Page 49
Story: Starlight Wishes
“These fingers have multiple talents,” he claimed as he used them to massage the lower portion of my back. I stifled a moan as his palms slid upward, his fingers firmly moving in small circles along the sides of my spine while his thumbs brushed along the sides of my breasts. Enfolded in his strong arms made me feel small, and for a fleeting moment, vulnerable. But if I had learned nothing else these past several days, I knew that Tyler would never knowingly hurt me. What were the odds that I’d given up finding someone who would fill me with the peace I was longing for, only to find it in the very man I’d spent months shutting out and avoiding? He was so patient, even after I had used him to make myself feel better.Used him.The realization hit me with enough power I rocked on his lap.
I hadn’t treated him much better than Mark had treated me.
“I’m sorry, Tyler.” I swallowed hard.
I felt him freeze beneath me and hurried to explain. “When I took advantage of you after the wedding.I practically forced myself on you. I didn’t listen when you tried to talk me out of it. I’m not much better than Mark.” I cupped his face in my hands. “Tyler, I’m so sorry. I put us in a difficult situation that night, and I didn’t handle it well afterward. I know I frustrated you time and time again. I honestly don’t know why you bothered with me.”
He ran a hand through his hair. His mouth dropped open as if I had just announced something completely ridiculous, only I was serious. A short burst of laughter erupted from him. “Do I look like someone you could force to do something he didn’t want to do?”
“But we’d had a lot to drink, and I played that to my advantage. You were so nice to me that night, and I loved dancing with you. I felt so safe, and you smelled so good . . .” My hand slapped over my mouth. “I mean—”
He pulled my hand away from my mouth and kissed it. “I liked dancing with you, too, kitten. You were soft and warm, and we weren’t arguing. But I wasn’t drunk. I’d quit drinking hours before the party broke up. Do you really think I would have driven you home if I’d been drunk? I would never do anything to put you in danger.” He wound his fingers in my hair and pulled me back to him. “No, the only intoxicating thing that night was you. How good you felt in my arms. How sexy you looked in your dress and those heels.” I couldn’t move as he lowered his head closer to mine. “How you made little noises when I did this.” He kissed the curve of my neck. “How sweet you tasted.” His lips brushed over mine.
I pulled back so there were only a couple of inches between our faces. He tucked a loose strand of hair that had escaped from my ponytail behind my ear. “This is what I’ve wanted to do since I met you, Jen.”
“I already realize I can’t do casual with you, Tyler. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared about things going wrong. There’s a lot on the line,” I whispered.
“Yes, I agree there is. Including our happiness. I think we owe it to ourselves to give it a real try. We’ve made it through quite a few bits of drama, and we’re still here, still talking and working it out. Seems like a good start to me. A strong start, even.”
I cocked my head and tapped a finger on my chin as if I was considering other options. We’d seen each other through some trying times, including Kayla’s accident, a kidnapping, Jake, post-wedding sex . . . I smiled wryly. Who’d have thought that amazing sex would be something we ‘had to get through?’
“What are you thinking about, kitten?”
I smiled shyly. “I was just remembering pieces of our history together.”
“And there’s my point, Jen. Like it or not, we have a history together, supporting each other when times are tough, and we obviously have chemistry. It’s more than I’ve ever had with anyone else, and that’s what makes you different. That’s why I think we could work. I can’t make guarantees, but I can promise that you won’t have to worry about faithfulness or me trying to take you away from your friends and family. Hell, Jen, your independence is part of what I like so much about you. And I won’t try to control you, either.” He leaned down so he could whisper in my ear, “Except in the bedroom. You liked it when I took charge, then.”
His words caused me to shiver, but in a good way.
“There needs to be more than just good sex, Tyler,” I groaned, even as I moved my neck so he could access it better.
“But you have to admit, it’s a great start,” he murmured.
I giggled as he found a particularly sensitive spot. “Are you sure about this, Tyler? Do you think we can make it work?”
“Take it from the science nerd, Jen. There’s no scientific formula that can predict the outcome of a relationship. But if I were a betting man, I’d give us pretty good odds.”
“I’m still scared, Tyler.”
“I know, kitten. And what makes you think you’re the only one? You’re not the only one who has something to lose. But that’s what makes it so great! Like hovering at the top of the hill on a roller coaster, nervous about that drop, but it’s a great ride.”
“Unless it makes you sick,” I smirked.
“Ahh, but you don’t know unless you take that chance.” He dragged his nose along my jaw until he reached my lips. “So what do you say, Jen, go on this ride with me?” he whispered against them.
I hadn’t treated him much better than Mark had treated me.
“I’m sorry, Tyler.” I swallowed hard.
I felt him freeze beneath me and hurried to explain. “When I took advantage of you after the wedding.I practically forced myself on you. I didn’t listen when you tried to talk me out of it. I’m not much better than Mark.” I cupped his face in my hands. “Tyler, I’m so sorry. I put us in a difficult situation that night, and I didn’t handle it well afterward. I know I frustrated you time and time again. I honestly don’t know why you bothered with me.”
He ran a hand through his hair. His mouth dropped open as if I had just announced something completely ridiculous, only I was serious. A short burst of laughter erupted from him. “Do I look like someone you could force to do something he didn’t want to do?”
“But we’d had a lot to drink, and I played that to my advantage. You were so nice to me that night, and I loved dancing with you. I felt so safe, and you smelled so good . . .” My hand slapped over my mouth. “I mean—”
He pulled my hand away from my mouth and kissed it. “I liked dancing with you, too, kitten. You were soft and warm, and we weren’t arguing. But I wasn’t drunk. I’d quit drinking hours before the party broke up. Do you really think I would have driven you home if I’d been drunk? I would never do anything to put you in danger.” He wound his fingers in my hair and pulled me back to him. “No, the only intoxicating thing that night was you. How good you felt in my arms. How sexy you looked in your dress and those heels.” I couldn’t move as he lowered his head closer to mine. “How you made little noises when I did this.” He kissed the curve of my neck. “How sweet you tasted.” His lips brushed over mine.
I pulled back so there were only a couple of inches between our faces. He tucked a loose strand of hair that had escaped from my ponytail behind my ear. “This is what I’ve wanted to do since I met you, Jen.”
“I already realize I can’t do casual with you, Tyler. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared about things going wrong. There’s a lot on the line,” I whispered.
“Yes, I agree there is. Including our happiness. I think we owe it to ourselves to give it a real try. We’ve made it through quite a few bits of drama, and we’re still here, still talking and working it out. Seems like a good start to me. A strong start, even.”
I cocked my head and tapped a finger on my chin as if I was considering other options. We’d seen each other through some trying times, including Kayla’s accident, a kidnapping, Jake, post-wedding sex . . . I smiled wryly. Who’d have thought that amazing sex would be something we ‘had to get through?’
“What are you thinking about, kitten?”
I smiled shyly. “I was just remembering pieces of our history together.”
“And there’s my point, Jen. Like it or not, we have a history together, supporting each other when times are tough, and we obviously have chemistry. It’s more than I’ve ever had with anyone else, and that’s what makes you different. That’s why I think we could work. I can’t make guarantees, but I can promise that you won’t have to worry about faithfulness or me trying to take you away from your friends and family. Hell, Jen, your independence is part of what I like so much about you. And I won’t try to control you, either.” He leaned down so he could whisper in my ear, “Except in the bedroom. You liked it when I took charge, then.”
His words caused me to shiver, but in a good way.
“There needs to be more than just good sex, Tyler,” I groaned, even as I moved my neck so he could access it better.
“But you have to admit, it’s a great start,” he murmured.
I giggled as he found a particularly sensitive spot. “Are you sure about this, Tyler? Do you think we can make it work?”
“Take it from the science nerd, Jen. There’s no scientific formula that can predict the outcome of a relationship. But if I were a betting man, I’d give us pretty good odds.”
“I’m still scared, Tyler.”
“I know, kitten. And what makes you think you’re the only one? You’re not the only one who has something to lose. But that’s what makes it so great! Like hovering at the top of the hill on a roller coaster, nervous about that drop, but it’s a great ride.”
“Unless it makes you sick,” I smirked.
“Ahh, but you don’t know unless you take that chance.” He dragged his nose along my jaw until he reached my lips. “So what do you say, Jen, go on this ride with me?” he whispered against them.
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