“Youdidkiss me back, Dare.”
“I know, I couldn’t stop myself, but later, I convinced myself I didn’t. Told myself it was all you. You were mine, Tru, and I threw you away so carelessly.”
I blinked fast, but the tears still stung. “You ruined everything after that.”
“I know.” His voice broke. “I knew it even then. But I couldn’t admit it. Not to myself. Not to anyone. So I pushed you away, and I lied. And every time you looked at me like you didn’t recognize me anymore, it fucking killed me.”
I exhaled shakily, gripping his wrist. “I stopped writing in my journal because I didn’t want to see your name anymore. It hurt too much.”
“I looked for it anyway,” he admitted, a weak smile playing at his lips. “Even when I swore I was over it.”
“Asshole,” I whispered, but I said it like an endearment.
He slipped his hand beneath the blanket to graze my hip.
“Can I kiss you?”
“You don’t have to ask.”
Dare brushed his lips over mine softly, still asking. I answered by parting my lips and seeking out his tongue. Softand velvety, it slid along mine, stroking me until my dick hardened.
He stared at me for a long second, then kissed me again, deeper, with more need. We shifted together, letting our bodies find the rhythm we never lost. Fingers exploring with aching tenderness, lips trailing secrets down bare skin.
It wasn’t frantic this time. It was forgiveness made in flesh. Love without armor.
He touched me as if he was making up for every night he’d spent pretending he didn’t want to.
“Tell me you’re mine,” he breathed.
“I’m yours,” I whispered. “Always.”
My words flipped a switch in his head, and he became desperate, urgent. His fingers bit into my hips, his teeth nipped, his lips sucked dark, claiming welts.
“Gonna stretch you before I fuck you.”
A shiver danced up my spine. His touch set off a fire that spread down my thighs and curled my toes.
Dare watched me with dark, soft eyes as he glided his hand down the center of my chest, mapping out every place he planned to worship.
“Earlier, we took the edge off. Now, I want to take my time,” he said. “Want to feel all of you.”
I nodded, breath shaky. “Okay.”
He kissed me again, deep and slow, then shifted lower, pushing my thighs apart with a quiet confidence that made my breath catch. He stroked along my inner thigh, not touching where I needed him yet. Teasing. Building.
“Why so quiet?” he murmured.
“I’m trying not to beg,” I admitted, cheeks hot.
Dare smirked against my skin. “Don’t hold back. I want to hear you.”
He licked between my legs, tongue lapping at my balls until I made a keening sound. Then his fingers found my hole, gentle at first. Testing. Exploring. Slick heat and callused skin making me jolt, hips twitching up into his hand. He whispered something under his breath. My name, maybe. A curse. I couldn’t tell. Everything started to blur.
“I’ve thought about this,” he said hoarsely, pressing deeper, fingers curling just right. “So many fucking times. Thought about what you’d sound like. What you’d feel like.”
He kept his rhythm slow, eyes locked on mine as I writhed under him. It was maddening and perfect. I clutched at the sheets, at his arm, at anything.
“Please,” I gasped. “Dare?—”
