She couldn’t answer so she just shook her head violently against the pillows.
“As I was saying,” he continued from between her thighs. “I regret that I didn’t tell you, didn’t make it abundantly fucking clear…” Another intense lick and her body began simultaneously straining toward him while struggling to get a safe distance from the relentless pursuit of his mouth.
“That you…”
His fingers dented the flesh on the tender curves of her hips as he held her down. Pausing to run his tongue up the delicate strip of her center once more, he suctioned her into his mouth briefly.
“Are…”
She writhed beneath him. It was nearly impossible to concentrate on what he was saying with the mindless frenzy he had her in.
“Mine.”
“Yes, yes, yours,” she breathed. “Only yours.”
Before she could reassure him anymore, he was up on his haunches, sliding himself over her sensitive flesh. She came apart so ferociously her body convulsed even under his weight.
The sensation made her needy even as she came. Her insides clenched on emptiness. She wanted more, needed more. Needed all he could give.
He seemed to realize this. Teasing her, he placed the head of himself just barely at her entrance.
“Say you’re mine, baby,” he commanded, applying the slightest bit of pressure.
“I’m yours, Trace.” Refueled by desire and an overwhelming ache, she reached up and dragged his face to hers, kissing him hard and deep. “And you’re mine.”
He entered her as they continued whispering their love-filled confessions, sounds of pleasure and devotion slipping from each of their mouths into the other’s.
When he finally gave into his release, squeezing her hard and groaning until the veins in his throat and arms bulged above her, she found hers once more. Their bodies, damp and drained, collapsed together in a heap of heavy breathing and sheer fulfillment.
She rolled onto her side, draping one arm and one leg over him.
“Never leave me. Promise you’ll never leave me again,” she whispered against his chest. “I wouldn’t survive it.”
He wrapped his arms around her and held tight. “Me either, baby. Me either.”
She was too weak to point out that he didn’t promise.
DESPITE HOW thoroughly depleted her body was, Kylie didn’t fall asleep afterwards. Not really. She was hovering, having an out of body experience in the strange, murky haze of twilight between consciousness and unconsciousness when Trace broke the contented silence.
“I meant what I said.”
She tried her best to lift her head off his chest and look him in the eyes to let him know she was listening. But after the earth-shattering sex that had sapped her of all ability to use her muscles, it wasn’t easy.
“Which thing?”
“That I’m sorry I hurt you. That walking away from you like that was the hardest decision I ever made. And I’ll spend every second you’ll let me trying to make that up to you.”
She took a deep breath. “Trace, if you ever go back into rehab, then I’m visiting you whether you like it or not, dammit. You don’t get to cut and run. No more making those kinds of decisions without me.”
She felt the low rumble of his chuckle against her bare skin.
She made the tremendous effort to rise up and glare at him. She pinched his bare side. Hard. “I’m serious.”
“Ouch. I know, Hothead. I know you are.” He kissed the top of her head and gave her a reassuring squeeze as she returned to her restful position. “Trust me. Losing you was the worst fucking thing I’ve ever lived through—and for me, that’s saying something. I won’t intentionally do that to myself ever again.”
She didn’t know if it was his postcoital honesty, her own recently exposed emotions, or the reminder of the nickname he’d given her, but tears began to slip from her eyes.
“Hey, hey,” he began softly. “None of that.” Trace wiped her tears with his thumb and leaned down to press his lips to hers. “I’m so sorry I hurt you, pretty girl. Believe me, I hurt myself pretty good too.”
“Yeah, well…” she paused to sniffle in an attempt to suck it up before she became an ugly-crying mess. “Don’t do it again.”
“I swear, baby. I will try my absolute best not to.”
She snuggled back down into his arms. Minutes or hours might have passed, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that she was safe and happy with the man she loved, and it was like…like going home after being away for far too long.
“Babe?” He traced a slow circle on her back with a calloused finger.