Page 49 of Flawless

“What are you doing, Dani?”

Her eyes search mine for a moment as though she’s seeking the answers hidden there.

“I want you, Z. I miss you. You were my friend and one of the few people who truly saw me. I want that in my life again.”

“Are we any good for each other, though? We’re both going through a lot in our lives right now.”

“I wouldn’t rather go through it with anyone but you,” she says, removing her shirt.

My hands palm her breasts. Those breasts always fit perfectly in my hands as though they were made for me.

“You are such a beautiful soul, Z. And I know that I don’t deserve you, but I thank God that you’re here in this moment with me as I find my healing,” she says.

I can’t help but wonder what happens after she finds that healing. What happens when she’s ready to return to the spotlight and she feels whole again? Will there be a place for me?

But I don’t ask the question because it doesn’t matter right now. I don’t care who she’s been with or who she’s shared intimate moments with before. The only thing that matters is she’s here with me right now. She’s choosing me in one of her most vulnerable moments.

My fingers flick over her nipples as tears flow down her face.

“You’ve seen me at my best, Z, but you haven’t seen me at my worst,” she whispers.

I grab the back of her head and pull her to me. My lips clamp over hers as I taste her. She is a mixture of the briny ocean water, sunshine, and something faintly strawberry.

I lick around the inside of her mouth, loving how she tastes and how her nipples bud underneath my expert touch.

This time, when I pull back, I dip my head down to take her breast into my mouth. My cock flexes in my shorts at the sound of her sweet moans that escape those pillowy soft lips.

Dani arches underneath me just enough so that she can reach inside my pants and grip me once again. I groan over her breast as my tongue flicks her nipple back and forth. Slowly, I drag it between my teeth as I pull away.

Lifting her from my body, I carry her into my room and lay her on the bed.

I hover over her as my fingers dance across her bare belly. My other hand pulls the loose strands of damp hair free from her face.

“I want you, Danica. But I want you on my terms, and I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

“What are your terms?” she asks lightly.

“I won’t share you again.”

Her piercing gaze shutters on me, and it doesn’t let me know what she’s thinking.

“When I hold on, I hold on tightly, and I don’t let go. There’s too much at stake for me at this point in my life.”

“Z, you’re asking a lot of me.”

I swallow over the lump in my throat.

“I know, but you’re asking a lot of me. You want me to give myself to you and only take part of you. When I give, you know that I give everything. It won’t be so easy for me to walk away from you this time. And I won’t stand by and let you do things to intentionally hurt me the way you did before.”

“I swear that I would never do that to you again.”

“But you can’t promise me the rest?”

Her gaze lowers. “Not right now. I can only promise that I will do everything in my will not to hurt you. I need you, and I want you, Z, but I’m still putting the pieces of me back together.”

My hand moves from her belly to take her hand in mine. I kiss her knuckles and turn her hand over to kiss each of her fingertips before licking her palm.

“Let me help you find the pieces and put them together again.”

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