start to match his hips, pushing down on him when he pulls out. There is a certain desperateness to our actions now, growing within the fire.
We both fly toward the sun together with our wings burning red and gold.
He suddenly rolls us over so he’s on top. “Don’t ever leave me again,” he pleads, filling me to the hilt.
I grip the sheets and succumb to his methods. Doesn’t he get it? He’s all I want. “Never, Kent.”
“I can’t stand who I am without you.” He creates an intoxicating rhythm with his hips, feeding that ache inside of me while keeping me hungry. “I’m nothing without you, Rain.” He braces his hands on either side of my head, looks into my eyes, and then takes my body for everything it’s worth.
When I crawl down from the sun he’s on top of me, breathing raggedly against my neck. His weight is pressing me into the mattress and he’s still inside of me. I wrap my legs around his waist to keep him there. Little shreds of pleasure travel through me, not quite ready to let me go.
“So you’re nothing without me, huh?” I kiss the side of his face and lick the line of sweat trailing down his temple.
“We both know it’s true.”
“I think you’re something. You should too.”
As we lie there wrapped around each other amidst the ashes there’s a knocking noise. It’s muffled through the wall, but I can clearly detect it coming from the front door.
“Can’t James get it?”
“James moved out when you did. He went back to Tampa.”
My heart falls. “He left?”
“I don’t blame him. If I could leave me I would have.”
“I’m sorry.” I look away and stare at the window. Orange sunlight seeps in through his beige curtains. “It’s Becca. I don’t want to face her right now.”
“Then don’t.”
“I’ll have to. She’s my sister.”
He rolls off of me and gets to his feet. “I need a shower. You want to come?”
The knocking gets louder. “No, go ahead. I haven’t eaten in days. I’m going to go make something.”
We part ways in the hall. His naked ass disappears into the bathroom and all I’m wearing is one of his black dress shirts I found on the floor. It smells like him. I inhale the collar and walk over to the stereo, turning it on to drown out Becca’s angry demands.
Beyoncé comes on. I grin.
“Crazy In Love!” she screams. “This means war!”
I blow her a kiss through the door and move my hips to the beat. I find some turkey meat and some cheddar cheese. I slather bread with mayonnaise and mustard and make Kent and I two thick sandwiches. He comes into the kitchen wearing nothing but his black boxer briefs as the song shifts. Womanizer comes on and I laugh at his disgruntled expression. He marches over and shuts the radio off.
“Cute,” he grumbles.
“I made food.” I hold it up like a peace offering.
He walks behind me and slaps my ass hard. “What a good girl.”
I yelp and spin around, glaring at him. “I’m always good.”
“Sure, Rain. Who was that big goon you brought with you?”
“No more games?”
“None,” he promises.
“Becca’s old boss, Max. We’ve been staying with him and his wife. He’s amazing and I intend to be his friend for a long time. Okay?”
He sighs. “Sure, Rain. He’s married?”
“Happily.”
He relaxes. “Did you like it there?”
“Max and Claire are cool, but no, I missed the apartment. I missed you.” That I can admit my feelings now without worrying about repercussions makes a shiver travel over me. “I was miserable without you.”
“Tell me about it,” he says, reaching over to take his plate from me. He sets it down on the counter and then grips my hips, bringing me against him. He smells like spice and clean skin. I inhale him with every breath. “The worst part is I was waiting for you. Whenever the neighbors made a noise I’d think it was you coming into the apartment. I’d hear you down the hall. I stayed up all night, all day, waiting for you. I knew you’d come back. You want to know why?”
“Why?” I grip his arms.
“Because we’re not done falling yet.” His lips find mine.
I wrap my arms around his neck and fall.
Our lips are swollen and tender by the time we pull away. Kent takes both our plates over to the coffee table and I follow, drawn to him in a way I’ve never been drawn to anyone. He is the flame and I