Draping my arms over his shoulders, I leaned into his hard, lanky body, appreciating how the wiry muscles from his teens had turned into solid muscle. Still lean, but more defined, more masculine.
He slipped a hand under my shirt, his warm fingertips skimming up my waist to linger on the sides of my breast, only the thin material of my bra separating his flesh from mine.
“Is this okay?” he asked in a hushed voice.
“Uh, Pax, this is more than okay.” I reached back and unhooked the bra. “Don’t let me impede your progress.”
Tipping his face to the ceiling, he released a loud laugh. “God, I love how fucking bold and unashamed you are now.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You created a monster, just so you know.”
“A beautiful monster,” he teased, working his hand to cup my breast as he trailed kisses down my neck and nipped the skin.
Letting out a moan, I surrendered, sliding my hands to his jeans button, and slipping his zipper down. “Pants. Gone. Now.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Breaking contact with me, he shimmied out of his shirt, pants, and underwear while I did the same.
I couldn’t tear my attention from the art on his chest. Every area of his skin was inked in beautiful colors, but it wasn’t the art itself that caused the breath to hitch in my chest. It was the words and the story and the people that brought tears to my eyes.
“Pax…” Reverently, I trailed a finger across his stomach. “This is me, and Lana, and you. And the bedtime story.” Roses and vines wrapped around a blue book with golden letters. Up higher on his chest, the little girl—Lana—smiled her gap-toothed grin. Verses from the story spiraled in and out of each scene. On his left pec, close to his heart, a blue-eyed boy with black hair and a girl with a pink bow in her curls faced one another, their hands upraised and clasped together.
“I have something added to it every few months, or any time I need to remind myself of the past.”
He never forgot us. Instead, he’d etched us onto his skin.“It’s breathtaking. I can’t believe you had all this done.”
“It feels like I carry a little piece of happiness with me.” He laid back on the bed and pulled me down next to his body, running his hand down my arm to rest on my hip, his eyes on mine. “That time in my life—you, your sister—gave me a reason to go on, to focus on something besides myself. I’ll always be grateful.”
I pressed a finger against his lips. “Shut up and kiss me.”
“I’m going to do more than kiss you because I’m suddenly feeling extremely healthy.” Covering my body with his, he moved his free hand between my thighs. “This is a re-do of our last night together.”
Curling my toes in pleasure, I sighed his name into our kiss and forgot about the twelve-year gulf that had separated us for so long.
Tonight, we were together, and that was what mattered.
Nothing else.
Chapter thirty-five
Paxton Ross
I’donlyexperiencedpurebliss one other time, and that had been when CC and I had spent our last night together.
Coaxing her with my fingers, I nipped my teeth along her neck, immensely enjoying her moans of pleasure. Where before she’d been shy and nervous, she now directed the speed of my hand and the pressure of my touch.
“You’re so fucking wet, CC.” My heartbeat pounded against my eardrums as I fought an urge to drive myself deep inside of her.It’s been twelve years since we’ve been together, and I’ll make damn sure she comes before I get my own pleasure.“Did you ever think of me when you were with other men?”
She arched her back, the movement pushing my index and middle finger inside her warmth. “Every goddamn time.”
My heart swelled. I kissed her earlobe and whispered, “I yelled your name one time with another woman.”
A low, throaty laugh poured from her mouth, then she turned her head and kissed me, sliding her tongue against mine.
Her body tensed and she clutched at my shoulders. “Oh God.” Wave after wave of tremors shook her body.
I smiled against her lips, moving my hand to cup her breast, stroking the soft skin. “Ready for one another?”
Sweaty and panting, she nodded, pulling back to stare into my eyes. “I never stopped loving you, Pax, not even once. I tried, though, God how I tried. I’m not proud of my actions, but there have been a lot of men in my life. I always compared them to that first time with you, and they never measured up.”
