The smell of his skin is intoxicating. I’m pretty sure I could lie here in this drunken state all day. Just like this. I’m completely and utterly lost to him, and it feels so damn good. Better than I ever imagined. It’s hard to believe, after all of this time, we’re here.
In this moment.
“I love you, too.” His fingers draw content, lazy sighs from me with each brush across my feverish flesh. I never knew making love could be so beautiful, so passionate. Every touch, every breath overflowing with so many years of deep longing, I don’t think I will ever get enough of him.
Linc’s warm lips press against my forehead and my eyes flutter closed as a new beginning unfolds. His forehead kisses will never be the same again. Now they are so much more precious than they ever were before.
“What are you thinkin’ about?”
“Us.”
“Us,” he whispers, thoughtfully.
He’s still inside of me, the weight of him bringing me so much comfort. “I can’t believe we’re here together. Like this.”
His smile is as content as I feel, washing over me with the promise of love beyond my wildest dreams.
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment,” he says, tucking a piece of hair behind my left ear. “And I’m not talkin’ about the sex, which turned out to be far better than anything my mind ever worked up. But I’ve been waiting forthis. To hold you, to fall asleep with you in my arms every night and wake up next to you every mornin’. To know you’re finally where you belong, with me.”
“Every night and every morning? What makes you think I want you to even stay tonight?” I tease, but I’m silently hoping he will.
“You don’t think for one second you’re gettin’ rid of me now, do you?”
“What are you saying?”
“What do you think I’m sayin’, Syl?” he asks, narrowing his eyes.
“Linc, I think we should take this slow. I mean, we just…I’m as happy as you are right now. I never thought this would happen for us and now it’s happening so fast and effortlessly really. It’s a little bit overwhelming to be honest, and I don’t want to do anything to mess it up. And I don’t want to rush Caroline either.”
“Caroline is not going to even bat an eye at this. She knows, Sylvie. That kid is smart. Besides, she loves me.”
I smile.
She adores him.
“Still…I need to be careful with her. I want us to be together as much as you do, Linc. I’ve wanted it for as long as I can remember, but I need to make sure she’s ready.”
“You’re incredible, you know that?”
Heat invades my cheeks as his tense jaw relaxes into a pleased smile. When his lips find mine, my heart surges with heat, as does the rest of my body. I can’t remember ever feeling this loved.
Safe.
It’s so new and exhilarating and it takes everything I have to beg him not to ever leave this spot. I never want to lose this feeling. “I’ll give you all the time you need, Sylvie, but this is it for me. You’re all I’ve ever wanted, and I’m never lettin’ you go again.”
His words are like a balm, soothing the wounds that life has so irrevocably inflicted. Would they ever be healed completely? With a love like his, I refuse to believe anything different.
He pulls the thick quilt from the back of the couch and moves to situate himself next to me, wrapping his arm around my middle and pulling me close. His eyes hold mine.
“Sylvie.”
“Hmm?”
“There’s something else I need from you.”
“What?”
Lifting my hand to his mouth, he places a kiss on my wrist then my lips.
