Page 78 of Second Chance

“I’m saying, I know Chris is gone, and I know you’ll leave, too…”

Denton’s eyes remain on mine, his fingertips softly slipping into my hair. “Don’t think about that yet.”

“It’s true, though. Why would you stay? California is probably very exciting. And warm.” I tease without humor. The September air is cool in the mountains, and this empty field has nothing to ward off the slight breeze. I shiver, and Denton flips the second sleeping bag to cover my shoulders and drape over our bent knees.

“California is everything I wanted, minus one thing. It’s larger than life and damning to the soul. It’s parties and functions and fundraisers, and I loved it all for a long time. But I don’t love it enough anymore.”

My brows pinch as I look into his eyes. I wish the old saying were true: your eyes are the window to your soul, but I can’t read his eyes. I don’t know what he means because all I’ve known is what surrounds me.

“Ask me again why I kissed you today?”

My brow furrows deeper, but I ask: “Why’d you kiss me?”

“Because I’m jealous. I was so jealous every damn time I saw Chris steal a kiss from you in the hallway. I’m guessing he didn’t do more than sneak them, though.” His lip curls at the corner, and I think he’s mocking me. Chris would never pull me into a corner and kiss the ever-living daylights out of me.

“He didn’t,” I answer too freely, my heart racing at his admission of being jealous.

“I always wanted to kiss you in that hallway. Make my own memories, of it being me to steal kisses, but I didn’t just want to take a kiss or two. I wanted to steal your breath away.”

My breath is robbed. It hitches at his words and my mouth gapes in shock. It’s all the invitation he needs to lean forward and kiss me, only this time it’s softer, sweeter, teasing. He’s gentle as he sucks at my lower lip and hesitant as his tongue tips forward to touch mine. He traces my upper lip before opening wider. The kiss grows in intensity, but he’s taking his time, measuring each pause with greater strength, greater purpose. He’s memorizing me, or at least, I’m memorizing him. Memorizing this. I want my own memories of him, whether it’s a hallway or a hayfield. I want his kisses on my mouth, in my mind, and in my heart.

His mouth lowers to my chin, and his fingers find my neck.

“Why do you touch me like that?” I ask about the possessive cupping.

“I like to feel the vibration of your voice and the pulse at your side. I make you nervous, don’t I? But you like it, don’t you?”

He’s not wrong on either count.

“Let me touch you, Mati. Let me feel what makes your pulse race.” He nips the side of my neck, and I stretch to allow him better access. His hands find my hips, and he shifts me, so my back presses to his chest. His mouth isn’t leaving my neck, and his nose nudges my sweater to the side to allow him nips at my shoulder. His hands wander over my waist to cup me between my thighs.

“Denton,” I purr.

“Say yes, Mati. Just feel me.”

I don’t know if he means for me to actually touch him or feel what he’s doing to me, but I have my answer as my hands slide over his raised knees and down his inner thighs.

“You first, Spice,” he says, brushing one hand away, and I take the hint. I brace my palms on his knees as he slips a hand inside the waistband of my leggings. His breath exhales on my neck.

“You’re so warm here, sweetheart,” he whispers as his fingers creep lower, and then his breath hitches again. “So ready to be touched.”

I shift my hips, and two fingers slip inward. My hands curl, cupping his kneecaps and my head falls back to his shoulder.

“Oh God,” I mutter as he slides in and out of me.

“Feel good, sweetheart?”

“So good,” I purr, my hips rolling forward, my inner walls clenching at him. I whimper as he drags to the edge of me, afraid he’ll leave my body, but then he lunges forward, and I’m so full. I cry out again.

“Should I try for a third?” Another finger joins the other two, and I worry for only a second I can’t take him, but the position of my raised knees and spread legs allows him the stretch he needs to go deep. His thumb brushes the sensitive trigger just outside me, and I gasp.

“That’s it, Spice. Take it. Take me.” He nips at my neck, and I flinch at the pleasurable pain.

“Denton,” I whisper, his name a hoarse warning. The flutters inside me ripple quickly to my center, and I fold forward with the clash of lightning inside me. I scream as he curls my hair in his fist and tugs my head back while his fingers fill me. He’s touching something in me I don’t recognize, and the second roll of thunder is almost instantaneous.

“I’m gonna go again,” I call out. “I’m gonna come again.”

“That’s right, sweetheart. Two times with me.” He growls in my ear, the tug of my hair possessive but tender. My senses overload and my body gives in a second time to the storm. Raining down on his fingers, I clamp my knees together, holding him in place between my thighs while my nails dig into his knees and my body gives over to the biggest orgasm I think I’ve ever had. If we weren’t outside, under a heavenly sky, I’d see the same number of stars.