Page 35 of While You're There
Everything they had been through—all the heartache they had caused, both for themselves and for others around them—it was all worth it.
Rhett entered the shower and wordlessly dropped to his knees. She continued to watch him as rivulets of water cascaded down her body. He ran his palms up her legs, coaxing them open, requesting access, making silent promises.
He lovingly caressed the curve of her hip bones, the softness of her tummy, the little dips of her waist. She let out a gasp when he cupped her breasts in his hands, pinching both nipples before rubbing his thumbs back and forth to soothe the sting.
“Dessert?” She smirked, her eyes alight with excitement and desire.
“My favorite.” He ran his hands back down her body and coaxed her to take a wider stance. He used one hand to pin her against the tiles of the shower while he worked his other arm in between her thighs. Once he was sure she was steady, he hoisted her leg up and hitched it over his shoulder.
“I won’t let you fall, beautiful.”
“I know.”
“I’ve got you. Always.”
She smiled down at him and dragged one hand through his wet hair. That was all the urging he needed to bring his mouth to her center. She was exposed to him, so open and primed after all the time they spent teasing each other in the pool.
He could feel her body quiver when he dipped his tongue inside her for a taste. He could hear her breathing hitch when he nudged up against her clit, taking the swollen bud between his teeth and sucking. She was so responsive to him, so willing to love him, to let him unravel her in every way possible.It may have been an unconventional path that landed them here, but it was worth it.
He licked and played and savored her until she was practically grinding on his face, finally sinking two fingers inside her to set off her third orgasm of the night. There really was nothing he loved more than making her come. Not even his own release matched the wholeness he felt when her body clenched around his hands, his mouth, his cock. Her satisfaction was everything. He couldn’t believe he got to spend the rest of forever chasing her pleasure.
So fucking worth it.
“Okay, beautiful. Technically we worked backwards tonight. I got a showandmy dessert, but we still need dinner. I’ll go scrounge something up. What sounds good?”
Tori moved from the bathroom toward the bed, releasing an exaggerated yawn in the process. She had already slipped into one of his old Archway lacrosse T-shirts and was weaving her wet hair into a loose braid.
“Wait. You’re going to bring food up here?” He didn’t miss the skepticism in her voice.
“Aren’t you tired?” he countered.
“Yes,” she admitted, yawning again. “But I thought there was a ‘no eating in Rhett’s bed’ rule? Who are you, and what have you done with my fiancé?”
He reached out for her and caught the hem of her shirt, reeling her in. He pulled her between his thighs and peered up at her with sleepy eyes. “Keyword there: fiancé. We’re getting married. Actually, by this time next week, wewillbe married. That means this isn’t just my bed anymore. You’re tired and probably hungry. It’s my job to feed you, even if it means an extra load of laundry.”
Tori’s eyes grew wider as a small smile played across her lips. What he wouldn’t give to make her this happy all the time.
“What?” he asked defensively when she continued to stare at him.
“You just make me really happy,” she replied without missing a beat.
He returned her affection with a grin of his own. Tonight had been exactly what they needed. Just the two of them. Just being together.
“Will you bring me some tortilla chips and salsa?” Of course she would ask for what was arguably the messiest food she could think of. She was testing him, and they both knew it.
“That might be pushing it, beautiful.” He winked as he stood up and headed down to the kitchen to bring up exactly what she wanted.
Chapter fifteen
Rhett
3:52a.m.
Rhett stared at the numbers on his phone, so fucking frustrated that sleep still wouldn’t come. Tori had fallen asleep in his arms around midnight. He spent the first hour watching her, hoping the rhythm of her inhales and exhales would lull him to sleep. But one hour turned into two, then three. Eventually he reached for his phone, trying to bore himself into slumber by reading the lost cargo reports from the last few months. He spent some time researching things to do on their honeymoon, as well as updating the shared task list for the wedding that he and his mom had been working from. But no matter how long he lay in bed, sleep just wouldn’t come.
He had almost had it around three a.m. He felt the subtle tug try to take hold of his consciousness. Somehow the prospect of rest made his brain rebel even harder. The nastier highlights of the prenup fight with his dad came flooding back to him as his body experienced the same rush of emotions he had felt when they were actually at brunch that day.
Rhett sighed. This was the third night this week that he was going to see four a.m. on the clock. He knew he needed sleep. He didn’t want to be sick for the wedding, and definitely not for the honeymoon. He made a mental note to up his supplements and to schedule in a few long runs this week to try to give his immune system a fighting chance against this fatigue.
