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It feels so warm and inviting that I lay there for a minute or two, allowing her to adjust to the length of my erect cock in her. I link my fingers with hers, grip tight, and start thrusting in and out, slowly again and again.
Accepting my thrusts, she arches her back, lifts her lips to find mine, and joins them. The sweetness of it brings an ache to herthroat as pleasure builds on top of pleasure. We match, beat for beat, thrust for thrust, as sweetness becomes desperation.
We’re still joined—lips, hands, loins—when we fall.
I pulled away for a moment, looking into her eyes, and I see the fire of our connection burning within her still. “I don’t want to lose you,” I tell her, my voice thicker than rosewater.
Her breaths shallow gasps, she says, “But you need to stop shutting me out.”
The weight of her words sinks in, and I nodded. I just know I need to find a way to make this work, to rebuild the trust that’s been broken.
“I promise I’ll try,” I say firmly.
She pulls me back in to kiss me again before I can say anything else, and I lose myself in her warmth, the world outside vanishing entirely. It doesn’t matter what else is happening right now. We are two entwined souls, ready to go into the rest of this life together.
Chapter thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-Five
Rachel
That heated moment with Vaughn hasn’t been that long ago—a few days at most—and I’m so ready to find some semblance of normalcy. For over a week now, I have been running every day, channeling my emotions through the rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement, trying to clear my brain and find clarity. Today, however, after I return home from my morning run, I feel off.
The front door is slightly ajar, and my heart drops as I call out, “Archie!” Usually, my beloved cat is waiting for me with his soft purring and eager love. However, there’s no answer today.
Dread pools in my stomach, and I push the door open. The moment I walk in, the sight that meets my eyes makes my breath hitch. The place is ransacked. Cushions are thrown about, and furniture is overturned. It looks like someone searched throughevery drawer and cabinet. My heart races as I call out again, panic setting in, “Archie!”
My heart pounds in my chest as I rush through the living room. Every instinct in me screams that something is very wrong. “Archie, where are you?” Desperation creeps into my voice. The eerie silence of my home is the only response.
I leap into the kitchen, looking under the table, in the pantry—anywhere I can think to find him. But he’s nowhere to be found. Reality hits me, and tears prick at the corners of my eyes. Someone violated my home, my sanctuary, and now my little companion is missing. A wave of helplessness washes over me, and tears stream down my cheeks.
“Please, no,” I whisper, my voice trembling. This can’t happen. I need Archie back. The thought of him being out there alone fills me with dread. He’s my comfort, my joy.
With shaky hands, I pull out my phone and dial Vaughn’s number. Right now, he’s the only person I feel I can turn to. I wipe away my tears, trying to pull myself together. When he finally answers, my voice shakes as I speak.
“Rachel?” His voice is immediately concerned. “What’s wrong?”
“I . . . I got home, and everything’s a mess. Archie is missing. Someone’s been here!” The words rush from my lips in a choked sob.
“What do you mean, missing?” he asks, urgency lacing his voice.
“He’s gone, and my apartment is ransacked. I mean . . . I don’t know what to do!” My breathing grows uneven, and panic rises again, making my heart race.
“Stay calm. I’m going to the stadium now,” he says, his tone firm and reassuring. “Meet me there. We’ll figure this out.”
“Okay,” I reply, sniffling and trying to steady my breathing. “I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
I wipe my tears quickly and hang up the phone, throwing on a hoodie. My mind races. This can’t happen. I have no idea who would do this or why, but I can only think about getting Archie back.
I look back into the chaos of my apartment as I dash out. I’m angry, I’m afraid, and I know I cannot let that pull me under. I need to get stronger for Archie.
My heart pounds as I drive to the stadium. It seems to take forever. I can’t shake the dread that has settled in the pit of my stomach. What if something has happened to him? What if he’s scared and alone?
I finally pulled into the stadium’s parking lot, jump out of the car, and run toward the entrance. I see Vaughn standing near the entrance, looking half concerned, half determined.
“Rachel!” he calls out, rushing to meet me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m scared, Vaughn,” I say, looking into his eyes, my voice trembling. “I don’t know what I should do.”