The Lion and the Lamb

“Tatum, look at me, sweetheart.” She opened her eyes and tilted her head back. “She isn’t the only one who loves you.” He kissed her tears away. “I love the way you talk back to me.” His lips touched another tear as it crept down her cheek. “I love that you’re soft and caring and think of others before yourself.” Another chaste kiss. “I love how beautiful you look when your hair is rumpled and your cheeks are rosy right after I’ve been inside you.” Her heart picked up. His hand landed between her breasts, and she knew he had to have felt how fast her heart beat. “But do you want know what I love most?”

“What?” Her eyes fluttered closed when his lips brushed hers.

“I love the strong, independent woman you are, and that you know what you want in life.” His tongue slipped along hers, and she moaned. “I love you, Tatum. I love everything about you, inside and out.”

She rested her head against his shoulder and thanked whoever listened for bringing Leo into her life. Whatever happened between them was fast yet strong. It wasn’t conventional, and there were a lot of things that were not the norm, but it worked for them.

“It took a long time for me to get better, mentally and physically. If Kiki hadn’t been there, I don’t think I would have made it. Once I graduated, I left home with Kiki and started a new life.” Her hand stilled on his chest, and she looked into his eyes. “I’m telling you all this, because I want you to know who I am. I’m not perfect, still have issues with my self-image, and know I could relapse at any moment. I want you to know I have been broken, and although I put myself back together with the help of Kiki, I still have cracks that run deep. I don’t want you to look back and wish things had been different.”

In the next second, she was on her back with Leo’s body covering hers.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Tatum.” His forearms were beside her head, his fingers playing with the ends of her hair. “When I say you’re mine, I also mean I’m yours. I’m not going anywhere, and I’ll be here for as long as you’ll have me.” The feel of his hard length rubbing along her cleft had her instantly aroused. “I want you no matter what. The woman I see is all I’ve ever wanted.” He ran his nose along her cheek. “Just tell me that you want this too,” Leo whispered against her ear, and she closed her eyes and nodded.

In one fluid, smooth move, he slid into her. This time, it was slow and sweet. There was no rush, because for the first time in her life, she felt like she had all the time in the world.

She let him know she wanted this, more than anything, with every lift of her hips and moan that left her mouth. It was the single most eye-opening experience she had ever encountered.

They made love for several more hours before she finally fell asleep in his arms, with the sound of his heartbeat lulling her to sleep. And when she woke and he insisted he follow her home, she felt like the butterflies in her belly would burst forth.

She couldn’t remember another time when things had felt so right, and she couldn’t wait to tell Kiki that maybe she was on the road to finally mending herself from the inside out.19“I have plans tonight, Kiki.” Tatum pursed her lips to hold in her laughter as she watched her best friend fall dramatically on the sofa.

“You always have plans.” She threw an arm over her eyes and sighed. “Let me guess. Leo?” Kiki dropped her arm and turned her head so she stared at Tatum.

“Yeah.” When Kiki didn’t say anything Tatum looked up. “You’re not mad, are you?” Tatum poured the second glass of white wine and made her way into the living room.

“Of course I’m not, but I’m in desperate need of a girls’ night out.”

Tatum sat beside Kiki and handed a glass over. She watched with a raised brow as Kiki downed half of it in one swallow. “Everything okay?”

Kiki sucked in a big lungful of air and set her glass down. “It’s just…” She picked at her shirt before continuing. “I think Beau’s cheating on me.”

Tatum sputtered on the wine she had just swallowed and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “What?”

Kiki nodded and grabbed her glass. She drank the rest of it and handed it to Tatum to refill. When both of them were topped off, Tatum finally found her voice.

“Kiki, I think you might be seeing things that aren’t there.”

Kiki shook her head, and tears swam in her eyes. “No, I mean, I hope I am, but I don’t think so.” She wiped angrily at her tears and refused to look at Tatum.