Page 8

JENNA

I feel like I’m living in a dream. A perfect, romantic dream.

The picnic blanket beneath us is soft, and the spring breeze carries the scent of blooming flowers from my gardens.

Blaise has pushed up my shirt and bra, exposing my breasts. I feel like I should be embarrassed, but an urgent need has me arching into his touch.

"You're beautiful," Blaise whispers against my neck as he rubs the palm of his hand over my nipples, making my entire body tingle. I’ve never felt anything like it, like every cell in my body is alive, vibrating.

In all the years I’ve pined for Ronan, I’d never felt anything close to this.

My yearning was always just in my chest. A childlike crush.

But he’s never noticed me. For years I've watched Ronan walk past me like I'm part of the scenery.

I'm just another servant, invisible unless I'm useful. But Blaise sees me, really sees me.

He dips his head, his tongue laving over my nipple, and oh, my God. A moan rips from me as pleasure shoots straight to my center.

“You okay?” His green eyes search mine.

I nod, unable to find my voice. My heart pounds against my ribs. I've never been touched like this, never felt so wanted. The few fantasies I'd had about Ronan seem childish now.

Blaise's lips find mine again, and I melt into him. His kiss is hungry, demanding, making my head spin. My fingers seek to touch his skin as he’s touching mine.

I push the hem up, splaying my hands on his chest. The muscle is hard, the skin warm.

This is real. This is what it feels like to be desired, to have someone's complete attention.

"Tell me what you want," he breathes against my ear.

"You," I whisper back, a little shocked not just at the intensity of need I’m experiencing, but at how easily I’m going with it. No hesitation. No doubt. I want this. I want Blaise.

I lose myself in Blaise's touch, my mother's words echoing in my mind. She always told me that true love would feel like floating and falling all at once. That when the right person came along, I'd know it in my bones. She’d know. She always said my father was the one true love of her life.

Blaise's fingers trace my collarbone, and I shiver.

"What are you thinking about?" Blaise asks, his thumb brushing my bottom lip.

"That I want to be brave." I pull him closer, pressing against the hardness I feel against my belly, surprising myself with my boldness.

His lips crash into mine, and I throw caution to the wind. I give myself fully over to him. Not just physically, but emotionally, all that I am.

His fingers trace patterns on my skin, and I shiver. "Cold?"

"No." I press closer, breathing in his scent, wanting, needing more, more, more. "I've never felt more alive."

It's true. Every nerve ending tingles with awareness. My heart races not from nervousness, but from pure joy. This connection between us feels real, tangible. Nothing like the fantasy I built around Ronan. No, this with Blaise is pure and true. It’s love.

"I've never felt this way before," I whisper, touching his face. His stubble scratches gently against my palm.

"Me neither." His voice is rough with emotion.

When he kisses me again, it's different, deeper, more intense. My whole body vibrates with anticipation.

I moan in frustration. “Blaise…”

It’s almost as if something snaps in him. His hands are everywhere, removing clothing, touching me flesh to flesh. The world spins as he moves over me, his hips settling between my thighs. I open for him, needing him as much as I need my next breath.

I feel a soft pressure that grows more intense. “Oh,” I gasp and arch, gripping his shoulders.

He lets out a feral growl followed by, “Fuck.”

The next moment, he’s seeped inside me. It happens so hard, so fast, with a quick, piercing pain that steals my breath.

“God, you’re so fucking tight.” His lips crush mine again. His hips rock against me. Soon, pleasure is coiling tight, tighter. My breath comes harsher. My hips move in rhythm with him.

He levers up on his hands, and his moves pick up speed. Faster. Deeper. Harder. Pressure builds. More. More. More.

And then I’m at a precipice. He drives in, grunting, grinding against me, and pleasure explodes. My body pulses around him, shudders as the most delicious sensations flood my body.

“Fuck, yes!” He thrusts in again. Warmth fills my body.

I hold on to him as the wondrous feelings cascade through me, slowly dissipating. He collapses on me and then rolls to the side, his breath coming as quickly and harshly as mine.

I rest my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Joy bubbles up inside me, pure and bright. I've found him, the one person for me.

"I love you." Blaise's words wash over me like summer rain, sweet and perfect.

I snuggle closer to him. "I love you too."

I know it’s been only a short time, but the words feel right, like they've been waiting to spill from my lips. After all, I so willingly, without any hesitation, handed over my virginity to him. While I know sex isn’t love, I know that this isn’t just sex.

This connection goes deeper than that. I know it. I feel it deep in my soul.

He kisses my forehead, and my heart swells. Every touch, every look, every word between us feels like a gift. Like finding a piece of myself I never knew was missing.

This isn’t a school-girl fantasy. Blaise is my happily ever after.