work like hell to get those skintight jeans off her body. She slinks right out of them and they thump to the floor with a pronounced finality.
This is it—nothing but skin over skin. The moment I’ve spent half my life dreaming of is actually here with the girl I’ve always loved. A part of me wants to say those words. To say them every minute of every day until it sinks in for her. If anyone deserves to be loved it’s Izzy. But I don’t plan on spooking her—baby steps. For now I’ll just have to show her how I feel. Make love to every inch of her, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing all night long.
I reach to the nightstand and pull out a condom, hold it up to the light for her to inspect.
She gives a little laugh. “Is this the part where I say trick or treat?”
“You don’t have to. I plan on delivering both.”
Her chest rumbles with a laugh and takes me with it. “That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say.”
“If you’re nice, I might throw in a few fireworks.” I run my lips in long, hot tracks all the way down her neck. “Aw, heck—for you, kitten? I’ll throw a few in anyway.”
She arches her back, pressing her softness into my chest, and I die a little on the inside.
Izzy pulls me in and takes a gentle bite out of my ear.
“I feel like I’m going to bring down the party with my lack of carnal knowledge,” she whispers it low like a secret.
“Don’t count on it. But I think it’s too much to teach in just one session,” I tease. “We’ll have to make this a reoccurring event.”
“Oh, is that right?” She rakes her nails over my back, soft as a feather. “You up for nightly sessions?”
I look down at Izzy with the smile dissipating from my lips because things just got serious, and I want to remember everything about this moment.
“I have nothing against the morning or afternoon either,” I whisper.
“Lucky for me, I’ve got nowhere to go tomorrow.”
“That’s funny, I was just about to write myself off the schedule.”
“Sounds like a great idea.” She digs her fingers into my hair.
“We’re a great idea.” My mouth lands over hers, exploding with every emotion I’ve ever felt for her.
This is happening.
We’re happening.
And for the first time in a long while, I don’t feel an ounce of guilt over how happy I am.
I hope it lasts.
I hope Izzy and I last, too.
The Beginning of Us
Izzy
Dear Dad,
Sometimes life has a way of surprising you, in a good way. I’m okay with that. More than okay.
Almost happy for once,
~Iz
If I could describe my life in colors it would begin with a pure azure blue the exact color of my father’s eyes, then, after he left, an entire sea of navy to represent the long dark night he cast us into. The black of midnight would come in right at my eighteenth birthday. It created a stain that bled through for almost ten long years. Then this new world Holt has brought me into, first yellow, then orange, then red with aching passion. We were ripping through every shade of pink, electric blue, green as bright as springtime, peaches and creams, the deep salmon of a brand new day. Every color was present and accounted for. They were all here, in every hue, with Holt spilling them at my feet like a deck of playing cards. We had unearthed one of life’s biggest secrets, how to push past the darkness and fall madly, deeply in ruby red love. And, although I’m not ready to say those words—to hear them—I’m ready to live them, to let them vibrate over me in a rainbow poured out from the hot of Holt’s mouth, from the weight of his steely body over mine. Holt is delivering me from the darkness, taking me by the hand and leading me out of those charred woods I lost myself in so long ago. I don’t know how to thank him. I don’t think there are enough thank yous to let him know how indebted to him I really am. Holt is the only man I’ve ever felt comfortable with. The only one that doesn’t make me feel as if I want to jump out of my own skin simply from being in the same vicinity. Holt makes me feel at ease. He makes me crave his kisses, addictive as candy.
“You okay?” He