Page 182 of The Champion
“Jameson,” my hands crept over his shoulders pressing mychest to his back. “I don’t want you to keep beating yourself up over this. Yousaid what you needed to say. I said what I needed. Let’s just move on fromthis.”
He turned to face me.
“Stop,” he breathed, parting his lips over mine and tryingto calm the storm. “I know I was wrong but I told myself I was doing the rightthing.” His lashes glistened as though they were diamonds cutting through thesadness.
The fault here lies within me. I shouldn’t have left andI knew that. Face the fear that drowns the light was what I always told myself.
Did I listen? No.
His hands were restless, searching for himself, betweenthe shadow and smoke. He needs me and I knew that. He never meant to hurt me.
The sun was setting over the lake, chalky orange smudgingthe sky. Standing against the counter, I looked over at him when no words werespoken.
“Will you go with me somewhere tonight?” he askedflickering his gaze to mine.
I blinked slowly, the sight of him being so vulnerablebrought back so many memories my heart ached for him, for us.
His smile was soft, slightly higher at one side of hismouth and my heart stumbled reminded of the child in him I once knew. It wasreassuring when I saw that side of him comforted by the innocence.
I stroked his jaw and shivered, outlining the curve ofhis smile as my fingers moved to rest at his mouth.
Our lives, much like a car straight out of the hauler,are never perfect right from the start. They require adjustments along the way.This wasn’t any different.
I followed him up the stairs to our room where he pressedme against the wall. The light shining through our room was soft just like histouches. Inside the room, he hadPurple Rainplaying softly.
My mind flashed to that first night with us again inCharlotte and the way his hand felt on my calf asking me to stay with him. Andhere now, in a roundabout way, he was begging me to stay again.
The moment got to me. This was his way of apologizingagain. I made a strangled noise and turned my face away.
“Don’t do that,” he choked out wrapping his arm around mywaist, pulling me closer. “Don’t do that, please. I’m holding on by a stringright now and to see you cry...I can’thandle it.”
He pushed my dress away and hands lingered memorizingeach curve, fabric rustled as it descended. His shirt quickly followed whileour mouths became desperate, teeth and tongues took time as hunger claimed itsvictims.
His hand slipped around my back, his other rising as hegrasped my hair and moans swallowed us as I pushed and pulled and arched my wayto his belt. Buckle loosened and pants unzipped, I worked hard to get hisclothing aside.
Strong hands trailed over my body taking over and hisvoice brought me back to his face.
“Tell me you love me,” he panted, shifting his position tolook at me.
I pushed his hair from his forehead, my gaze lingeringand holding focus with his eyes before my lips found his.
“I love you,” I told him between kisses.
He kicked away the remaining barriers of clothing andmoved from the wall to the bed, my head supported as he lowered me to themattress. His knee between my thighs, tongue between my lips, my hands greedyas they slid over his back muscles and squeezed his shoulders in an attempt tobring him closer. After weeks of separation, I needed him closer.
His look was long and hard, our loud breathing filled theroom as his hands rested on either side of my head as he pushed forward. Hisknees spread my legs; each movement was slow and so good.
He pressed his chest closer, warm skin comforting.
“Your heart is beating so fast,” he murmured, staringdown at me.
I brought my fingers to touch his lips, outlining theirsoftness and feeling his kiss.
“It feels it’s other half.” I said quietly, the volumediminished under the intensity of his gaze.
He shivered, my hands grasping his hair as his headtilted back and then his trembling lips found my neck. He swallowed thickly,his mouth returning to mine kissing me slowly before dragging his lips down mychest, open mouth pausing over my heart.
“I want to live right here,” he breathed, his armsshaking as he held himself above me.
