I take a deep breath as my hand grips my house key tightly, hoping everything is set for tonight. Showing Melanie that I don’t ever want to lose her again has turned into a bit of a production. Braydon was in charge of getting Jacob to the restaurant and then keeping him occupied until a later than usual bedtime and I swallowed my pride to call in Tyler for the icing on the cake.
“Oh my God, Xavier, this is amazing!” Melanie exclaims as we walk through the front door of the apartment. And it really is. Every surface is lined with tea lights and wildflowers. When I made the request of Tyler, he seemed impressed that I insisted on these bouquets rather than traditional roses because Melanie has never been a fan of the overpriced blooms.
I lift Melanie’s fingers to my lips, kissing the back of her hand before pulling her close to me. We sway back and forth in the middle of the living area, dancing to the music of our hearts beating together. My hands slide down her arms and around her narrow waist as she drapes her arms over my shoulders. The only emotion I see in her eyes tonight is pure bliss and I vow to keep that look there for as long as possible.
“I wanted tonight to be perfect,” I whisper in her ear, loving the way she shivers at the feel of my warm breath passing her neck. “I’m not sure I will ever understand what I did to deserve a second chance with you, but I will thank God every night that I have this time. When I fell in love with you the first time, I thought there was nothing that could possibly make me love you more, but I was wrong. For the past nine months, I’ve been amazed by your strength, humbled by your compassion and I’ve done the impossible.”
Before I can say anything that will ruin the high we’re both riding right now, I trace the line of Melanie’s spine with one hand, not stopping until I’m able to weave my fingers in her gentle curls. I close the distance between us, crashing her lips to mine in a kiss so intense I feel her body sink against mine. I reach up with my other hand to lower the zipper on her dress, never breaking the seal of her mouth against mine.
“Is this okay?” I ask, only stopping to lead Melanie to the bedroom when she nods her acquiescence. When I turn around, I see her standing before me in a simple white lace bra and matching thong. I swallow hard, desperately trying to catch my breath at the sight of her nearly naked body so close to me. My tongue traces along my bottom lip as the need to taste every inch of her skin overwhelms me.
“Make love to me, Xavier,” she pleads breathlessly. It’s not until she’s mere inches away from me that my gaze drops to the floor to see that she’s still wearing her heeled sandals. Someday, I plan on making love to her while she’s wearing nothing but those heels, but not tonight. “You were the first man I ever loved, and I want you to be the last. Please, don’t make me wait any longer.”
No matter what my plans for the night might have been, there’s no way I would have been able to refuse her pleas. She reaches between our bodies, releasing the button on my slacks. After lowering the zipper, I feel her hands slide inside the waistband, easing my pants over my hips as I kick off my shoes. I close my eyes, sucking in a sharp breath as Melanie takes control, slipping her hands inside my boxers to cup my ass cheeks tightly before pushing the cotton down my legs.
Her hands move deftly to the front of my shirt. With every button she opens, she places a delicate kiss down the center of my chest. I slide the shirt off my shoulders, reaching behind my neck to yank off my plain white undershirt with one hand.
When I look down, I see Melanie looking up at me from behind hooded eyelids.” I love you, Xavier,” she says tenderly. My eyes go out of focus as I feel her take my aroused flesh in her hand, stroking from root to tip. Her grip around my shaft tightens as I watch the tip disappear between her supple lips.
She continues working me with her hands, reaching lower to cup my sac as she caresses my length, never relenting as she takes more of me into the back of her throat with each stroke of her mouth. When I feel a tingle low in my spine, I push her off of me, pulling her close so I can kiss her. There’s no way in hell I’m going to allow more than a year of celibacy to dampen our reunion.
“I love you so much, Melanie. So. Fucking. Much.” Each word tumbles from my lips in between a series of quick kisses before I capture her pink, swollen lips again, this time for a long, intoxicating kiss. “I need to be inside of you.”
“I’m yours.” She reaches for my hand, pulling me to the side of the bed. After making quick work of releasing the clasp of her bra, I place my hands on her shoulders, easing her until she’s lying on her back, her chestnut curls fanned across the crisp, white linens.