Then There Was You(88)

“I think I’m gonna head to bed early tonight. Long day today,” she lied.

I nodded, discreetly winking at her like it was our secret. “Okay, honey. I’ll see you in the morning.”

She returned the wink then turned to Chris. “Thanks for coming, and thanks for the necklace, Chris.”

Chris smiled at her. “You’re very welcome. Now don’t go instagramming or facebooking about me. Wait until I’m long gone. We don’t need a mob at this house tonight.”

“I won’t. I promise,” she grinned back.

“Goodnight, Alexis,” I told her.

“Night, mom.” She gave me a quick hug and darted toward the stairs.

The moment she was out of sight, Chris hopped up and wrapped me in his arms. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed this, you in my arms like this,” he said, pulling me tight against him.

I sank into his chest, laying my head over the thumping beat of his heart. “I miss this too,” I admitted, breathing in his manly, musky scent.

Our bodies melded together as he cradled my head against him. Kissing me gently on the top of my head, he whispered, “I’ve missed you so much, Salem.”

I lifted my eyes to look at him. “Thank you for coming tonight. I know it wasn’t easy to get here, especially knowing we only have a few hours together.”

He looked down at me, smiling. “Baby, even if I had to drive all night just to spend one minute with you, it would all be worth it.”

My heart flipped in my chest hearing him call me ‘baby.’ It was definitely a nickname I could get used to.

He lowered his lips to mine. The hot rush of passion tore through my body the moment his lips touched me. God, I’ve missed him. I parted my lips, an invitation for his tongue to find a deeper connection.

He ran his hands down my back, sending shivers up my spine. The caress of his fingers across my back left me hungry for more.

Chris reached up, gently grasping the sides of my face and caressing my cheeks with his thumbs. His soft, luscious lips moved against mine. My fingers found their way to his hair and tangled themselves up in it, pulling him closer to me. He thrust himself against me, causing me to arch my back in response. A gentle tug of his teeth on my lip sent a flaming burst of yearning through my core. He was hungry for me, too. I felt it in the gentle pulse of his erection beneath the fabric of his worn-out jeans.

A quiet moan escaped my throat, triggering a frenzy of him clutching, grasping, and pulling me toward him. I could sense the desperation behind his actions.

“Salem,” he whispered between kisses, “what are you doing to me?”

Pulling away from his mouth, I asked, “What do you mean?”

Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and sliding his thumb down the length of my jaw, he said softly, “I didn’t mean to do this.”

“Didn’t mean to do what?” I asked, my eyes wide with worry.

Chris smiled that sexy half grin that melted my heart every time. His eyes held a softness, full of affection and adoration. “Fall for you,” he breathed.

He didn’t give me a chance to respond. Instead, he kissed me again, feeding his growing appetite. But, that eagerness and hunger was quickly replaced with deep, meaningful kisses.

Tender kisses that spoke of love and affection… kisses that made me feel cherished. His supple lips gently caressed mine, delighting me with their sweet softness.

Releasing me from his enchanting kiss, he opened his eyes, staring at me with magnetic intensity. “I meant it when I said you were everything I’d been wishing for, Salem.”

“Chris, I—”

He put his finger to my lips. “Shhh, don’t say a word.” Without hesitation, he swept me off my feet and carried me toward my bedroom.

He closed the door the door and locked it behind us, setting me down on the bed. Pulling a lighter from his pocket, he lit a candle on my bureau and lay down beside me, curling his body against mine. “Salem?” he whispered in the darkness.

“Hmmm,” I purred, searching his dark irises that flickered in the candlelight, burning with intense passion like the flame from the wick.

“A few months ago, I never imagined this would even be possible,” he admitted, glancing toward my window, “finding myself falling for someone again. It seemed like a distant dream in some alternate fucking reality. I especially never thought I’d run into you again.” He shook his head as if he were remembering that night at the concert when I first walked up to him.

He caught my gaze again and continued, “But, here we are. I can’t explain it… this connection we have. You were always like a shining light showing up in my darkness. Like that time I lost my shit in segregation.” He grimaced. I thought back to that night, how he crumbled in my arms, helpless.