her core. He was taking his time, slowing down when his breathing became erratic. He’d always been a master of his body, knowing just how to extend their lovemaking. And when to speed up again. She’d become adept at reading his signals, matching his pace. In no hurry herself.

She hoped the breeze and the waves covered the sounds of their ragged breathing, their moans and soft gasps, as they moved into a faster rhythm again. When she felt the orgasm, the finish line, she thrust her hips harder, her fingernails digging into his shoulders as heat and pleasure suffused her.

She cried out as she came, still moving even as her body spun out of control. He jerked and groaned, grasping her and holding her close as his body went through the aftershocks. She could feel him pulsing deep inside her, matching her own throbbing. She buried her face in his neck and probably deafened him with her breath sawing in and out. His fingers curled into her hair as his own breathing filled her, as his heaving chest expanded against hers.

“Mine,” he whispered, or maybe he’d said her name. Still, that possessive word rippled through her.

“Yours,” she whispered back, wrapping her arms around him.

Her future spun in front of her, one fulfilling her career-wise and empty personally; the other fulfilling her body and soul. Staying here with Raleigh. She had officially spun out of control, and it was Raleigh who had caused it.

She leaned back to face him, even though he was all silvery shadows. “I know why it’s like this for me…why being with you is like flying. Because you make me feel alive. I’d never felt truly alive until I met you seven years ago. I haven’t felt this way since I left. And I know when I leave again it’ll go away.”

He stroked his hands up and down her sides. “I know how you feel. Racing was the only thing that made me feel alive until you.”

The emotion in his words tugged at her heart. She touched his face, felt the slight rasp of stubble. “Grandma saw something in our relationship. That’s why she left us the house, so we could explore this, us.”

“Did she say that in her letter?”

“Yes. I guess she fibbed in her will, about not trying to get us together. Mostly, her intent was for us to have the opportunity to see if we still felt the same. I’ll let you read her letter. And she’s right. Raleigh, I can’t lose you again. I understand, though, that you can’t leave Cody and Rose. They need you. And you probably need them, too. They’re your family, and that’s important.”

“You’ve been giving this some thought,” he said, surprise in his voice.

“The more I’m around you, the more I realize why I fell in love with you in the first place. That it was truly love and not teenage romance. And, if you love me, too, we should be together. But giving up your family isn’t a price I’m willing to let you pay.”

“Giving up your job isn’t, either. You have so much to offer burn victims. But living apart would be too hard.”

“There’s a burn center in Gainesville, four hours away. Yeah, I was doing some looking online. Maybe there’s a compromise, living close enough to Chambliss that we could visit often. That’s, of course, if…you feel the same.”

“God, Mia, yes. But I don’t want to hold you back. And I have a record. You’d be married to an ex-con.”

Married. He was talking about being married. “I don’t care about that. We’ll deal. After everything we’ve been through, that’s nothing.” But…there was something. “Raleigh, if we’re talking about a future together, there are things you need to know. I could have health issues because of the drugs and treatment I had to go through for the cancer.”

He didn’t even blink. “Anyone can have issues. We never know what will crop up.”

She could only allow herself a quick breath of relief. “There’s more. Because of my chemo…I’m not sure I can get pregnant. They didn’t think about that back then, preserving eggs, that kind of thing. I’d like kids someday, but I may not be able to have them.”

He stroked his finger down her cheek. “I’m not worried