Page 26

Chapter 26

RYLAN

J amie's hands slide under my shirt, leaving trails of fire across my skin, and something inside me finally breaks. All my careful control, all my rigid walls - they shatter under his touch. The backs of my knees hit the mattress, but I can't look away from the raw want in his eyes.

"Let me see you," he murmurs, fingers working my buttons open with careful reverence. "Want to memorize every inch of you."

His hands map my chest as he pushes the shirt off my shoulders, and Jesus Christ, the heat of his skin against mine is overwhelming. My breath catches as he traces each muscle with deliberate precision, like he's cataloging every detail. His mouth follows the path of his hands, dropping kisses along my collarbone that make my toes curl.

"Jamie," I gasp as he finds that sensitive spot below my ear. "Oh god..."

"That's it, baby." His voice is rough with desire. "Let me hear you. Want to know how good I make you feel."

My hands shake as I pull at his shirt, desperate to feel more of him. He helps me strip it off, and fuck - he's even more perfect than I remembered. All golden skin and defined muscle that makes my mouth water. The contrast between us is intoxicating - his sun-kissed warmth against my paler tone.

"Like what you see?" There's a hint of vulnerability in his cocky grin that makes my chest ache. Even now, after everything, he's still seeking reassurance.

"You're beautiful," I whisper, letting myself admit it. Letting myself want. The raw emotion that flashes across his face makes my heart race.

Then he's kissing me again, deeper, hungrier, pressing me back onto the bed. The weight of him above me feels like coming home. His thigh slides between mine, creating delicious friction that has me arching up against him.

"Fuck, Rylan," he breathes against my neck. "The sounds you make..."

I should be embarrassed by the needy whimpers escaping me, but Jamie's hands are everywhere, setting my skin on fire, and I can't bring myself to care about maintaining control anymore.

His mouth blazes a path down my chest, tongue flicking over my nipple in a way that makes me gasp. One of his hands slides down to cup me through my pants, and my hips buck up involuntarily.

"Please," I manage, not even sure what I'm asking for. Everything. Anything.

"I've got you." His voice is gentle but full of heat as he works at my belt. "Going to take such good care of you, baby."

My hands fist in his hair as he kisses down my stomach, his curls soft between my fingers. Each press of his lips feels like a brand, marking me as his. When he reaches the waistband of my pants, he glances up, his blue eyes dark with desire.

"Can I...?"

I nod frantically, beyond words. He takes his time though, slowly sliding my pants down my legs, his hands tracing every inch of newly exposed skin. The careful attention makes me tremble.

"So perfect," he murmurs, pressing kisses to my inner thighs. "Been dreaming about this."

I'm impossibly hard, leaking against my stomach, but Jamie maintains his torturously slow pace. His tongue traces patterns on my hip bones while his hands stroke my thighs, and I'm practically vibrating with need.

"Jamie, please..." My voice breaks on his name. "I need..."

"What do you need, baby?" His breath ghosts over my cock, making me shiver. "Tell me."

"You," I manage. "Just... everything. Please."

The raw desperation in my voice seems to break something in him. He takes me into his mouth without warning, and the wet heat is almost too much. My back arches off the bed as pleasure shoots through me.

"Oh fuck, oh god..." The words spill out without my permission as he works me with his tongue. One of his hands slides up to pin my hip, holding me in place as he takes me deeper.

I'm a mess of desperate hands and needy whimpers as he brings me closer and closer to the edge. All my careful control has evaporated, leaving only raw need in its wake.

"Jamie, I'm gonna..." I try to warn him, tugging at his hair.

He just hums around me and takes me deeper, and that's it, I'm coming harder than I ever have in my life, my whole body shaking as pleasure crashes through me in waves.

When I can focus again, Jamie's kissing his way back up my body, his expression soft but hungry. "You're so gorgeous when you let go," he whispers against my skin.

I pull him up to kiss him properly, tasting myself on his tongue. His cock is hard against my hip, and I slide my hand between us to touch him.

"Show me," I whisper. "Show me what you like."

His breath catches as I stroke him. "Like that, just... fuck, a little tighter..."

I follow his instructions, cataloging every gasp and moan, filing away what makes him shake. His face when he comes is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

After, he gathers me close, pressing soft kisses to my temple. "You're amazing," he murmurs. "So perfect for me."

I turn my face into his neck, overwhelmed by the tenderness. For the first time in my life, I feel truly seen. Truly wanted. Truly... whole.

We lie tangled together, his fingers tracing patterns on my skin, and I realize I don't want to rebuild my walls. Not with him.

"Jamie," I whisper, meaning to say so much more. But he just pulls me closer, like he understands everything I can't put into words.

"I've got you," he says softly. "Always."