She comes down from her high, her breath ragged. I stand, looking down at her now limp body. She sits up, still panting.
“Okay, that was,” She pauses searching for the word. “Transcendent.”
I drop my head and laugh. “You’re such an English teacher.”
“Come here,” she says more seriously.
She frees me from the material, her hand curling around my length. I haven’t been touched like this in so long and never by someone I cared for like her. I let out a low groan and she shifts forward, parting her lips.
“Wait,” I say in a hushed tone. Her eyes dart to mine, confused. “It’s been a long time, Claire. Like a really fucking long time.” I lean forward causing her to lay back down in response. “And if you touch me like that, I’m going to fall apart before I even get to be inside you.” I give her one hard, wet, kiss. “And Ineedto be inside you.”
Claire gasps, reaching for me. I stumble all but on top of her, my briefs half up, half down, and we both let out a laugh. Laying on my side, next to her all but naked body, I pull her to me and she turns in naturally. I land on the bare skin between her thighs practically reaching for my prize. Growing almost instantly serious, we collide again, only stopping when Claire quietly utters the single most delicious sound.
“Please.”
Despite being exactly what I want, I hesitate, pulling back from our embrace. It hits me that if we do this, there’s no undoing it. I will want her with everything I have, and she will be somehow attached to everything I don’t. I close my eyes trying to muster the courage to question this. To make sure that she knows she is giving a piece of herself to an absolute mess.
“I want this, Jay.” She speaks before I have the chance. “Please.”
There’s that word again. She leans in, but I keep the distance.
Ripping off the bandaid, I respond. “Claire, I’m so fucking broken.” At this point, she has enough of the pieces to understand what I’m saying, even if she’s still missing a few.
She pulls her head back furrowing her brow. “You’re not broken, Jay.” I exhale heavily, closing my eyes.
“Trust me, I am.”
She drops her forehead to mine, our noses just barely touching. I feel her breath on my lips, warm and sweet, just like her.
“Then be broken.” She lifts her head and my heart sinks. I wince, at the lack of contact, my chest heavy with regret.
I hear her speak but my inner thoughts half-drown out the faint sound of her voice. My eyes shoot open.
“What?”
“With me,” she repeats. “I said, then be broken. With me.”
I press my mouth to hers urgently, the words I have for her spoken in pressure. I hold that kiss, getting myself together. Giving myself time to swallow the lump in my throat, that she put there with two simple words that tell me I don’t have to be alone.
Once my mind is right and my body is begging for her more than ever, I put her chin gently in the space between my thumb and index finger.
“Turn around."
32
Claire
I’m curled up next to Jay, my head on his chest, after what might have been the single best sex of my life. We’re both still in our post-coital daze, him stroking my hair and me tracing the outline of the rose on his forearm. We have yet to have any real conversation since we finished unless deep sighs and “Wows,” and “My Gods,” count as full sentences.
My stomach growling atrociously breaks the silent bliss, causing Jay to spring to life.
“Oh shit, what time is it?”
Sitting up on my elbow next to him, I answer. “No idea. My phone is in my purse which is all the way out there.” I point in the direction of the living room.
“Mine’s in my jacket pocket. I’ll be right back.”
He stands and hoists up his underwear, then his jeans, but not before I catch a glimpse of his rock-solid backside. Man, that thing is what they write rap songs about.
