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“Well,” she sighed. “That makes two of us.”
I hugged her tight. “Those years of memories with Gabe should have been with me, but I completely blew it. I blew you off.”
She ran her fingers through my hair and massaged my scalp. I surrendered instantly. I loved the way her nails felt against my head. I wanted to fall right into her and stay there eternally.
“You can't think about that,” she whispered. “Because you have me now.”
I pressed my cheek to hers. I felt her breathe and felt her shiver. I admired the way she dragged her nails down the back of my head and along my neck. Her loving embrace held me in place, keeping me from pulling away or running. And I didn't want to run. I didn't want to fall away from her like I had before.
Every touch and kiss affirmed that she meant what she said. I found my lips trailing along her jawline, decorating each inch of her I could discover. The familiarity of her skin on mine brought me splendor. I wanted to retain it for as long as possible.
“You're shaking,” I whispered as I dragged my lips up to her chin. “Why's that?”
“I'm cold.”
I wrapped her in a hug. “Let me help.”
She giggled as I tugged the sheets over her and kept her close. We warmed up quickly, growing hot under the sheets. I buried my face in her neck and let me lips dance across her skin, decorating her as I would have long ago.
“You're right,” I whispered to her skin. “I do have you now.”
“And it will stay that way for as long as possible.”
“Forever?”
She hummed. “I mean, I'll consider it.”
I laughed and shook my head. “You're ridiculous, Clara.”
“And I guess that makes you ridiculous, too.”
“Why?”
“Because you like me.”
I chuckled and pressed my forehead to hers. “I don't like you.”
She gasped. “What?”
“I love you.”
Her shocked features faded into a loving glance. She bit her lower lip, trailing her fingers over my scalp all over again. She held me close and held me tight while she released a contented sigh, the sheets rising with every breath she took.
She licked her lips. “I love you, too.”
I kissed her. I couldn't help myself. The sound of her affection made me wild for her touch, for her body, and for her lips. I wanted her lips especially. I wanted to coat them with mine, to layer them with the fondness I felt for her. I wanted to show her every single way she made me feel.
And I couldn't find a way other than to have my lips dance with hers.
She hummed into our embrace. Her lips vibrated mine and my eyes rolled back as ecstasy took hold. Her fingers traveled from my head to my shoulders and subsequently to my waist. She wrapped her arms around me and tugged me close. I leaned into her, unwilling to allow any pocket of cold air to exist between us.
I broke our kiss to whisper, “I never want to be away from you ever again.”
She grinned. “So, let's make sure that doesn't happen.”
I nuzzled her nose with my nose and then lingered around her lips, teasing her with my mouth. She parted her lips wider and allowed my tongue to plunge inside. I found her warmth inviting. Every reaction she had to me prompted another action, another touch, another playful lap of my tongue. I dove south and decorated her breasts while delicately holding them.
I touched her as reverently as I might an ancient artifact. She was much more precious than that, more valuable than gold. She was everything to me and I knew now that I was everything to her. We would never part as long as we held these feelings tight. We would thrive with these simple facts, with our simple love and our affection.