She felt him stiffen, but he didn’t say anything, so she didn’t either. Her fingers continued to peruse his back. A weird band spanned his upper back, from his left shoulder blade to his right. Probably Celtic, but she couldn’t be sure. His number, seven, was on the lower left side of his back. He had Italian and Cuban flags, intertwined, a tribute to his heritage. It should have appeared crowded and incongruent, but somehow it all fit together.
“You followed Dr. J.’s tattoo rule?” she murmured, fascinated with her exploration of his body.
He didn’t answer her at first and she didn’t blame him. He’d tried to get her to talk and she’d left him hanging.
“Yes,” he said simply.
She stopped moving her hands, allowing them to rest lightly on both of his hips. Then, as if in a trance, she moved forward and kissed his back, on his spine. Then slid her tongue down his body until she reached the waistband of his pants.
His body grew taut. She could feel him struggle. She knew his frustration with her; she was frustrated too. But she knew she needed to be with him. Before she did anything else, she wrapped her arms around him and leaned into his back. “I need you to promise me something,” she said.
He drew a ragged sigh. “I don’t think I can make you any promises, Lu. I wish I could.”
“Let me say this, Lex,” she begged, her forehead resting on his back, her arms still around him, but a small gulf existed between their bodies.
Taking another fortifying breath, he said, “I’m all ears, Lu.”
At any other time, she knew, he would be saying that with a smile. “I need you to promise me that after the memorial service tomorrow, when everyone clears out, that you can give me some time.”
She could feel his hesitation. “Lu, I’ve let it go. We don’t need to go back over the past.” He didn’t want this to be about the past. He needed to hold on to that to keep some perspective.
“Lex, please,” she begged.
He turned in her arms so he could see her. Her eyes and face must have told him what her words did not. “OK, Lu. I promise.” His hands were gripping her shoulders. “Promise,” he said again, giving her the reassurance he knew she needed, always anticipating what she needed.
She looked at him, then at his mouth. It was probably his one imperfection. His lips were mismatched. He had a full bottom lip but a very thin upper one. It didn’t matter, of course. Drawing up her every reserve, fortifying her heart, she looked directly at him and murmured, “I want you inside of me, Lex.”
She hadn’t finished her sentence when he pushed her back against the wall of the balcony. His mouth ravished her, the forcefulness of the kiss making their teeth hit. Grabbing her upper thighs from between her legs, he lifted her up against the wall, securing her with his weight. By mutual consent, Lu wrapped her legs around his waist. He slipped his hand in his back pocket and pulled out a condom. He held it to her mouth and she gripped the corner in her teeth. She was naked except for Lex’s shirt, so no barriers marred his access. He was inside of her in seconds, filling her in a way she didn’t think possible. He pounded into her with more finesse than seemed right, with a wall at her back. He reached between them. It took one touch of his finger to send her over the edge. He held her as she clenched around him.
Then, still sheathed in her warmth, he moved her to the bed. He slipped out of her when he set her down. Kneeling at the edge of the bed, he turned her over on her stomach and pulled her down so her knees were at the edge and her ass was up in the air. Stifling a groan as he looked at her, his eye caught her tattoo. He wanted to ask her about it, but his thoughts were scattered. Unable to wait any longer, he entered her from behind, grabbing her hips and pulling her back into him. They cried out together at the contact. He couldn’t hold out any longer. With pent-up desire exploding, Lex filled her again and they found their release together.
12
They feasted on each other all night. A pattern developed. They would have sex, wrap themselves around each other, doze off, talk, and start all over again. Lu found herself liking him more and more. He asked her about everything, joked with her, and made her want him with a passion she hadn’t known existed. Exhausted and sated, they learned the ins and outs of each other again. He didn’t hold anything back in his questioning of her, even when the questions made her blush or think before she answered. Like his body, his mind was insatiable.
“Lu,” he said as he rolled her onto her stomach and moved his hands up and down her body. “Tell me about this tattoo? Why do you have a tramp stamp of a ship?”