Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 135517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
“I told you, I’m not.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the sheaf of papers I hadn’t noticed hiding there.
I glanced over the divorce papers until I saw the signatures signifying that he was indeed telling the truth and the relief and love I felt at that moment made my head spin.
Chapter 46
*Ryder*
I was as nervous as I was the first time I touched her. Back then, my nervousness stemmed from the newness and, yes, the fact that I was so in awe of her that it was like a fairytale come true just to breathe her in. This time my hands shook with emotion because I never thought I’d be here again.
I know I have a long way to go and that there’s so much more that needs to be done on my part, but the truth of the matter is I’ve never been able to keep my hands to myself when it comes to Elena, and it used to be the same for her. This was always the one place we were compatible, and I’d missed this closeness more than my next breath.
With each bit of her flesh, I revealed I held my breath, waiting for her to stop me and hoping with everything in me that she didn’t. Earlier, she’d said that it was just sex, but for me, it was so much more. I needed desperately to reforge the bond between us, the bond that I’d thought was so irrevocably broken.
And when she trembled beneath my hands, I sent up a silent prayer of thanks that I hadn’t destroyed this as well, that I could still move her with my touch. I kissed the first tear that fell from her eyes, “Don’t cry, please don’t cry. I won’t hurt you again, I promise; please believe me.”
As hard as it would be, I would’ve stopped if she asked me to; nothing has more power over me than her tears. And when I imagined the nights she’d spent crying because of what I’d done, what I’d allowed to happen to her, to us, I pulled her into my embrace and held her gently against my chest.
I felt as if I’d won the world when her arms came tentatively around me and swallowed the first sob, taking the sound into my lungs as I covered her lips with mine. It felt like coming home, like everything good in the world was right here in my arms, and I, too, was brought to tears.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I whispered the words against her lips as I moved my hand between us to touch her heat. My heart thudded against my chest as the heat of her softness pressed into my hand, and still, I waited for her to stop me, to pull away.
Her body felt so familiar, and yet there was a new element to the way I touched her and the way she responded. Unlike times in the past, I didn’t take it for granted that she was allowing me access to her body. I realized it for what it was, how precious she was.
I made a silent promise to myself that I would never again overlook her worth or how much she meant to me. That I would never let her down again, no matter what the circumstance.
She had no idea of the thoughts that filled my head as I made my way down her body with my lips and fingers, and when I got to her core, spreading her legs open wider to look at her, the way her scent filled me with memories of some of the best times of my life.
How had I gone so long without this? Without her? In the past, I would’ve gorged myself, too immature, and too much in a rush to appreciate, but not this time. Tonight I took my time as I held her open with my fingers to accept my tongue. Her taste, once so familiar, washed through me like a wave, and I felt my cock respond.
I throbbed and leaked onto the sheets as I forced myself to take my time and not rush, to give to her as selflessly as she’s always given me. Her cries and the way she gripped my hair told me that I was doing it right and that she, too, remembered the times we’d shared such bliss.
Only this time, instead of selfishly thinking only about my own needs, I found pleasure in giving. Her responses filled me with something more than pleasure; they filled me with a joy I had no name for. A pleasure so deep I felt it in my heart and soul.
My tears mingled with her juices as they ran down my chin; her cries rang in my ears as I gripped the warm flesh of her hips and ass, bringing her closer to my mouth and tongue to devour.