Taking It All(20)

How he managed to last as long as he did was a mystery to her. She could   feel just how close he was to hurtling over the cliff. His fingers   tightened in her flesh, his thrusts became more frantic but yet he'd   slow, pulling them both back.

Her need had become desperate. She was nearly sobbing at the   overwhelming pressure, the promise of something utterly beautiful and   all consuming.

"Say my name," he said hoarsely.

"Tate!" she cried.

"Who owns you, Chessy? Who do you belong to?"

"You," she sobbed. "Only you, Tate."

"Then come for me."

He thrust hard, forcefully, harder than before, purposely driving her to   the brink of insanity. She was mindless, writhing against the bonds   that held her tight. She turned her face into the mattress, screaming as   her orgasm welled and burst like a cascade of fireworks.

He began coming, flooding her with his release. His semen made his   thrusts smoother and easier. Impossibly, he drove even deeper, her body   opening and welcoming him like a long-lost lover. And in essence he  was.  This was their renewal. A reunion       of souls.

He strained against her, his hips pumping hard and fast while the rest   of his body remained solidly glued to hers. His hands left her hips and   slid up her spine, soothing her in the aftermath of her explosive   orgasm. And then he lowered his body, his cock pulsing deeply in her   vagina.

He blanketed her with his warmth and strength. She could feel his   heartbeat, fast and furious, against the small of her back. And then his   cheek lowered, lying against her skin. Trapped between him and the   mattress, her own heart raced.

Turning his face, brushing against her hypersensitive flesh, he pressed his lips to her spine.

"You're my girl, Chessy. Never doubt that," he whispered, the words   wrapping around her heart, squeezing with love and renewed hope.

They were back!

"Give me the words, baby."

"I'm your girl," she said dutifully.

"And who does my girl love?"

"You," she said. "Only you."                       
       
           



       

"Who owns you?" he growled.

He pushed further into her, his cock still turgid inside her even after   his release. Her body shuddered, chill bumps prickling across her skin.

"You do," she whispered.

"Who loves you?" he asked in a softer voice.

Her heart surged to overflowing. Tears pricked her eyelids and she closed her eyes briefly to hold them at bay.

"You do."

"Who knows you're his world? The one who's gifted with your submission?"

"You, Tate. Only you."

He kissed her skin again, a soft benediction as his words whispered over her flesh.

"I love you, Chessy. Only you. Remember you're my girl."

"I love you too, Tate."

She had to stop because tears were running freely down her face, wetting the mattress her cheek rested on.

"Chess?"

The concern in his voice made her scrub her tear-stained face into the mattress. She didn't want to fall apart now of all times.

He withdrew carefully, mindful not to hurt her. Then he immediately untied her hands, tossing aside the rope.

"Chessy?" he asked again as he climbed onto the bed beside her. "Talk to me, baby. What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"

He pulled her into his arms, positioning her on her side, and used his   arm to pillow her head. Then he slid his hand over her damp cheek,   wiping away the tears. He leaned over, kissing away every bit of   moisture from her face before cupping her jaw and tilting her chin   upward so she met his gaze.

"What's wrong, baby?"

The concern in his eyes was nearly her undoing and damn it but the tears   started all over again. She gave a quiet hiccup, the strain of trying   to keep her emotions at bay making her chest ache.

It was as if a dam had suddenly burst and tears ran like a river as she   stared back at her husband. They were back. It was as if the last two   years had been erased and all that mattered was here and now. Her in his   arms. Him taking back control.

"Chessy, you're starting to scare me. What the hell is going on? Talk to me."

"Nothing's wrong," she finally managed to say in a faltering voice. "Everything is right."

He heaved a visible sigh of relief and touched his forehead to hers.   "You nearly gave me a heart attack, baby. I thought I'd done something   wrong. Or hurt you."

She shook her head as he wiped another trail of tears from her cheek. "I   love you so much, Tate. I've waited so long for this. It seems like I   waited for an eternity. And now we're back. I've missed you-this-so   much."

He gathered her more closely in his arms and kissed her tenderly.   "You've always had me, Chess. I know it doesn't seem like it. I haven't   acted like it. I haven't given you what you need-what you deserve. But I   swear all of that is going to change starting now. I don't want to  lose  you. I can't envision a future without you."

She snuggled into his arms, tucking her head underneath his chin.   "You'll never lose me, Tate. I don't want to be without you either. I'm   afraid you're stuck with me."

He chuckled, the sound rumbling from his chest and vibrating her cheek.   "I'll suffer the inconvenience of me being stuck with you."





TWELVE


CHESSY entered the Lux Café wearing a broad smile and with a skip in her   step. Kylie was there, and as usual, excluding the last time they'd  met  for lunch, Joss was running late. Kylie lifted one eyebrow when  Chessy  all but danced up to their booth. But there was relief in her  eyes when  she stood to hug Chessy.

"Thank God," Kylie said fervently. "Joss and I have been so worried,   Chessy. We didn't hear from you all weekend! Jensen swore that was a   good thing but I wasn't so sure until now. You're positively glowing!"

They were interrupted as Joss hurried up to the table. Like Kylie, there   was concern in Joss's eyes but as she studied a beaming Chessy, her   eyes brightened and a smile lit up her face.

"You look so happy, Chessy!" Joss said in a hushed whisper.

"Let's sit," Chessy urged. "I don't want the entire restaurant to hear the sordid details of my anniversary weekend!"

"Ooohh, sordid!" Kylie crowed as she pushed into the booth and then   motioned for Chessy to slide into the middle from the other side so   she'd be flanked by Joss and Kylie.

Chessy complied and then Joss scooted in next to her.

"We're dying to hear the down and dirty," Joss said. "When we didn't   hear from you I knew it had to be a good sign because if things went   badly you would have called us."                       
       
           



       

Chessy smiled and nodded. Then she let out a wistful sigh. "Oh you guys,   it was wonderful. Just like old times. I had my Tate back."

"So did you spill your heart?" Kylie asked. "Tell me you didn't back down and not bring up your issues."

Chessy shook her head. "No, I didn't back down," she said softly. "It actually began a total disaster."

Joss's mouth dropped open and Kylie's eyes narrowed.

"How was it a disaster?" Joss exclaimed.

Chessy winced. "He didn't show for our dinner. I was on my way out and I saw him in the bar with another woman."

"Oh. My. God," Kylie said, fury evident in her voice. "What the hell? On your anniversary?"

"It wasn't pretty," Chessy admitted. "I jumped to some major conclusions and walked out. He came after me and we had it out."

"I bet," Joss murmured.

"But it's okay now," Chessy said. "I know I gave y'all an abbreviated   version but I'd rather not rehash it. The woman was a potential client.   He met her in the bar so he could come straight to dinner and time got   away from him. When I confronted him with how unhappy I am, he was   horrified. He's apologized a million times. And he promised to put me   front and center from now on."

"Do you believe him?" Kylie asked softly.

Chessy nodded. "He was so sincere. And so upset and afraid. Afraid I was   going to leave him. Honestly, guys, it scared him to death. That more   than anything told me that he still loves me and wants me. And well, he   spent the rest of the weekend proving just that."

Color rose in her cheeks, her skin flushed and warm.

Joss and Kylie exchanged knowing smirks.

"Did he break out the flogger?" Joss teased.