Page 78 of Rivals
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I set the letter back on the table and hug Revna. Why did this woman bother? Revna would have been better off not knowing a thing. It’s almost cruel. She just told her daughter she doesn’t regret giving her up and subjecting her to what she’s been through. My chest burns, and I want to scream for Revna. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m tired of sorry,” she says.
“Yeah, that makes sense.” My hand resumes circles on her back, and her muscles loosen slowly.
“I should have ripped it up or burned it,” she says.
“I would have opened it, too.”
“I guess I know now. And I’ll be honest, I’m not impressed.” She pauses and readjusts herself, so we’re face to face on her pillow. “I don’t think she was a good person.”
“I’m not so sure she was, either.” Revna’s eyes water again and I kiss her nose. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry again.” She nods and takes a deep breath, closing her eyes as she rubs her nose against mine with our mouths just barely apart.
She lifts her chin, hungrily seeking my lips, and I lean into it. My heart hurts with the torment that radiates from her. I wish I could take it away. I wish I could pull it from her and make something with it. “Lachlan?”
“Yeah?” I say, kissing her forehead.
“I want to feel something that isn’t this. I don’t want to think. I don’t want to feel the way my heart breaks every time I think about how she didn’t care enough to stay for me. Who am I kidding? She didn’t even bother trying.” Her lip wobbles, and she takes a shaky breath. “Make me feel something different, please,” she begs and kisses me again. Her tongue edges the seam of my lips. She pulls back to breathe and I kiss my way down her jaw. It’s not enough. I put her on top of me and tug her head towards mine while my hands slide over her body. She whimpers, and I pull back.
“I’m sorry, Revna. I’m sorry I wasn’t better for you—“ She stops my words with the crash of her lips against mine.
“Then make it up to me. I need this, Lachlan,” she says, her eyes glassy.
“I’ll give you whatever you want, little bird. I told you that, and I meant it.” I slide my hand to the back of her neck.
“Then give me this,” she whispers. I yank her forward, and I kiss her the way we fight. Passionate and a little desperate, it causes the need to rise between us. Her hands slide under my shirt, and my hips jolt against her. I sit us up to pull her shirt over her head, and I aim for her chest. Her hands go to my hair as she presses herself further into my face. I squeeze her other breast, kneading it with my hand. She whimpers, rolling her hips against my jeans. Switching to her other side, I look up, and our eyes lock together. Hers soften, and before I pull away, I drag her bud lightly through my teeth. She bites down on her moan, and I grab her mouth again, telling her sorry in as many ways as I can. She leans in and swivels her hips against me.
“I want more, Lach,” she whimpers against my neck as she rubs herself against me.
I reach for the back of my shirt, and she presses her naked skin against mine, shocking me with her warmth. She reaches for the button of my jeans. I help her get them off, tossing them on the floor. The scrap of fabric covering her is the last barrier between us, before I can pull them off. She stops me instantly with her hand wrapped around me. “Baby, don’t —“ I grit. She licks her lower lip and watches my reaction as she smooths her hand down. I throw my head back as a groan hollows out my chest. I force myself to think of grandmas, baseball, and math to keep myself under control.
She moves a little faster, and I grab her wrist. I want her to be first, always first. I tease her over the fabric keeping her from me. Her eyes spark, and I want to set them on fire. I push a little harder, and then I pull my hand away. She whines and goes for me again, trying to take control. I grab her and flip us so I’m pinning her to the bed. My hips bump against hers, forcing her to thrust back up. “Please.”
I take my time kissing around her neck, jaw, and between her breasts. I give them equal attention until she is gripping the sheets and writhing, unable to take it anymore. “Lachlan, for once in your life, stop being an asshole,” she says, breathless.
I chuckle into her neck and slowly roll my hips. She makes a strangled noise, and I catch it with my teeth and then fist her underwear, ripping them clean off. She gasps, and before she can yell at me, I lean into her ear and say, “I want to hear how I make you feel little bird. Scream for me so I know I’m doing it right.”
She nibbles on my lower lip. “You already know...”
I grin. “Do I?”
She pushes her hips into mine, and I reach between us, sliding my fingers between her thighs. Her head tips back in bliss like every other time I’ve watched her passion with my eyes. This time, I want to taste it, breathe it in, swallow her whole. I drag my fingers in and out, bringing her closer and closer to that edge.
I pull back and scoot down the bed so my shoulders rest between her legs. Her eyes stay locked on mine as I tease her until she can’t take it anymore. I drag her up the peak and taste every bit of her ecstasy as she lets go. I keep going until her shudders stop, and I press a kiss on her pubic bone.
She sits up and meets me halfway, thrusting her tongue into my mouth. I lay her back until I’m over her. She lifts her knee to my hip, and I pump my hips slowly until I’m seated fully. Her chest moves up and down rapidly while I give her a minute. I look at her, silently asking if she’s ok. She nods, biting her lip. Her fathomless eyes lock onto mine in wordless communication. She’s saying everything she doesn’t have words for, and I can feel them inking themselves into my skin like another tattoo.
A tear slips down her cheekbone, and I wipe it away, taking a deep breath. My pulse is rapidly out of control, and the weight of the moment is overwhelming. I lean my forehead against hers. We breathe each other’s air, yet it’s still not close enough. “I want you to take all that pain and give it to me. Let me carry it for you, Revna. Let me do that for you.” Another tear slips from her eyes as she nods her head. I roll my hips, and she cries out, still looking me in the eyes, and pushes up to meet me.
Our pace increases as our bodies move in a steady rhythm until I can’t hold back. I drive harder, gripping the headboard. She gives in as her nails dig for purchase across my back. I grunt with the sharp sting triggering the tingle in my spine, and it’s all I can do to hold on a little longer.
Her cries are music to my ears as she scrambles to hold on to me. “Lachlan, yes, there,” she breathes sharply. She nods with pleasure painted on her face. Then she melts under me, her back arches as every muscle in her body tenses. She lets out a hoarse moan as she tries to gasp for breath, and I swear I black out for a minute as we soar into the sky. There are no words to describe the way we landed.
I lean back a little to unfold her from me. Her legs wrap around my hips before I flip us so she’s still straddling me and lying across my chest. She reaches up and drags her nails through my beard, sending shivers down my spine. She shifts a little, and I pump my hips up.
“My greedy girl,” I ground out.
