Page 72 of Every Now and Then
“Yep.” Drawing her finger to the left, I explain, “The North Star makes up the end of the handle of the Little Dipper. See it?”
We sit curled together, taking turns pointing out constellations and talking, until Annabelle begins to shiver. Standing, I pull her to her feet. “Let’s get you inside and warmed up, City Girl.”
“I have an idea of how you can warm me up."
As soon as we step inside the house, I kiss Annabelle like my life depends on it. Her pillowy lips meet mine with an eagerness that excites me, and when she lets out a quiet moan, I slip my tongue into her mouth. With one hand on the nape of her neck, I cradle her head while my other hand slides down her back and onto her butt, molding her body to mine.
Annabelle’s hands skate under my shirt and across my abdomen. Her touch is so light it feels like feathers and sends tremors down my spine. Releasing a low groan, I dust the column of her neck with my lips, followed by my tongue. I can feel the hopping of her pulse under my mouth, and I can hear her breathing become more erratic as she melts into my touch.
I take my time kissing her, caressing her body. I let my fingers and my lips linger, savoring each touch. When we were intimate at Tank’s, we knew it was a one-night stand, so there was a frenetic energy and a fevered pace to our sex.
But tonight, I won’t rush.
I want to make love to the woman I love.
After removing our jackets, I run my hands down her bare arms, where goosebumps coat her skin. Sweeping an arm under her knees, I carry Annabelle straight into the bedroom.
Tossing her onto the bed, she lands with a bounce and a smile. I turn to close and lock the door behind us. I’ve never had sex with children sleeping down the hall, but I do not want one of them walking in as I ravage their mother.
I open the middle drawer of my nightstand and toss a string of condoms onto the bed.
"We don't… we don't need those if you're okay without them."
I still. "Are you sure, Yankee? I'm clean. I was tested as soon as I found you again."
"I'm sure. I'm on birth control, and… I want to feel you without anything between us."
Propped up on her elbows, Annabelle watches me with luminous, lust-filled eyes as I stand before her. Starting at her feet, I slip off her shoes and socks. Then my hands move to her waist, where I gently peel off her yoga pants, inch by inch, as my mouth follows behind my hands with light kisses. My touch causes her eyes to close, her head to fall back, and her body to squirm. When her pants are gone, I crawl up the bed, settling my knees on each side of her hips. Bringing her into a sitting position, I reach for the bottom hem of her T-shirt and lift it over her head.
Clad only in a lacy bra and panties, my eyes rove over her body, the swell of her breasts grabbing my attention. Bowing my head, I lick along the lace before sucking one of her rosy nipples into my mouth. The lace feels harsh against my tongue, a stark contrast to the softness of her skin.
Annabelle’s breathing grows more labored. We haven’t spoken a word since we entered the bedroom, but my body remembers what she likes. Somehow, our silence makes what’s happening between us even more intimate. Impatiently, she reaches around her back, unclasping her bra and slinging it across the room before tearing off my shirt.
Her eyes flare, and her fingers tremble as she wordlessly traces the tattoo inked over my heart. I’ve got plenty of tattoos, but this one is a new addition. One I didn’t have when we spent the night together at Tank’s.
“It’s…” She swallows hard, her eyes traveling to mine. “It’s a sunflower.”
“Couldn’t get your sunflower eyes out of my head, so I put a permanent reminder of them on my skin.”
"When?Was it recently?"
"Right after the night we met."
“You… you've had this for over a year?” Her voice breaks on a breath, eyes glassy as she stares at the mark I made just for her. "Shit, Hayes."
Then she pulls me down on top of her, holding me close. The feeling of being skin-to-skin is exquisite, my hard lines meeting with her soft curves. Like yin and yang, we fit together perfectly.
Her hands move across my body, never stopping in one spot long before moving to the next spot. The nape of my neck, my collarbone, my chest, my abs, my biceps. As if she’s familiarizing herself with my body again.
When her fingers flutter to the button of my jeans, I push up onto my elbows to allow her room to unbutton and unzip them. I sigh with pleasure when she pushes my jeans down my hips and I kick them off, glad to have one less barrier between us. Nestling myself between her legs, I continue to caress and fondle her breasts and nipples as she writhes under me. When she wraps her legs around my waist and she grinds against my erection, I groan. If she keeps moving like that, I might come in my boxer briefs like a kid watching his first porno.
I roll us over so that she’s on top of me. Looking at her as she sits atop me, I’m overcome with emotion. Annabelle’s cheeks are flushed, and her lips are slightly swollen. Her golden hair cascades around her face as she leans forward, drawing her fingernails down my chest, pain mixing with pleasure. Her nearly naked body moves down mine as she takes off my boxers and then her panties.
“God, you’re so fucking gorgeous, Annabelle.”
Crawling up my legs, she kneels between my parted thighs.
“What are you doing, Yankee?”
