I want to shout at him to hurry the hell up or shove him out of the way and tear them off myself, but I know he’ll only make mewait longer if I do. Instead, I bundle up all of my willpower and stay still and breathe through it as he carefully removes them.
“Good girl, I know that was hard for you,” he says, a smile in his voice.
I huff, tempted to grab his beautiful face and stuff it back between my legs where he knows I want it.
A soft kiss lands on my inner thigh and makes me arch up, chasing his mouth. He moves to the other side, and I’m left wilting, eager for his touch, but also vibrating with the need to feel him where I really need him.
“Please,” I mewl. “Please. You know I need you.”
“And I’llneverstop needing you.” He kisses closer to my clit, but still doesn’t make contact. “I love you, Jude,” he whispers. “I love you so goddamn much.”
“I love you too?—”
I cry out as he seals his mouth over my clit and sucks. My orgasm comes hurtling toward the surface.
“Slade,” I pant, clawing at his hair and grinding against his face.
His groan wrings more arousal from me; the wet sounds as he laps it up have me biting my lip, desperate to come on his tongue.
“Slade,” I pant.
He stops again.
“No!” I cry.
My breath echoes in my ears as I flop on the bed, panting with frustration.
The mattress dips as he moves.
Then a single flame flickers to life, bathing his face in light.
“I’d like to see you this time,” he says, tossing the matchbox and reaching to run his thumb over my lips. “I want to see my wife’s face as I make her mine.”
He leans to one side, lighting a single pillar candle on the nightstand, then shakes the match out. He stares at the burning flame, his throat constricting with a thick swallow.
“I died from a flame. It feels right that my second chance is born alongside one.”
“Slade,” I whisper.
He looks at me, and I stroke his cheek. He turns, kissing my palm, the fleeting anguish in his eyes dissolving.
“Where was I?” He grins wickedly, then sinks his head back between my thighs.
His eyes hold mine with an intensity I couldn’t break even if I wanted to. But I don’t. I want him to see exactly what he does to me. How much I need him and want him.
How much I love him.
“Oh, fuck, Slade!” I cry, coming on his face.
“Yes, come on. That’s it, give it to me,” he groans, sucking and licking me through it.
His eyes lock on mine as I tremble, and he manages to drag another orgasm out of me.
“Slade,” I whimper as he kisses me all over, then swipes his fingers over his chin, gathering up wetness.
“What is it, Baby?” he asks, climbing over my body and holding himself above me with one braced, bulging bicep. He slides his fingers past my parted lips so that I suck my juices off them.
“Mm,” I moan.
