Page 53 of Third Time's the Charm

I began unbuttoning my shirt.

“I don’t get to do that?” She cocked an eyebrow.

“Nope.”

“What if I want to?”

“Do you?” I knew she didn’t. She liked watching me stare at her as I undressed. Something about the look in my eyes. I liked it too because If she were close enough to unbutton my shirt then I couldn’t admire the way her breasts filled out the cup of her bra, imagine how they’d look bare. I loved imaging something and then seeing how close it compared to reality. I followed the lines of her curves. Nothing had changed. Maybe her tan lines were more distinct from working in the sun, but that was it.

I shouldered my way out of the shirt and reached for my pants. Berlin put her hands on mine. “Let me.”

Yep. That was sexy enough to be worth it. So I watched as she bit her lip and loosened the button and slid down the zip. It pushed her breasts together. I got a little lightheaded. Especially when she reached into my boxers and cupped me.

“Sweet Jesus.”

She pushed my pants to the floor. Now each of us was down to our underwear. But instead of ripping off her bra and panties, it felt more like we were in a standoff. “Do you really want me here?”

She swallowed hard. “Yes...And no. But yes.” She bit her lip.

“Which is it?”

She dropped her hands to her sides and then sighed and began pacing around the room. “Here’s the deal...I never stopped loving you.” She winced as she paced. “But it was impossible to bein lovewith you when our marriage wasn’t working.” She stopped and faced me. “I like the man you’ve turned into. I think. And if this is real, then I want you here. But if this is some game—”

I went to her, took her waving hand in mine, and kissed her with everything I had. I poured my love for her, my desire for her, into that kiss. Eventually she softened, and then relaxed, and then melted.

“Berlin, this is real. It’s completely real. I swear it. No games.”

She searched my eyes looking for the lie. But no lies would be detected because this was me. For now and for always.

“Then stay,” she whispered.

I kissed her again. She shoved my boxers down and I flicked off her bra, then down went the panties and we collapsed onto the bed, exploring the once familiar, but now unknown.

“Your skin is soft.” I ran the pads of my fingers over her breasts.

“You’ve been working out.” She traced my new muscles.

“I didn’t have much else to do. Besides, it burns off the frustration.” Mostly.

Touches turned to massages of pleasure. Slow, teasing pleasure that built really quickly into one of our classic sexual fires.

“We were always good at this,” she panted, eyes closed, back arching.

All I wanted was to finally be inside her. “Always.” I moved over her. It was too much and not enough. I would never take this for granted ever again. I bent down to kiss her. “I’ve always loved you, too.”

She sighed, wrapping her legs around my waist. “Maybe we just needed a little time to figure ourselves out.” She was being generous, but I’d take whatever peace offerings she gave me. And I’d repay them in orgasms. Her fingers tightened on my biceps. “Make me feel good, Jack.”

I pushed inside her slowly. “Always, Berlin. I promise.”

Chapter 17

Beware of parrot attacks

Berlin

Ifelt happy. Not because I was physically satisfied, or even emotionally satisfied. I was happy because everything felt right again. Like all of my puzzle pieces were accounted for and the picture was done.

“Do you want to come to the game tonight?” We were on the sleeping porch and we were naked. Jack was looking out at the ocean and had my head on his chest.

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