“I think we’re making good progress.” Karan presses a soft kiss to my lips. “We’re gonna be okay, Rach.”
I can only hope, yet, the pit in my stomach remains at the idea that we haven’t worked through everything yet. There’s still the question of his job. And I don’t know if I can trust that he’ll truly make an effort with his parents.
“Hey.” Karan raises his eyebrows. “How about we go make use of that hot tub?”
My cheeks heat. So does my lower belly.
“I like that idea.”
For all that I know, we teleport ourselves to the patio; that’s how quickly we make it outside, how much of a blur that moment in between feels. It’s cold, but I only sense heat when Karan gently peels my clothing away from my skin. I do the same to him and revel in the delicious warmth emanating from his towering body.
Only once we’re fully naked does he pick me up in his arms to walk us both inside the tub. The scalding water wrapping around my body, along with the contrast of the freezing wind against my face and neck, and the heavy pressure of Karan’s body against mine, awakens my senses in the best of ways.
“Rachel,” Karan gasps against my mouth when the two of us collide. “God, I love you so much.”
“I love you, Karan.”
This isn’t the wild and frantic kiss from yesterday. This time, we go slow, savouring each other, my hands stroking all over his back and weaving into his hair. Just this—kissing him, bathing in all the sensations of him—feels so good that I could remain in this moment forever.
In the quiet of the mountains and the blue skies above, it’s only us. Fourteen years of history between us, and all of the love that we’ve grown like vines entwining us together, creates a bubble that protects us from all the harm we’ve done to each other.
And when Karan finally pushes into me for the first time in months, a sigh of relief escapes my throat, mingling with his panting breath.
“Oh,” I manage to whimper, when there’s so much more I want to say.
Oh, Karan, you feel so good.
Oh, God, I’ve missed having you inside me.
Karan, on the other hand, finds the words. He slides out, painfully slowly, and thrusts back inside me, bringing all of my most sensitive points alive.
“Nothing compares to you, Rachel,” he groans against my ear. “This is…”
So sweet. All-encompassing. Transcendent.
“Fuck, you feel good, Rach.” The sound of his voice, deep and husky, goes straight to my spine, sending tingles across my entire body.
“Karan.” His name comes out in a gasp. “Oh, my God, don’t stop.”
“Never, baby.”
When the tingles culminate into a detonation of sensations, my vision blacks out. The full-body wave of euphoria that takes over me is more than an orgasm; Karan, as promised, doesn’t relent, continuing to thrust into me and whispering encouragements in my ear as tears fall from my eyes.
Even when the initial wave subsides and I can breathe again, I’m still floating in euphoria. A laugh bubbles out of me as more tears fall.
Karan kisses them away and slows down. “You okay, baby?”
“More than okay. Oh… It still feels so good, Karan… please don’t stop,” I pant, tilting my hips to chase more of him.
He grunts in response to my movement, then kisses the hollow of my neck. “I won’t stop. But seeing you like this… fuck, Rach, I don’t know how long I’ll last.”
“Give me everything, then,” I whimper. “Come for me.”
That seems to take him over the edge; Karan grabs my ass to lift me out and sit me on the edge of the tub, his thrusts becoming erratic and deliciously deep. He buries his face in my neck and groans one final time; seeing him come undone like this only makes me float higher, makes everything that much sweeter.
Because there’s nothing that could ever compare to the love, the trust, the intimacy we’ve built.
The one I cannot stand to lose.
