I wanted to erase that sorrow, to make sure she never had a reason to feel anything less than joy ever again.
My wrists were still pinned at my sides where Danielle held them, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I felt my ab muscles flex as I lifted my upper body off the bed and took her mouth with mine, claiming her now and for the rest of our lives.
She kissed me back eagerly, like she needed it as much as I did, like we might die if we separated right now.
Her grip loosened around my wrists, and then she let me go entirely to cup my cheeks. My hands dove into her hair, stroking and twirling the strands around my fingers as I flipped us so she was underneath me again.
Our hands explored, running over bare skin and gripping at each other as our mouths continued feasting and devouring. It was impossible to get enough of her taste, the feel of her skin under mine, the sounds she made when my tongue swirled around hers.
My cock pulsed with need, demanding more.
“Hayden, I need more.” Danielle echoed my thoughts.
I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, keeping my forehead plastered to hers. We were both breathing hard, our hot breath mingling in the space between our lips.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked.
“Yes. I want it to be you.”
“I’ll try to go slow, but it’s probably going to hurt. I need you to tell me if you want me to stop.”
“It’s okay. I trust you.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her trust settling over me. It wasn’t as smothering or as terrifying as I’d expected. If anything, it felt natural, meant to be. She was mine, and I was hers. We were equal, partners who could count on each other.
“Are you on birth control, or should I get a condom? I promise I’m clean.” I’d been religious about condoms since everything that had gone down with Jacqueline. It didn’t matter if someone told me they were clean or on protection, the only person I trusted was me.
Until Danielle.
“I can’t get pregnant right now,” she said.
I nodded. “Okay.” My fingers trailed through her long hair as I lined our bodies up, watching her face intently for any signs that she wasn’t sure.
There’s this belief that your first time is supposed to be special. And I had every intention of being gentle and taking care of her. But I believed it should be specialeverytime. Not just the first. I vowed to myself Danielle was never going to know the feeling of casual or meaningless sex.
I’d done not special, and I didn’t ever want Danielle to experience that.
TWENTY-TWO
Danielle
I couldn’t holdback the cry that climbed up my throat as Hayden sank into me. There was the overwhelming feeling of fullness, but even more prominent was the feeling deep in my soul. It was like coming home after being away for years, decades. It was feeling like I belonged for the first time in my life.
“Oh fuck,” Hayden groaned, his lips kissing everywhere he could reach. He pressed soft kisses over my cheeks, my lips, my eyelids. “You feel so good, baby.”
I traced my fingers over his face and dragged them through the short hair over his jaw. I couldn’t believe this man was mine, even if it didn’t last, even if I lost him when the truth came out, I would always have this moment. No one would ever be able to take away the memory of being in Hayden’s arms, feeling him buried deep inside me.
“Are you okay?” he murmured as he started to rock his hips slowly.
“More than okay.” I clung to his shoulders, needing to hold on as our bodies moved like they’d been made for each other. Any fear over not doing this right melted away as my body took over. I could feel his desire in the tightness of his muscles and the passion behind his kisses, but I could also see it in his aura, which had turned the deep red of lust and love colliding. Both emotions were red and passionate, but one was deeper, prettier, and I couldn’t help staring.
“Please tell me that expression on your face is a good thing.”
I grinned up at him. “I didn’t know it would feel like this. It’s so much more than I imagined.” His inky hair felt like silk as I sank my fingers into it, stroking and pulling lightly.
He growled. “You’re not exactly making it easy to be gentle right now.”
“Then don’t be gentle.”
