525 Cherry Blossom Ln. (Cherry Falls Romance)

“I think this is where I take over,” I tell her gently. She lets out an audible breath and nods her head in agreement.

“I think I’d like that.” I move my hands over her shoulders and down her arms, letting her get used to the feel of my touch. “I forgot how good your touch feels,” she breathes.

“I haven’t forgotten how good you feel. I think about you too much.”

“I like that,” she murmurs, but the words end on a gasp as I drag my fingers against her taunt nipple. Even through the fabric of her bra I can feel how they pebble even harder against my touch.

“God you’re perfection, Jodie girl,” I praise, taking her mouth in a kiss. I want to distract her as I finish undressing her, because she’s more skittish now than she was our first night together. I coax her tongue to follow mine, kissing her while unlatching her bra. I tease her nipples once I free her breasts, kissing her both to distract her and because I don’t want to give up her lips. She tastes like honey and sugar—so sweet my dick aches.

“Linc,” she gasps as I bend down to run my tongue around the darkened flesh of her nipple.

Fuck, I’d forgotten how beautiful her tits are. They fill my hand and are a rosy pink that glistens when I suck on them. I can’t remember anything quite so beautiful. Then again, I can’t remember anything since Jodie. She snuck up on me and now she’s like a slow burning fire inside of me—a spark that can spread into a wildfire with just a touch. I know feeding it will just get me more addicted to her, but I don’t even give a fuck. I want her.

I need her.

I blow across her wet nipples and watch as they respond. Jodie’s fingers bite into my biceps and I smile at the hint of pain she causes. She’s a wildcat and she keeps it hidden, but God do I remember how she gave herself over to me and let that side of her free. I’ve been dreaming about it constantly.

“Linc,” she whimpers.

“Get on the bed, Jodie,” I order, my voice heavier, threaded with hunger.

The tip of her sweet, little pink tongue comes out to moisten her lips, tempting me. She swallows and I watch the way the delicate muscles of her neck move. I ache to run my teeth against them, and scrape her delicate skin, before nibbling and marking her. A mark to show everyone that she’s mine and this time I’m not letting her go.

She backs away from me, her gaze centered on me the entire time. When the back of her legs push against the mattress, she puts her hands on it and slides up on it, her eyes still locked on me. It’s one of the most erotic things I’ve ever seen. Seeing the need that is written plainly on her face, and knowing it’s all directed at me, makes my heart squeeze tight in my chest.

She props herself up on her elbows and I grin as I get on the bed. I hover over her body, bringing my mouth back to her breasts. Jodie’s hands go to my hair, pulling on it, demanding I continue, but also letting me know she wants more. I suck one of her taunt nipples in my mouth, teasing it with my tongue. I release it gently, our gazes locked.

“You’re mine, Jodie girl. I was so stupid to ever let you get away, but you better believe that’s not happening again, baby.”

“Don’t say anything you don’t mean, Linc. This doesn’t have to mean anything more than sex,” she says.

She doesn’t realize it, I know, but that’s proof to me that she doesn’t trust me completely. It shows just how much I inadvertently hurt her before. I have some ground to make up with her, some hurts that I still need to mend, but I’m going to do that. I have to, because I know without a shadow of a doubt that I don’t want to live without Jodie in my life. I’ve fought it for way too long and then, I gave up hope. That night I saw her at the gas station and felt her hate, it marked me. I never want to go back there. I never want to see that look on her face again.

“You need to realize something, Jodie,” I tell her, staring her straight in the eyes, letting her read the emotion on my face—even if she might doubt it.

“I do?”

“I’m not letting you go, Jodie. What started between us went so fucking wrong, but I’ve regretted it ever since. You’re giving me another shot and you’re sealing your fate. I’m not letting you go.”

She doesn’t say anything, but that’s okay. I didn’t expect her to, not yet.