A fierceness grows inside me, and I tie my legs around his waist, pulling him down closer as I work at the buttons on his shirt—one by one—while sliding my fingers gently down the center of his chest. “I didn’t think you existed,” I tell him,breathlessly.
“I’m right here.” He pulls at my dress, slowly drawing it over my head before his lips become more familiar with my collarbone, then the lacy exterior of my bra. His hands meet in the middle of my back, and I feel the release of my bra’s clasp with the slightest flick of hisfingers.
“I’ve never been with a doctor,” I mutter as my back arches toward him, craving more of his teasingtouches.
“I’m glad to hear that,” he says, his lips vibrating against the top of mybreast.
My restless hands drag down the sides of his solid core, offering me nothing to hold onto, which doesn’t make much of a difference when he takes my hands within his and presses them into the pillow above my head. He has completely taken control of my body and every one of my senses. He gently moves the tips of his fingers inside of the hem of my panties before sliding them down my legs, allowing the silk fabric to feather against me at a torturously slowpace.
My eyes close in an effort to be patient as I hear a rustling from his drawer. I want to move my hands and help him with his boxer briefs, but I’m obeying the position he left mein.
The world around me is spinning and silent as he removes the last article of clothing that separates us. He slides on the condom and I peer down to steal a glimpse of this amazing man now that we are both bare and exposed. He is as flawless outside as he isinside.
With Jackson’s smooth body pressing against mine, the friction and synced motions between us bring about sensations I’ve never experienced, inviting the understanding of the difference between simply being with a man versus being passionately intertwined in an endless symphony of desire. I try to contain the sounds aching to roar from my throat, but with the beads of sweat forming between us and the gasps of air bringing in little to nothing, I fall helplessly to the stranger ofconsummation.
Still struggling to pull in a breath of air, I feel as if I’m drowning in a pool of seduction. The release of emotions and what I had thought to be permanent stress makes me feel like a limp rag doll as his body comfortably rests against mine. “Well, did I revive you?” he murmurs weakly into myear.
“I think you may have given me a new understanding of the word,” Ireply.
Jackson props himself up on his side as he twirls his fingers through a loose tangled strand of my hair. “Where have you been?” heasks.
“Making a mess of my life.” It wasn’t meant to be funny, but I can’t help the laughter that follows my statement. I’m good at making messes, Iguess.
“I’ve always been under the impression that the bond between two people is something that grows over time, but I’ve been wrong. I think it all starts with a connection and grows into something more than I can comprehend at thismoment.”
“You’re a brilliant man,” I tell him. I love that he’s unashamed to admit his worldly assumptions have been inaccurate due toinexperience.
“Thank you.” He looks surprised to hear my simplistic response to his understanding of life but I have nothing to match it with because I agree. “Emma, I want to spend more time with you, and I need you to know that I want to be careful not to rush into anything. I want our relationship to be separate and distinct from the one you had with Mike. I don’t even want you to compare us and keep thinking about how much better I am for you. I just want you to think about me as a new chapter in your life.” He interrupts his explanation with a short, soft kiss, and though I open my mouth to reply, he places his finger down gently on my lips. “However, I can’t pretend that staying away from each other ‘to let time heal’ is going to fix whatever pain we’ve both beenthrough.”
I would only disagree if I were to follow those unsaid rules of dating, but I’ve never been one to follow rules. “Jackson, I’ve only feltthistype of comfort and contentment during the times I’ve been you, and I don’t need time to figure that out,” I tellhim.
“So, we’re on the same page?” heasks.
I squint my eyes, shamefully knowing what I’m about to say after just two dates with this man, but I’m done wasting precious moments in my life. “Will you laugh at me if I ask you to be myboyfriend?”
“Only if you don’t laugh when I ask you to wear my high schoolring.”
I wasn’t expecting the joke, so I teasingly slap his bare chest, causing him to flinch and cover himself from further damage. “You have a high school ring?” I laugh at the thought. He must have been the guy all the girls drooled over, begging to wear hisring.
“No, it just sounded like the right thing to say inresponse.”
“We’re not being ridiculous, right? After all, we have only known each other for less than a week.” I don’t feel like I need more reassurance, but I want to hear itagain.
“What’s the worst that can happen?” heasks.
“A couple of broken hearts,” Ireply.
“We’d survive. You come from a line of survivors, and I’ve been through my own form of hell. I say we just live how we want and throw the rulebook out thewindow.”
“Damn rules,” I tellhim.
“I think my mom and sister will be happy to hear I have agirlfriend.”
“I think my mom and grandmother will start planning a wedding,” I reply withamusement.
He doesn’t respond to the craziness that’s likely to be true, but I don’t think he cares as he kisses meagain.
“Will you sleep over?” heasks.
