We stare at each other, losing track of time as we love each other.
Ryker places his hand on my hip, and then his palm brushes up the curve of my body. His eyes drop to where he’s touching me as if he’s trying to imprint the memory in his mind.
“So fucking beautiful,” he whispers as he pulls me closer until our bodies are pressed against each other. Lowering his head, he fuses our mouths together, and then he pushes me onto my back, covering me with every inch of him.
Our hands explore every stretch of skin while our tongues dance to the epic song of our love.
This is the moment I’ll keep returning to when things get hard. This is what I’ll remember when I exhale my last breath.
Ryker, the man of my dreams, loving me.
RYKER
Every time panic begins to build in my chest, I force it down and focus on Danny.
This might be the last time I get to make love to her. The thought tightens the merciless grip around my heart. My touch grows harder, desperate to keep her with me.
I can’t lose you, Danny. I can’t. I won’t survive. You’re the air I breathe.
I position myself at her entrance, and lifting my head, I stare into her sky-blue eyes as I slowly push inside her. Once I’m buried to the hilt, I focus on how it feels to be one with her. This woman who owns my soul.
My movements are slow as I savor every sensation. Resting my forearms on either side of her head, I just keep staring at her.
It feels as if we’re creating our own world where death can’t touch us, and God, how I wish it was in my power to make it a reality.
I want to immortalize her.
Danielle Hayes. Unattainable like the stars. Untouchable like the sun.
Did I tempt fate by making her mine?
Was she always supposed to stay just out of my reach?
I can’t believe life would be so cruel.
That this is all I’ll ever have.
I refuse to believe this is how we end.
Danny’s hands brush down the length of my back and down to my ass before she brings them back up to my shoulder blades, drawing me out of my thoughts.
Moving a hand down to her hip, my fingers dig into her skin as I increase the pace. I watch as her lips part, and her eyes cloud over with desire. The sight makes my mouth curve up, and wanting to make her forget… just for a moment… I begin to move fast and hard.
She tips her head back as a gasp drifts over her lips, and then I watch as Danny gets swept away by the pleasure until she comes apart beneath me.
Only then do I allow myself to think of my own need, and latching onto her pulse, I focus on the life beating beneath my lips as I climax.
I push my arms underneath her and clamp her to my chest as I still inside her. Closing my eyes, I feel the heat of her body. I focus on her breaths.
Never in my life have I actually listened to someone breathing. But now it’s all I hear, every breath meaning Danny’s here with me.
Dread pours through my veins, thinking the day might come where she won’t take another breath.
God. No.
I’ll do anything. I’ll even let her go if it means she gets to live. I’ll swap places with her in a heartbeat.
Danny wraps her arms tightly around me, and pressing her mouth to my chest, I feel her breathing change from fast to quivering.
Knowing her thoughts have returned to the cancer, I pull out of her. While Danny goes to the bathroom, I get up, and walking into the closet, I grab a pair of boxers.
I sit down on the edge of the bed, and reaching for the beanie, I pick it up and stare at it until Danny comes out of the bathroom.
My eyes follow her as she walks to the closet to put on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt.
When she’s done, I rise to my feet, dropping the beanie again.
“There are a couple of things I want to do with you,” I say as I reach for her hand.
“Like?”
“Watching a movie. Seeing you in a bikini.” I grin at the last idea. “Definitely see you in a bikini.”
Danny lets out a burst of laughter. “So, you want me to wear a bikini while we’re watching a movie?”
I begin to chuckle. “No.” I let go of her hand, and taking a step back from her, I explain, “First we’ll watch a movie, pretending we’re at my parents' house, and I finally have the guts to hold your hand. Then, I want you to put on a bikini, obviously trying to tempt the shit out of the teenage me.”