Kele Moon: Crossing the line

“I want you to kiss it better,” she whispered, not knowing how else to convey the need to fix what felt irrevocably broken. “Please.”

Wyatt shook his head. “I ain’t kidding. I haven’t been with—”

“Don’t—” She cut him off, not wanting to hear the confession. “You need it. I do too. It’s been such a long day. Let’s just forget the rest for a little while.”

She expected him to deny her. A part of her sort of hoped he would, because she wasn’t even certain she could do what she was suggesting, but at the same time, she needed it desperately. Just once. Some sort of confirmation that she was still human and could live and love and experience real passion like everyone else.

Even before things went bad, Wyatt had always been the only one for her. If she didn’t take this opportunity, she might never have another one, and that was easily the most depressing thought of the day, which was saying something.

Rather than turn and leave, Wyatt released her hand and sat behind her once more. Even without seeing it, she could actually sense the tension as he remained silent behind her, but so close she could feel the heat from his big body. Then he touched her shoulder, making her jump, because the reality of what she’d just gotten herself into hit her like a ton of bricks.

She jumped a second time when he leaned down to press his lips against the tender spot to the right of the bandage on the back of her shoulder instead. She was still trying to recover from the shock of pleasure it caused when he moved up to the curve of her neck, his warm breath fanning over her sensitive skin, leaving a wave of goose bumps in his wake.

Tabitha shuddered from the rush of emotion that was so overwhelming it left her choked up and struggling for breath. “I love you, Wy.”

It came out of her so easily as if the past had never happened, and she couldn’t take it back even if she wanted to, because it was one of the most heartfelt things that had ever left her mouth. She was shaking. The tears rolled down her cheeks without warning, and Wyatt didn’t question or doubt any of it.

He just wrapped one powerful arm around her waist and then pulled her close to whisper in her ear, “I love you too.”

Wyatt kissed her ear before she could say something to ruin the moment. It was obvious he needed this too, and Tabitha was so glad they’d both made it real. They hadn’t been able to be together, and the reasons they’d been torn apart were terrible and unfair. There were deep, life-changing secrets looming between them that were a little too transparent now that she was back in his arms, but they still loved each other, and neither of them were going to do this without acknowledging it.

This was probably a mistake, but it certainly didn’t feel like it as Wyatt’s lips moved down her neck. He let out a low groan and his arm around her waist tightened as if he were afraid she would suddenly disappear.

She grabbed his strong thigh through his jeans, squeezing tightly to let him know this was real. Her voice was gone, trapped in her chest somewhere beneath the nostalgia and crazy rush of desire that surged through her bloodstream. It was like a breath of fresh air, washing out over a decade of fear and solitude.

Starved and more turned on than she thought imaginable before this moment, Tabitha turned in his arms. His beautiful eyes were wide and stunned, as if the tidal wave of lust had slammed into him the same time it knocked every thought out of her head except the throbbing need for more of her husband.

Wyatt reached up and fisted her hair as if losing the tight hold on his urges. He tugged her forward and claimed her lips without asking. His kiss was harsh and demanding, but Tabitha parted to him rather than freeze, allowing him to own what belonged to him.

When he used his bulk to push her back against the bed, she let him. They never broke the connection. If anything, it got more intense as he arched his hips against her, letting her feel the hard outline of his cock through his jeans. She just clutched at his shirt and savored the feel of his tongue pushing into her mouth and brushing against hers over and over, finding that she still liked being under him.

They kissed like wild, frantic teenagers, as if they were back in Wyatt’s room and hiding from the world. Everything was exactly how she remembered it, and it left her feeling like the person she once was before life burned her. Her towel fell open, and she would have been too far gone to notice if the brush of Wyatt’s cotton shirt against her nipples hadn’t forced her to arch into him. She was suddenly hypersensitive and wound tight. Her fingers were in his hair, and she clenched them tightly as a tremor of pleasure seized her.

Wyatt grunted in response and broke the kiss to study her face as both their chests heaved from the unexpected cataclysm of desire that exploded between them. After several breathless seconds, he looked down at her completely bare beneath him, making it obvious he’d noticed the towel falling to the wayside, probably before she had.

She didn’t feel fear or shame when he groaned and became blatant about studying her naked body, but she did feel the hot flush of desire that burned her neck and cheeks at the flare of possessiveness that shone in his eyes. Wyatt’s breathing was harsh as he lowered his gaze and stopped to stare hungrily at her breasts. Then he leaned down and sucked on one taut pink nipple as if it was too much a temptation to resist. It was all happening really fast , but it didn’t matter. She tossed her head back against the pillow at the lightning bolt of bliss and unexpectedly found her voice.

“God, Wyatt!” she shouted, because she’d forgotten how good it felt to have his mouth on her.

She pushed her fingers into his short hair once more. She was panting. Her body was already tense with the need for release, and every tug on her sensitive nipple sent a white-hot rush of pleasure straight to her center.

Nothing existed but the need for more of everything. For one day, Tabitha was free from what felt like a lifetime of post-traumatic stress, and she seized it like a woman starved. What made it even more amazing was Wyatt met her every step of the way. His hunger was palpable. His need was overwhelming and humbling. She couldn’t remember a time in her life when she felt more loved and feminine than she did as she watched Wyatt worship her small, pert breasts that were never anything to brag about.

Then he pulled up to tug at the neckline of his shirt, and Tabitha helped him get it off. She didn’t have a chance to admire his cut, muscular form before he fell over her, forcing the air out of her chest from the weight of his heavy body, but who needed to breathe? The warm press of his bare skin against hers had Tabitha clinging to him. She turned her head to the side as he kissed and licked at her neck once more.

“I need you,” he groaned into her ear. “I’m sorry. I can’t wait. It’s been too long, and—”

“I need it too.”

He lifted his head as a look of uncertainty crossed over his handsome face. “I wasn’t kidding before. I haven’t done this since—”

“It’s okay.” She winced, finding that the tears were threatening despite the yearning. Her voice was choked as she admitted, “I haven’t either.”

“I guess we’ll just have to relearn together.” He gave her a hesitant smile. “Won’t be the first time, right?”

The tears spilled over without warning as she remembered what was once beautiful and perfect. “I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, don’t,” Wyatt pleaded, the tears sounding in his voice too. “I don’t wanna cry right now. Let me love you instead. We’ll take a rain check on the rest.”

She nodded silently as she fought the urge to come apart. Wyatt reached up and rubbed a thumb over her lips. She squeezed her eyes shut against the emotion, but she still felt his gaze on her. When he kissed her again, she tasted the salty tang of tears, but she wasn’t certain if they were hers or his.