Breath Of Life

I sit back onto my heels and wait for his directions. He plays along with me. I can return the favor. He stands and holds out his hand. “I’m going to claim what’s mine in my bedroom.”

“Am I yours?” I ask, unsure that I like the caveman approach he’s taking.

“Damn straight. The same way I’m yours.”

His words smooth my ruffled feathers. He pulls me to my feet, entwining our fingers as we make the short walk to this bedroom. The king-sized bed is centered in the massive room. The natural light flooding in allows the elephant gray walls to make a statement without being too dark. His gray plaid jersey sheets are inviting and warm, like the man himself. I grab the bottom of my shirt, and he places his hand over mine.

“No, allow me.”

I drop my arms, and he nibbles his way down my neck as his fingers dart underneath my top to caress my heated skin. He strips me down, touching every inch of me he can reach. I step from my skirt and stand before him in my black silk boy shorts and red bra with black ribbon laced through it. He runs his fingertips down my strap and across the tops of my breasts. A chill races down my spine and I arch toward him. He slaps my ass and squeezes.

“Love this ass, sassy. You have no idea the havoc you been wreaking on me. You walk by, and I’m at half-mast.” He pops my bra one-handed and slips the garment down my arms, tossing it to the floor. Cupping my breasts, he leans in and flicks each nipple with his tongue. I moan as I grip his shoulders and bend my knees to remain upright. He sucks my left tit into his mouth. I cup the back of his head. Each draw pulls at my core. He goes from left to right never letting one side get jealous of the other. My belly clenches and my inner thighs grow slick.

He releases me with a pop. “I can smell how much you want me. Panties off. Now.” I shove them down my hips and legs, stepping away from them as he crooks his fingers and I follow him to the bed like he’s the Pied Piper. He strips off his shirt, tossing it onto the ground. The gauze is a reminder of what brought us together. Completely nude, he crawls onto the bed and lays flat on his back.

“Come and ride my face, sassy.”

I don’t think anyone has ever said anything as erotic as that sentence. I climb over him on the bed and face away from him.

“Grab the headboard and have a seat.” I do as he asks, hissing as his tongue licks a path across my weeping slit. He hums his approval and latches on lik

e a man long denied dinner. I grip the headboard tight to stay upright as he plunges his tongue inside and out, nuzzling my clit with his nose. I catch his rhythm, winding my hips as the cries spill from my lips.

“Yes, right there, Ollie. Oh my God.”

He latches onto my clit and pushes two long fingers inside of me. I grasp them, riding them as the sensation overwhelms me. I shatter, shaking as I call out this name, unable to think or say anything more as I ride the white wave of completion. I slip to the side onto the bed, breathing hard as my world continues to swirl with colors. A gentle kiss from Ollie makes me moan. I can taste myself on his tongue. I wonder if he can taste himself. The fact that he didn’t mind was a huge turn on. There’s a level of intimacy in that action I’ve never achieved with another. The links that bind us tighten once more. A flicker of fear lights. What happens if this doesn’t work out?

“You doing okay, sassy?” He kisses my temple and extinguishes my concern.

“Yes.” Rolling onto my side, I gently touch his bandage. “Are you?”

“Better than I’ve been in a long time. I don’t think you know how much of an impact you’ve had on me since you entered my world.”

“I feel the exact same way.” I cup his face and bask in the warmth in his gaze. Deep down I worry one day he’ll blame me for the robbery. I think it would break a piece of me if he did. Because in my mind, he’d be absolutely correct. Some days the guilt slices me bone deep. If he hadn’t walked me to my car he’d never have been shot ... but I might not be here, and we wouldn’t be here together. I tell myself it was meant to work out this way. Maybe one day I’ll believe it.

Chapter Seven

Ollie

“What are you planning on doing with him this weekend?” Allie asks. This is the behavior I’ve been dreading. The shrill tone, pursed lips, and arms folded across her chest scream aggressive. Things are still tense between us, though we make a good show of hiding it from Rolly. He knows things have changed between us. I no longer stay over at his mother’s home, and Quinn has become a new constant.

The little dude has good taste because his mother is sick of hearing about how cool my new girlfriend is. I’m not petty, so I don’t flaunt her. That doesn’t mean I hide her. I’m proud of her and not about to hide her or our relationship away. We’re making real progress. I’m learning things about myself and being in a healthy partnership I don’t think I ever thought I’d know.

“We’re going to take him to the zoo and then just enjoy the warm weather and be outside.”

“We?”

“Yeah, Quinn and I.”

She gnashes her teeth. “So, you’re attached at the hips now?”

“No, but she is a major part of my life, and I want Rolly to get used to having her around.”

Her hazel eyes flash. I tense, waiting for her onslaught.

“And you think it’s cool to just have him there while she crashes?”

“One, she doesn’t crash, she goes home to her own place. But yeah, eventually it’s going to happen, and I expect you to both be okay with it. He knows Quinn now. They get along well, and we’re getting pretty serious.”