The Force of Gravity(67)

“Not funny?” he asks quietly.

I shake my head, and he springs forward, his lips rushing over mine.

“Relax now, okay, baby?” he whispers against my mouth.

I nod, dizzy from his skillful touch.

He kisses my throat, his hands skimming my breasts, as his lips travel down the center of my chest, slowly making their way down my ribcage, his hands grazing my sides, sending shivers through me. I wrap his hair between my fingers as his mouth travels down my stomach, and I feel my body stiffen as he passes my belly button. An impatient, but nervous whimper escapes me as his lips meet the hem of my satin thong. He hooks his fingers in the sides of my panties and slowly pulls them down, breaking away momentarily to slide them off.

Lowering himself down, Elijah presses my thighs farther apart, and I try to remain calm. He reaches for my hands, lacing his fingers in mine, steadying me as his mouth makes contact below my waist. An intense breath pulls into my lungs as his mouth moves against me, and I grip his hands tighter. I hear a deep moan in his throat as he consumes me, devours me, stimulating every cell in my body, all the way down to the tips of my toes. He pulls his hands out of my clasp and clutches onto my waist, bringing me closer to him as his tongue circles around, darting, teasing, and switching rhythms.

I grasp the pillows beside me, thankful for the music surrounding us, as foreign sounds release from my lungs. The overpowering ache intensifies, building to a place that is almost unbearable, and I cry out to him, unintentionally tightening my thighs around his head. He presses his hands back against my inner thighs, not letting up, and I feel like I might black out. Just when I’m about to become unhinged, he breaks away, and I slowly fall from the high as his mouth makes its way back up my body.

Panting, I grab the sides of his head and pull his face to mine. “I need you,” I beg. “Now. Please.” I’ve never needed anything or anyone more than I do right now.

His broad shoulders hover over me. “Take them off,” he commands softly.

My arms and legs struggle through their weakened state as I reach down to the hem of his boxers, sliding them down part way, then fall back against the bed.

“I can barely move,” I breathe.

I think I hear him chuckle, but I’m not sure, and he slides them the rest of the way off.

With his face directly above mine, his intense brown eyes enrapture me. “I love you, Kaley.”

His lips are on mine before I can respond, and he lowers himself between my legs.

No more barriers between us.

My heart races, small beads of sweat forming between us as his body meets mine. He gradually eases forward, and I wince.

His body goes still.

“Are you okay?” he asks alarmed. “Am I hurting you?”

I shake my head. “Keep going.”

“Baby—”

“Please.”

I bite my bottom lip as he gently pushes forward, and the sharp pain returns. He stops, and I clutch the sides of his torso.

“Keep going,” I say.

He pulls back, then presses forward again, moving slowly, carefully, the discomfort eclipsing every sensation for a few moments before pleasure eventually overpowers the pain. I exhale, my body relaxing as he continues to move with caution.

“I’m okay,” I breathe, as a new stirring gathers inside me.

I pull his face to mine and kiss him with a desire I’ve never known before and glide my hands over his muscular back, my need for him burning deeper. When he realizes I’m pain free and pleasure full, he steadily increases his rhythm. He’s gentle with me, yet commanding, and faintness starts to spread through my limbs.

Leaning himself on his forearm, he traces his fingers down my stomach, positioning them below my waist. His fingers tease me, circling around as he presses himself deeper inside, and I moan uncontrollably as the new sensation rocks me. He lowers his face next to mine, his heavy breaths sending shivers down my sides. His fingers masterfully swirl against me, and the pressure begins to build with a dizzying intensity. My body tightens, and I clutch onto his powerful back.

“Relax, baby,” he whispers in my ear. “I’ve got you. Let go.”

His words put me over the edge, and I let out an eager gasp as pleasure I have never felt before erupts from deep within me. An unhindered moan bursts out of me as my body quakes, and I cry out to him as the euphoric sensation pulsates through me. He holds me close as I come undone, my back arching in submission to the release of pressure.

When I fall back into the mattress, he positions his arms on either side of me, steadying himself on his forearms, slipping his hands around the back of my neck. He presses his chest against mine, and I hold onto his dominant shoulders as he whispers my name, causing a soft gasp to catch in my throat. His rhythm escalates, and I grip his ripped back with all my strength, feeling the slickness of sweat across his muscles.

He slides his right arm underneath the small of my back, lifting up my hips. The feel of him intensifies, almost too much for me, too deep. But I don’t want him to stop—I want him to overpower me. I sense his body begin to tremble as he intakes a sharp breath and thrusts into me. I glide my hands down his back and cup his backside, pulling him in deeper, and a deep groan releases from his chest as his body quivers over me. Once he stills, he kisses me intently, my mouth inhaling his ragged breaths. He soon withdraws himself and lies beside me, our heavy breaths overwhelming the music.

After a minute, he turns, caressing my hip. “How do you feel, baby? Are you okay?”

A satisfied grin expands across my face. “Never better.”

“You’re not hurt?” He brushes a few strands of hair out of my face.

“I’m fine,” I assure him. I’m a little sore, but right now my fulfillment trumps any sort of pain.

“Come here,” he says, turning me on my side to face him.

He rubs his thumb against my mouth, pulling down my bottom lip and leans in to kiss me. His love for me permeates through his kiss, like a key gradually unlocking the door of my heart.

This is love . . . it has to be.

“We’re going to work this out somehow, okay? I can’t lose you—at least not because of our situation. If you end up falling for someone in college, or don’t want to be with me anymore, that’s one thing. But I don’t want this to end because of me. Because of my career.”

I prop my head on my elbow. “Fall in love in college?”

He lifts a shoulder. “You never know. You deserve to experience college, Kay.”

“You really do think I’m too young for you, don’t you,” I say quietly.

He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment. “Baby, no. I’m sorry I said those things. I didn’t mean any of it. . . . I just knew—or thought, rather—that we needed to end it. And I wanted you to stay away from me—I needed you to. I thought it would make things easier . . . for both of us.” He sighs. “I almost made the biggest mistake of my life.”

“Well, if you don’t think I’m too young for you, then why would you say I’m going to leave you for some college frat boy?” I ask. “You really think I’m going to fall in love with someone else? Or are you the one feeling insecure for a change?” I flash him a sly smile.

“I’m definitely not hoping you’ll fall in love,” he says.

“Well it’s too late,” I say, pressing myself closer to him. “Because I’ve already fallen.”

I run my hand through his moistened hair and kiss him. He traces his fingers along my neck and down my spine.

I sigh. “I’m never going to get enough of you, Elijah Slate.”

He kisses the side of my jaw before lying back on the mattress, and I rest my head on his chest. We relax for a while with our sweaty, bare bodies entangled.

I eventually break the silence. “I was wrong about the picture tonight.”

“What do you mean?” he asks. “I know you’ll be careful with it. You were right—we needed a damn picture of us.”

“No,” I say. “I mean about it being the best graduation gift I received. This is definitely the best.”

He laughs. “Well, I hope so, or I didn’t do a very good job.”

“Are you kidding? I thought the first time was supposed to be horrible. I can’t imagine it gets any better.”

“Hmm . . . I’ll take that as a challenge,” he says, kissing the top of my head. “Besides, I promised you I’d make it worth your wait.”

“You do know that I’m going to want you even more now, right?”

“Any time, any place.”

I lift my head and kiss him just as my stomach growls.

He chuckles. “Hungry for some cold Chinese food, baby?”

“Hell yes.”

He sits up. “You know, if you keep making me eat like this, I’m going to lose my eight pack,” he says with a wink.

“Oh, God forbid!” I roll my eyes. “If you’d like, I’m more than willing to give you a nightly abs workout.”

He belts out a laugh and jumps back on top of me. “I like the sound of that,” he says, lowering his lips to mine. I wrap my arms around his neck as my stomach rumbles again, interrupting the moment.

“Come on,” he says, pulling me off the bed. He lifts my chin, peering down at me. “You are stunningly beautiful, Kaley. Do you know that?” I blush and try to look away, but he holds onto my chin. “I’m serious.”