I leaned in and she curled her hand around the back of my neck. “You know what would feel right? You kissing me.”
“G, I want to, but—”
“Just kiss me,” she whispered. “I really need you tonight.”
There was no way I could say no to her, but I wasn’t sure what she was asking. I wasn’t interested in having sex, if that was even possible given her condition, just to take her mind off her problems. I needed more from her. I deserved more.
“Why?” I didn’t know if I was crazy for questioning her, given how vulnerable she was, but I needed to know. “Do you need someone to make you forget for awhile or do you needme?”
“I need you, Joel.”
I kissed her, trying to hold back, to pace myself while my brain sifted through all possible outcomes. But as soon as her tongue breached my lips my brain shut down and my body took over.
I’d been fantasizing about her for weeks. Falling asleep with thoughts of her filtering through my mind, waking up hard because I needed to feel her next to me. “You need to be sure this is what you want,” I whispered, breaking the kiss. “This can’t be just sex for me, G. I love you too much.”
“I know, I feel the same way.” Her eyes searched mine. “I screwed up too. I made that stupid show more important than us. I should never have let you leave.”
I didn’t need to hear anymore. I had regrets, so did she.
Picking her up and carrying her into the bedroom, I whispered in her ear, “Does this mean you’re coming home, where you belong?”
She smiled before kissing me. “Home. I love the way that sounds.”
“And we’re moving all of your stuff out of this apartment. Tomorrow. No more running. For either of us.” I set her down on the bed gently, before bracing my weight above her. “If we have problems, we work them out. Agreed?”
“We still have a lot to talk about,” she said, looking uncertain as she bit her bottom lip.
I reached behind me and yanked my shirt over my head, tossing it on the floor. Her eyes trailed over my chest as I said, “So talk.”
Her sexy half-smile said it all. “That’s not fair. I can’t find words with you looking so hot.”
“Talking isn’t the only way to communicate, you know.” I slid her yoga pants down, being mindful of her cast as I tossed them on the floor. “You sure this is okay?”
“As long as we’re careful,” she said, reaching for me.
“Your head?”
“Is filled with thoughts of all the ways my handsome husband is going to make me feel good tonight.”
“How can I say no to that?” I asked, kissing a path down her neck.
“I’m hoping you can’t.”
My mouth found hers and all of the fears I’d been having over the past weeks melt away as she imprinted herself on me. My body. My heart. My head. This woman had an exclusive all-access pass.
I cradled her head in my hands as I looked into her eyes, brushing silky strands of hair off her forehead. “Hi.”
She smiled. “Hi.”
“You’re still healing, G. I can just hold you tonight, if that’s what you need.”
“What I need,” she whispered in my ear, before nipping my earlobe. “Is for you to quit treating me like I’m made of glass. I’m not going to shatter, Joel. Unless… you decide to leave me again.”
Her vulnerability hit me hard. I’d never seen Gia acknowledge weakness before and the fact she was willing to let me see her softer side proved we were making progress.
“That’ll never happen again.” My voice was fierce, determined, when I whispered, “You hear me? Never.”
I unzipped her black hoodie, spreading it wide and popping the snap fastening the front of her lacy black bra. Her rosy nipples were peaked, begging for me, as I carefully inched down her body, straddling her in a way that made her cast less of a hindrance. My tongue traced her delicate skin, as she threaded her fingers through my hair, holding me in place. Her soft moans echoed through the small room as I pleasured her, mapping every inch of her body with my mouth, my tongue, my skin on hers.
