I hug her close, feeling her body tremble in my arms. I have no plan for this. I had no expectation of this. I feel undone.
Love.
For so long, that word has meant only pain to me.
And now…
Her eyes rove my face. “I love you,” she says again. Then she reaches up to kiss me. I kiss her back, tasting her desire, her love. Her fingers tangle in my hair as my tongue strokes hers.
When I release her, she smiles up at me, I wonder if she can see the fear in my eyes.
“Stop thinking,” she urges, her voice soft. When I don’t say anything, she kisses me again. I kiss her back, clinging to what I know, what I understand.
She unbuttons my shirt and slides her hands over my chest.
She loves me.
I tear my lips from hers. “Rachel…”
She shakes her head. “Don’t stop.”
I take her lips again, undoing the tie of her robe. She shrugs it off and presses her body to mine.
Carrying her inside the suite, I set her down on the soft carpet, and she looks up at me with eyes soft with desire…and love.
I take a deep breath and cover her body with mine, kissing her again, trailing soft kisses from her face to her chest. I want to shower every inch of her with care and attention. I want to take the pain away from her eyes. Lowering my head to her breast, I draw a nipple into my mouth and suck in deeply through her lace bra. Her body arches and I slide my hand between her legs, stroking her gently.
Her eyes flutter closed, and she makes a sound of pleasure. I reach behind her and undo her bra then my hand is back between her legs, sliding inside her panties.
Still stroking her, I drag my lips from her breasts back to her throat, kissing the tender spot under her ear. Impatiently, she grabs my face and thrusts her tongue in my mouth.
I groan, tearing my lips from hers. Her hips move to the slow thrum of my fingers, her slick flesh demanding more. I slide two fingers inside her, and she lets out a breath.
“What do you want me to do?” I’m more uncertain than I’ve ever been in my life. “What should I do?”
She breathes. “Don’t stop touching me.”
I bring her to a climax with my fingers, watching her body shudder and tremble. I kiss the moans from her lips, tasting her pleasure.
She dozes off in my arms, and I slide her robe back around her, leaving her only to close the doors to the balcony. When I’m done, I carry her to the bedroom and remove the robe before tucking her under the covers. I undress and join her in bed, pulling her into my arms.
“Don’t leave.”
She doesn’t hear me.
I’m watching the car fill with smoke.
“There’s nothing you can do.”
r /> I can see my mother’s face, unconscious as the smoke fills the car, but this time, the face looks different.
Because it’s not my mother. It’s Rachel.
“Please,” I scream. “Please.”
“There’s nothing you can do.”
I wake up to Rachel’s voice in my ear. She’s whispering soft soothing words. I open my eyes, the tension in my body draining away.