HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

Daniel lay beside her, his hand around her, her back pressed against him and waited, waited until her breath grew slow and steady and the tension fled her muscles. He knew she was asleep.

And then he moved and rolled her over, easing her into his arms again. Her hand slipped across his chest, settling close to his heart, and her head nestled into the crook of his shoulder. She curled up against as though she’d done it a thousand times before, one leg the top his, the soft probing of her knee giving him fits.

He gritted his teeth, determined to endure.

But the final victory, the one that gave him peace enough to rest, came with the sleepy kiss she pressed against his jaw and the murmured words he shouldn’t want to hear.

Only then did he allow sleep to claim him too.

Emma woke up the next morning, feeling relaxed and happy. Daniel had held her throughout the night. Every time she awakened, he had been right there, his arms around her. It was the way she’d woken every morning when they were together.

He was still holding her right now. His arm around her, her head on his shoulder. She didn’t want to wake him if he was still sleeping so she started to ease away gently but Daniel tightened his arm around her.

“Don’t go. This is nice.” he said softly.

She raised her head and stared into eyes that were unclouded with sleep. Evidently he’d been awake for a while and content to lie there with her draped over him like a blanket.

“One thing hasn’t changed,” he said as he touched her cheek. “You’re still beautiful when you wake up.”

Emma soaked in the words, her heart tugging at the sincerity in his voice. Before she could question her sanity, she slowly lowered her mouth and touched it tentatively to his.

He seemed surprised and pleased by her taking the initiative. He lay still while she carefully explored his firm mouth.

She licked over the closed seam, and when his lips parted, she slid her tongue lightly over his bottom lip before moving inward to rasp over the end of his tongue.

Strong hands gripped her upper arms, holding her in place as he began to kiss her back. Softly at first, as if he was wooing her, and then harder. His breath sped up and came in little bursts through her mouth.

He sucked at the tip of her tongue and then she nipped at his when he let her go.

Words escaped him so he let his actions answer instead. He slipped his hand around the nape of her neck and drew her toward his mouth. And then he tumbled into sheer pleasure, the fall long and hard and endless. But it wasn’t painful. Not when he was caught by the most delectable set of lips he’d ever kissed. He inhaled her, consumed her, ate her up in quick, hungry bites.

Emma sighed deeply and before she realized it, she was on her back and he was over her, his knee between her legs as he devoured her mouth.

Hot. Breathless. Fast and hard and then slow and gentle.

With one hand he popped the two tiny buttons that held the bodice together. The material separated and her breasts strained precariously out of the gown. The satin caught on her hard, erect nipples and he tugged insistently until one breast came completely free.

He cupped the plump mound and then lowered his head, sucking the nipple into his mouth.

A shot of adrenaline slivered through her veins, edgy and sharp. She twisted restlessly beneath him as he sucked harder. She plunged her fingers through his short, cropped hair and then gripped the back of his head, holding him in place as she silently begged for more.

He pulled at her nipple, drawing his head back until the taut nub came free of his mouth. Then he lifted his gaze to meet hers and butterflies scuttled around her belly when she saw the look in his eyes.

“I want to make love to you, Emma” He said, his voice hoarse. “I know I said we wouldn’t make love but I need you so much. But I won’t do this if it’s only going to make things worse. You have to want this as much as I do. Please tell me you want this too, because I wanna be inside of you so bad”

“I want it more,” Emma said hoarsely. And that was the truth. She’d always wanted him more. Craved him. Missed him when he wasn’t with her.

Seeing him now, having him over her, his mouth on her, brought back those memories-happier memories-when things were perfect between them.

But had they been? Ever? Really?

She shook off the dark shadow that plagued her and reached up to caress his cheek. It was perfect now. She thought. They were going to make it perfect.

“I need you, too.” she whispered.

Fire exploded in his eyes. Satisfaction and triumph glittered brightly as he swept down to claim her mouth again.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

When he finally pulled back, he eased to the side and gathered her in his arms, holding her as if she was a precious piece of glass he was afraid might break.

For the longest time, his gaze stroked over her while he reacquainted himself with her all over again. Then he slid his hand over her shoulder and eased the strap of her gown down her arm.

He moved to the other side and hooked one finger in the strap, pulling it down until the gown bunched over the ball of her belly.

Levering up on one elbow, he coaxed her to lift her hips so he could pull the gown completely free. He worked it down her legs and then tossed it over the edge of the bed.

Now she was only clad in her underwear and it didn’t feel like any sort of barrier to his gaze or his touch.

“You’re shaking!” Emma said as she watched him.

“You’re damned right I am.” He said “And in a minute, you will be, too.”