Thirty-Five

Sunlight danced along the walls and Stephanie rolled over, sliding closer to the lean, hard body next to her. She smiled and pressed her lips to a well-muscled shoulder. She had slept better last night than she had in as long as she could remember. With her eyes closed, she let her hand wander across a broad, warm chest. Her fingers found his where they lay on his stomach and she twined them together, bringing them to her lips. She blinked her eyes open slowly and a winged guitar came into focus. In that instant, her lips hesitated over his knuckles. This wasn’t Mark.

She pressed her lips to his knuckles once again and resettled his hand on his stomach. Rolling away from him, she sat up on the edge of the bed and dropped her head to her hands. She couldn’t keep doing this.

Lifting her head, her eyes darted around the room, finally landing on the heap of clothes in the chair. Snagging the first item her hand landed on - Richie’s shirt - she slipped it on and stepped toward the doors that led to his balcony. The late morning sunlight sparkled like tiny diamonds on the still water of the pool below. She rested her head on the cool pane of glass. Last night had been amazing. Different in every way from what she had once known, but amazing just the same. She shook her head slightly. She had no regrets.

Raising her hand, she pressed her fingers to the glass. She needed to let Mark go. She would always have the memories, they had been together for too long not to, but it was time to tuck them away so she could finally, truly move on. Shifting her gaze to the cloudless blue sky, she whispered “goodbye” and a lone tear slid down her cheek. She would never forget him, but maybe now she could focus on healing the hole his death had left and the man who was slowly carving out his own corner in her heart.

~

Richie watched her from across the room. She had barely moved in the long minutes she had been standing in front of the balcony doors. He couldn’t begin to guess what she was thinking about. He could only hope she wasn’t having second thoughts about last night. Closing his eyes again, he replayed the night in his head, from the time everyone else left until they practically passed out here in his bed. She hadn’t once hesitated or given him any indication that she was uncomfortable with what they were doing.

Opening his eyes again, she was still standing in front of the windows, the sunlight pouring in around her. He stole quietly from the bed and crossed the room to stand behind her. She didn’t startle as he came up behind her and slid his arms around her. “Everything all right, Sweetheart?” The look on her face reflected in the glass had him worried.

She leaned back against him, resting her hands on his over her stomach and closed her eyes, taking a minute to soak in his warmth and strength. A small smile played across her lips and she nodded her head. “Everything is just fine, Rich.”

Turning her gently to face him he looked down into her face. The clouds in her eyes had parted and the storm on her face had cleared. Relief flowed through him and he gently kissed her forehead. “You had me worried there for a minute.”

She pressed her lips to the center of his chest. “Just a minor freak out moment, but really” she looked up to his face, “I’m okay.” Reaching up, she stroked the pillow crease on his cheek with the pad of her thumb. Such a caring, handsome man. How had she managed to find such a good man for the second time in her life? She had never been that lucky, but maybe today she should play the lottery.

Rising on her toes, she fit her mouth to his. His lips were soft and inviting. The kiss was tender and passionate, stroking to life the heat that simmered between them. Her hands slid up, around his neck and she fit herself to him, needing to feel his skin against hers.

He kept their kisses soft and ardent, somehow knowing that was what she needed this morning. Drawing his fingers up her sides, he caressed her lightly, reveling in the goosebumps that his touch raised on her skin. Reaching her smooth, strong shoulders, he gently nudged his shirt from her, letting it flutter to the floor at their feet. Easing back he studied her for a moment, the sun burnishing her skin a pale gold. “Beautiful” he murmured as his lips found hers again.

Lifting her gently, he walked them to the bench at the end of his bed. With her straddling his lap, he scattered tiny kisses across her chest, he kissed his way to her pretty, rosy nipples that were already taut with need. Curling his tongue around one pebble hard tip, he drew it into his mouth, sucking gently first, then harder when her head dropped back and that purr-like moan escaped her throat. It was music to his ears.

Drawing his mouth up from her breast, he traced a path up her neck, dipping into the hollow at the base of her throat. He smiled against her when she made that beautiful sound again. His hands slipped from her hips to her thighs. Light pressure had her spreading her legs wider, and his dexterous fingers found her wet, heated center.

She nearly came apart at his first, feather light touch. But she wanted to touch him too, to love him here with the sunshine of a new day, the hope of the new year spilling over them. Her hand slid down from his shoulder, along the firmness of his chest, down to find the hard length of him pressed against his belly. She stroked him lightly, learning from his expression what pleased and enticed.

“Enough” he growled when he could take no more of her teasing touch. He pulled her hand away, pulled his hand from her and urged her up on her knees. Using his thumb, he pressed his cock away from his stomach and slid inside her in one gentle thrust.

She gloried in the feeling of fullness he gave her, the feeling of wholeness she had long forgotten. She moved on him slowly, deliberately drawing out the moment until her eyes started to cross and she couldn’t hold back any longer. Her climax rocked her, had spots dancing before her eyes. She collapsed against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Panting she lifted her head, meeting his eyes with hers. She felt him twitch inside her. “Didn’t you-”

He smiled and shook his head. “Nope.”

Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a pretty “o” of surprise.

He lifted her and turned to lay her across the end of the bed. “You okay?’

She could only nod and he started to move. He thrust into her hard and deep, hitting that spot over and over, driving her to another screaming climax before he finally relented and let himself go.

They lay, tangled across the end of his bed trying to catch their breaths. Her hand moved slowly up and down caressing his strong, sweaty back. She felt his lips grazing her neck and she sighed. He made to move and she held him fast. “Don’t, not yet.”

“But sweetheart, I’m too heavy.” He didn’t want to crush her.

She cupped his face with her hands and pecked him on the lips. “No you’re not. I like the weight of you on me.” She had missed this feeling of closeness and wanted to revel in it as long as she could.

He kissed her back and redistributed his weight as best he could. “All right, sweetheart, you just nudge me when you ready for me to move.”

Never she thought. Never.