Retribution

Chapter 33 - No More Fear

"Are you ok?" he asked, lifting his head.

I nodded, still stunned at the sharp turn of events. He dropped his hands from my back, leaving me feeling naked, cold, unprotected. Tears threatened to surface.

"I'm sorry if I crossed a line," he said, giving me a small smile.

Still sifting through the jumbled mess in my mind, I gave no reply. What had shocked me? Was it where he had kissed me? I realised no, it wasn't. It had felt nothing short of fantastic. Was it the sudden realisation I was topless in front of him? I thought back over the moment I'd lost my bra—the burning desire to press our bodies together had driven my actions there. I was subtly aware of what I'd done.

So what had shaken me from my paradise so violently? A voice inside spoke with the answer—because you realised where you wanted it to continue to.

Jake took a hold of one of my hands, freeing me from my self-analysis. "You're worrying me," he said. "Are you sure you're ok?"

I enclosed his hand in both of mine and smiled. "Yes, I'm more than ok."

"I'll leave you to change," he said, his cheeks glowing a deep shade of red. "I need a few minutes to cool down anyway."

Just the implied meaning of his words lodged a spear of excitement in my chest. He pulled his hand back, shifting his weight on the bed as he prepared to stand. I threw all caution to the wind, not even wanting to question myself about my actions.

Before he moved off the bed, I grabbed his hand and covered one of my breasts with it. He stared at his hand for several seconds. His bewitching sapphires were now an intense blue flame focused on what he was holding. My heart pounded against my ribcage, wondering what would happen next. Was he going to reject me?

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. Unsure of the situation, and where my boldness had now left us, I took my hand off his. He flickered his eyes to meet mine. The smouldering stare he subjected me to was leaving me a jellified mess.

"Are you sure?" he said, his voice a deep, husky whisper.

"Yes," I whispered.

"You must promise to tell me when you've had enough."

"I promise."

He removed his hand, making me think for a brief second he'd had second thoughts. To my sheer delight, he removed his t-shirt. I gasped, a breathless 'Wow' passing my lips. He was just perfect, even better than I'd imagined. Not ripped, but smoothly defined, he had the ability to not only be the hot actor, but also the sizzling boyfriend without the vanity and hours in the gym.

I'd never seen such a sight in the flesh. Adam hadn't been fat, but he didn't have muscle definition like this.

"Fair's fair, right?" he said, throwing his top on the floor with a smile.

I gulped and grinned. My head was spinning. He moved back next to me and took one of my hands. Placing it in the centre of his chest, he released me, but kept his focus on my hands. Afraid this mirage might disappear if I moved too quickly, I stroked the bronzed skin beneath my fingertips, inch by inch. He was so soft, like a tatty teddy, I just wanted to keep touching him. Unlike the teddy though, beneath the supple skin lay a solidity that I knew ran deeper than muscle.

"Toffee," I said, tracing the lines around his abs. "You're just like toffee."

He chuckled. "I wonder if I can get some toffee marshmallows from somewhere?"

I giggled at the idea. Moving next to him, as close as I could get, I revelled in now having both hands on him. It didn't take long for me to be entranced by him, the moment, the feel of him under my hands, and to become lost once again.

His breathing slowly altered from a steady rhythm to shallow, fast breaths. He leaned forwards, kissing me with such a tender passion, I was instantly high. I wrapped my arms around his neck, the thought of the desire that ruled me only moments ago rushing back to the forefront of my mind.

Before I knew it, I was moving into him, curling my entire body around him as I sat on his lap. The feel of his skin against mine was just divine. The heat radiating from him was burning me. Breaking our kiss, he pulled back slightly and gazed up and down my topless body.

"I wish you could see what I can see," he whispered, rubbing his hands up and down my back. "You're just incredible—inside and out."

I smiled, ignoring the heated blush spreading over my cheeks. A vibrant ball of tingles settled between my legs and a burning ache coated my breasts. I silently begged him to cure me of my yearning, to just satiate me for a moment. I was no longer afraid of his touch, of my scars, of my natural cravings; I was only afraid of what I would regret when this moment was over.

He looked at me with lust being chased away by concern and trepidation. I refused to give myself a chance to think about it. I needed to push this forwards—he was reacting off me, after all.

"Don't," I said, shaking my head. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not something delicate that you need to be careful with."

"Of course you are," he said, moving a hand to stroke my hair. "Any fool can see that."

I smiled. "But what if I don't want you to be careful?"

"If you're asking for bondage or something, I'm afraid you're out of luck."

Giggling, I shook my head. "I'm merely asking you see me as a woman, instead of some fragile little girl."

He licked his lips, and nodded. "I do...I just...a man can only have so much self-control. You're the only woman who's ever threatened my hold on that. I can't...I don't want to hurt you."

"Didn't I say I'd tell you when I've had enough?"

"Yes, but I don't want to put you in a position where you feel like you can't."

I grinned. "It sounds to me like someone else is having some trust issues."

Chuckling, he pulled me down to his lips and whispered, "Touché."

In one deft move, he rolled us over so I was underneath him. As soon as his mouth covered mine, I was lost once again. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to freefall into sweet oblivion. He kissed his way across my cheeks, down my neck, across my collarbone. I was buzzing with anticipation, barely containing my heightening need for him to explore more.

When he placed his lips on my breast, I couldn't help but jolt at the sweet buzz trickling through me. His kiss was so soft, I could barely feel him, but at the same time, the feather-light touch was as heavy as a ships anchor colliding with the ocean bed.

He moved down my body, kiss by kiss, skimming across my goosebumps with tender caresses. When he reached my jeans, he didn't even falter. The button and the zip came undone as easily as my bra had. Running his hands down my legs, he reached the hemline and tugged on my jeans. They slid off me as smooth as a hot knife through butter. Then came the most divine experience of my life. He kissed his way back up my legs, one kiss at a time, inch by inch.

When he reached the top of my left thigh, I was breathless, gasping at each touch as I swam in an ocean of joy. When he reached the top of my right thigh, I was squirming, struggling to control the intensity of my desire. Then came my underwear. Every fibre in me was vibrating with anticipation. When he tucked his fingers just under the edge of my knickers, I couldn't help the quivering judder that took control of me.

I was as high as a kite, soaring in a blissful sky of toffee covered marshmallows. So relaxed and lost in my world, I almost missed him whispering my name. Blinking my eyes half open, I looked to my side to see him taking the rest of his clothes off. Totally inebriated on the moment, my head was spinning. But the second he became naked my eyes were wide open.

He reached forwards and took my hand in his. As he climbed back onto the bed, he lowered his face and touched his lips to mine. The bed moved as he settled above me. My breath hitched in my throat. I knew what was coming next. I wanted it more than anything. But he prolonged the moment even more.

Moving his lips just enough to whisper, "How do you feel?", I broke out into a beaming smile.

My answer was simply, "Peaceful."