Page 10

RAE

Virus mumbled against her hand as she rode him, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. And at the moment, it didn’t matter. All that mattered were their bodies, pushing ever closer to that feeling she hadn’t felt in almost seven long and agonizing years.

Not just pleasure, she’d enjoyed plenty of that. More than was proper for a young lady, according to society. There was pleasure, and then there was pleasure . The feeling of joining bodies with someone your heart called to is unlike anything else.

No matter the time and distance between them. No matter what the future held, it was all irrelevant and insignificant in the moment. Being with Darrin was like her heart beating, her lungs expanding and contracting, the blood coursing through her body and returning again and again and again.

It just was. Without thought or conscience prompting.

It.

Just.

Was.

When her orgasm slammed into her, the scream was perched on her lips. It was Darrin’s turn to silence her. Releasing her hips, he gripped her throat tight enough to block her voice. He fucked her through the stars that closed in on her vision.

Somehow, he still knew. Knew her body with an intimacy no one else ever had or ever will. Just as the darkness crept in from the periphery, he loosened his hold on her throat and rolled their bodies. He then powered into her with a force that inched her along the carpet borderline painfully.

Luckily, she still had her underwear and sleep set on. She’d been in such a hurry to feel him in her body, she’d simply slid them aside. Another friction point that wouldn’t be pleasant in the light of day.

His thrust got sporadic, untamed, and she could feel the signs of his impending orgasm.

“, now,” he grit out as he tilted his head back.

She returned the favor he’d extended her earlier and wrapped her hands around his throat. His neck seemed a lot more corded than she remembered and it took some extra umph before his eyes tilted skyward right before he came with such force, she thought he’d never stop.

When Virus was spent, he collapsed to the side, snagging the blanket from the bed and covering them. grabbed a pillow for him, then burrowed into his chest.

Neither spoke, but his hand never stopped its rhythmic stroking of her back through the fabric of her tank.

It made her ache for the years they’d missed together because of emotional immaturity and careless mistakes.

“That was amazing, .”

She couldn’t hold back the little sarcastic laugh that bubbled up.

“That was never an issue between us. It was when we weren’t naked that was the problem.”

“It may have escaped your notice, my sunshine.” He tapped her nose with a finger and spoke in a teasing tone. “But we are both still dressed.”

slapped his chest. “You know what I mean, asshole.” She faux snarked.

“Yeah, baby. I do. But we’ve both changed, and I think we got a real shot this time as long as we let go of the past and tackle the future as a team.”

His words burrowed into her heart. Whether she knew it or not, those were the words she’d needed. More than apologies and forgiveness. More than an explanation of why Celeste or why he didn’t chase after her when they broke up.

That had been the line of questions that had plagued her over the years, but she finally realized they didn’t matter.

It was like a weight lifted off her body. So physical in nature that she sagged more into him.

“What was that?”

When Virus asked, she sat up and shot a glance toward the door, assuming he must’ve heard something.

“What was what?” She turned back and forth from him to the door. Instead of answering, he reached for her tank and pulled it over her head.

watched in fascination as he worked his boxers off.

“ That , as in—in that beautiful head of yours? Your whole body changed. What thought had that effect on you?”

She knew it felt different but never dreamed that it translated to him feeling it, too.

followed suit and lay back down, lifting her hips to remove the rest of her clothes.

“Just letting go of things that no longer matter, I guess.”

His grin turned so wicked that if it were possible to orgasm from just a look, that would’ve done it.

Fuck if the man wasn’t a walking hate crime against all other men in existence. When he smiled, he might as well be the only man on the planet that women notice.

Watching the play of his muscles as he reclined back was mesmerizing. He turned on his side to face her.

Virus grabbed one of her legs and placed it over his hip. Staring into her eyes, he rubbed the head of his cock against her clit.

“Good, because there is no room for anything else between us when we’re like this.” Slowly he entered her aching body. Inch by torturously slow inch.

His eyes never left hers. Even when they kissed, his eyes stayed open and focused on her.

It wasn’t the frantic, oxygen depriving fucking that had happened earlier. No, this was love making. Something she had only ever done with him. A body was just a vessel, capable of a physical euphoria that wore off as fast as it came upon you, but opening your soul to another person was transcendent.

was still terrified of giving in to the all-encompassing them again. Terrified of being a mom to a little boy who she loved but barely knew. Terrified of leaving her life in Vegas behind for a shot, not a guarantee. She also knew she’d never forgive herself if she turned tail and ran without even trying.

“I forgive you, ,” she mumbled as they came together.

That thought changed everything. Forgiving yourself is a different level of acceptance.

She was really doing it.

She was giving up everything to gain so much more. Virus was still buried inside her when she spoke.

“I think we should date.”

“Yeah, baby. Whatever you want,” he answered sleepily.

“I mean it. If we’re going to restart this?—”

“No if.” The sleepy tone was all but gone. “We are doing it, .” Her eyes rolled when he wiggled his hips. Causing him to slip from her body.

“Not this. I mean, not only this, not always this. You said it yourself, we’ve both changed. And while we are still good at this, we need to be solid in other areas. If not for ourselves, then for Adam.” Lower, she added, “I want my best friend back.”

“So, you want to be wooed?” He kissed her breast, tugging on the nipple before looking up at her with a mischievous grin. No way he was ready to go again, but the look in his wicked green-gold eyes said he’d give it the good ole college try.

“No more running, . I won’t survive if you run again.” His words damn near broke her. “If shit gets sideways, we talk about it, we don’t run.” His voice had a hard edge she’d rarely heard from him. “Promise me, ?”

“I promise.”

Virus smiled, then kissed his way down her body, nipping in random places as he went. When he settled between her legs and threw her knee over his shoulder, she forgot how to speak.

The first touch of his tongue to her clit seared her skin, branded her as his. He tongue-fucked her until she came apart on his face. was spent. Virus had successfully derailed any and all thoughts in her head.

“How’s that for wooing?” he asked. She felt every syllable against her overheated flesh.

“Not just me, Darrin. You deserve to be wooed too.”

“All right then,” he agreed. “Woo me.” He shot up from between her legs to lie beside her on the floor so fast, she got dizzy. He sprawled there, hands behind his head, a shit-eating grin on his face, and glancing from his growing cock to her and back again.

It was a ridiculous picture that got even more so when he waggled his eyebrows.

The laugh bubbled up from inside her unbidden. “That’s not what I meant by dating and wooing, idjit.”

His eyes widened, and he cupped her cheek at her use of a familiar but unconventional term of endearment. It was obvious what shows and movies shaped their relationship.

“It’s been too long since you’ve said that to me.” His voice cracked a little before he went back to his previous demeanor. “But you’re just trying to get out of wooing me now that you’ve gotten yours. That’s low, Sunny. Low, low, low to deny a man whose cock is begging for your touch.” He played the woe is me card like a champ.

Her eyes rolled again, this time even harder at his teasing tone and attempt to look oh so distraught.

“Never let it be said that I don’t reciprocate.” She loved sucking his cock. She’d not given another blow job since Darrin. Somehow, deep down, she knew she wouldn’t enjoy it with anyone else.

Positioning herself between his legs, she gave his cock one long, slow lick before speaking. “Just so you know, this is not what I meant by wooing or dating.”

With that, she swallowed him down as far as she could manage. Stroking what she couldn’t fit in her mouth with her hand.

“Fuck, . I’ve always loved your mouth.” He grated out before he took over and fucked her face.

“Always. Loved. You.” He growled as he came down her throat. He held her on his cock as it pulsed and pulsed.

“Fuck yeah, babe. Swallow it. Swallow it all. Don’t waste a fucking drop.”

His words combined with her finger on her clit caused her to come yet again. This time, she was well and truly spent. There was no way she could go again, even if her life depended on it.

Sleepily, she climbed up his body and snuggled into the crook of his arm as he dropped kisses on her head.

As his breathing started to slow, she explored his body. So much was new to her as he’d add a whole lot of muscle and a hell of a lot of tattoos.

With a feather soft touch, she traced the ridges of each ab before moving her attention upward. inventoried every line of ink along the way she could.

With fingers dancing past his pecs. She reached the cords in his neck. She paused there to feel his pulse hidden behind more tattoos, and she smiled.

Physically comparing the Darrin of years ago with the Virus softly snoring next to her was fascinating. The same, but not the same.

His jawline was still sharp, but now it was hidden behind a close-cropped beard. Suddenly a thought popped into her head—Virus was who Darrin had always been destined to be.

It suited him. She couldn’t explain why she felt that way, she just did. It felt right, him the way he was now as opposed to who he used to be. Their time apart even started to feel right. Darrin, her Darrin, would’ve never found the Bastards and everything that came along with that. On the same hand, she would’ve never landed in Vegas and lucked into her perfect dream job.

Breaking up, in a weird way, was best for them all in the long run. Even Celeste, who had a void she needed to fill and, in the attempt, gave them Adam— all felt meant to be.

If she were being honest with herself, and she was doing just that, brutally so, if she and Darrin had stayed together then, there was a good chance they would be divorced by now, and irreconcilably at that. The path they were on was doomed.

was thoroughly convinced that breaking up is what saved them to have a shot later … now.

’s heart was damn near bursting. She choked back a sob, a happy one. When she shifted a rush of liquid left her body.

Shit.

They’d just had sex, more than once, without an adult discussion or protection. She was on the pill but had a recent course of anti-biotics for an ear infection. She wasn’t ready to be a mother … um, have a baby, because she kinda already was in a mother role. If—no, when—she stayed, she would be firmly in a mom role, but they didn’t need a baby, that was for damn sure.

Then she started to panic. Babies weren’t her biggest concern. Virus rode a motorcycle, was bearded, and heavily tattooed, and that was the triple crown of the panty dropping Olympics. He was hot as hell. She wasn’t as delusional as to believe he’d been celibate since her, or rather Celeste.

Did he forgo protection with all the women he’d been with since her? She knew of at least one. Not that she’d been a saint, but she never, never had sex without protection. Darrin had been the only one she’d ever forgone protection with. She tried to dislodge all the information about the club girls that Harmon had put in her head. That woman was obsessed with biker shows and movies.

That line of thought made her feel dirty. She needed to get cleaned up and stop before she spiraled.

Slowly disentangling from Virus so as not to wake him, she grabbed her clothes and toiletry kit and made her way to the bathroom.

did her best thinking in the shower.

Yes, she was going to give it her all and woo the hell out of him.

No, she was not bringing the past into their future.

But she wouldn’t let their dating interfere with him getting to know his son.

Besides, if she were staying, she had a lot of arrangements to make, and she’d rather make them herself or she was afraid she’d let Virus take the lead. If she did that, she knew he’d move at warp speed. He was convinced all they needed was love. was a little more practical.

Dressed and ready to go, she stared down at Virus. It ached how much she loved him, but they had to be smart this time.

“Virus. Wake up, idjit.” She shook him and he pulled her down on top of him.

“I’m awake, and … you’re dressed?”

“Yes, I’m going to head back to Harmon’s. I have some things to handle and you have a son to spend some time with.” He rolled them over and hovered over her.

“NO! No more running, Sunny. You promised.” He choked on the words and her heart broke.

Cupping his cheeks, she brought her forehead to him. “I’m not running. I’ll be at Harmon’s planning for my new life.”

“You’ll stay with me and Adam. Problem solved.” He smiled. “Now, get naked.”

She loved that he automatically included Adam in his life but hated that what she was afraid of was already rearing its head. Darrin was like a tornado, he just swept everything up. She’d let that happen once, and it ended horribly. They’d been given a second chance, and she would not make the same mistakes.

“No. We are in the getting to know each other phase, remember. That means we aren’t fucking like rabbits twenty-four seven. And we most certainly aren’t shacking up. You need to get to know Adam, and you and I need to get reacquainted. Besides, I have a wooing to plan,” she added giddily.

Virus waggled his eyebrows and rolled over, but not before kissing her soundly.

“For the record, if you’re planning on wooing me, my love language is fucking twenty-four seven.” laughed before dropping a kiss on his lips and standing.

With his eyes twinkling with amusement he looked ten years younger. She’d always loved the playful side of him.

“That, and tit pics. Lots and lots of tit pics.”

His laughter followed her from the room. Stopping by the tent in the living room, she kissed Adam goodbye. He woke enough for her to explain she’d be busy the next day or so, but was only a phone call away and he’d have a ton of fun with his dad.

All the way to Harmon’s, she thought about wooing her man.