Then he dips them back into me. I think he is going to lick them again, but he brings them to my lips. “Open. I want you to taste yourself.”
And I do. His command is one I could not deny if I tried. He slides his fingers over my tongue, and I taste myself on his warm skin. Nowthat I am getting the full experience I can taste it more. It's almost bitter at first but then sweet and tangy.
Pulling his fingers from my mouth, he grips my chin and leans in closely. His face only inches from my own. My playful Ev is gone, he is serious now. “Leo. I'm going to ask you again. Are you sure you want this?”
He releases his grip and bushes his fingers against my cheek. I just nod. Unable to form words right now.
"Not good enough. I need to hear your voice."
"Yes." I beg.
He leans in to cover me with his body and kisses me deeply.
I feel the tip push at my entrance. Ever so slowly, he stretches me and then pauses. "Breathe, baby."
I hadn't even realized I was holding my breath. I let it out and inhale again, and as I do, he pushes in a little more.
I feel a popping sensation and wince at the pain. "Ah—"
“I got you, baby. You’re doing so good. Just keep breathing.”
Once he is all the way in, he’s still for a few moments. And when I finally relax my muscles, he moves out slowly and back in just as slow. All the while, he continues to kiss me, a distraction for my pain.
He continues his slow strokes, and as my muscles relax more and more, he picks up the pace. He is gentle with me, taking his time. He reaches down between us and begins to rub at my already sensitive bundle of nerves. The sensation of that combined with him filling me is too much. I clench my legs around him and moan into his mouth as I release for the third time.
“Good girl, Leo. That’s it.”
He quickly pulls out, leans back, and I feel his warm release on my belly. Grabbing his discarded t-shirt from the ground, he wipes his release off my skin. “Are you okay?”
“I think so. Maybe a little sore but it feels okay.” I roll to my side as he moves behind me. Curling his body around my smaller one. Encasing me in his warmth. His lips graze my shoulder slightly, the softest of kisses.
“You’re so beautiful, Leo. I hope you never forget that.” His fingers run along the skin of my back, and I know he is tracing my scars. Then he begins kissing them, like he did all my other ones. Except these aren’t small, round imperfections, but long, straight lines that flaw the skin of my back. Covering them all with kisses takes time.
Finally, he whispers, “Leo?”
“Phoenix.”
I will not let those memories take this moment from me.
“What is she doing here?” Gage's bitter words make me feel highly unwelcomed. His hands are tucked away into his black hoodie, his dark hair falling into his eyes. He looks every bit of the dark demon he wants people to believe he is. But I know Everett wouldn't take to him if he was as menacing as he appears.
“Don’t be dick. She’s coming with us to Portland.” Ev slings his arm around my shoulders, and I automatically tuck myself into him. My reactions to him are automatic. As if my body and mind completely disconnect and she acts of her own accord.
“I am?"
Ev retrieved me from Mill’s with no explanation but the promise of good coffee. I had no idea what he could have meant by that, but I wasn’t expecting Gage to be tagging along. Gage seems like he was also unaware he was going to be third wheeling today. Which makes his resentment toward me all the more powerful.
“You are.” He leans down and places a kiss on my nose. His confidence oozing out of him.
Gage gags, mocking us, and then climbs into the back seat of Ev’s truck. He reaches for the door handle to the passenger side, and I climb in. My curls bounce as I shake my head at him as he buckles me in. “I am more than capable of buckling myself.”
“Oh, I know. This just gives me one more chance to be up close and personal with you. I can’t help myself.”
“I’m going to be sick,” Gage pipes up from the back, and I giggle. How such a bright, sunshiney person and a doom-and-gloom type became best friends is a mystery to me.
“What are we going to Portland for?”
I have never been to the city, and thinking now about all the people and noise, my heart is racing, my palms leaking sweat. Ev skipped homecoming with me to take me to a place with even more people? I’m beginning to question him and his great ideas.
