In Memoriam ✓

Chapter Twenty Three: Hands to Myself

Mallory

We could barely get back inside the hotel before Reid was kissing my cheeks, my forehead, then my mouth. I smiled, pushing him off me. "Reid, wait one second?"

He stared at me, breathing a shade faster than before. I loved it when he looked like this because of me, his hair mussed and his lips pinker. Even his eyes looked brighter. "What is it?"

I raised my eyebrows at him, wondering how he could be so attractive to me, even after four years of us knowing each other. "Are you sure you want this?"

Reid rolled his eyes at me, pulling me in for another kiss by the back of my head. "Mallory, silence those thoughts and keep kissing me."

I laughed softly, kissing him quickly again. "I will."

He kissed me in the elevator, despite my protests. When we got into the room, Reid locked the door and continued pressing sweet, adoring kisses to my neck, trailing down the lines of my collarbones. He took off my top, throwing me onto the bed. As we kissed, I pulled his shirt over his head.

I gasped in surprise, staring at the inked bird next to his collarbone. "You got a tattoo?"

Reid grinned, his fingers paused on unhooking my bra. "Last year. Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful." I complimented, staring at it. "Simple and pretty. But why did you get a bird?"

Reid sighed, thinking about it. "I guess I wanted something to remind me that no matter what happens to me, I have my freedom. I need to remember to count my blessings as they come." he looked at me meaningfully.

I smiled at him, my heart bursting at its seams. "You're sweet, Reid."

Reid laughed under his breath as he got my bra off, exposing me to the cool air. "Let me show you it."

I curled my hands around the pillow behind my head as Reid moved his kisses to the skin between my breasts. He glanced up playfully at me before laving his tongue around my nips, bracing his hand on the pillow supporting my head.

I gasped, winding my fingers into his hair as he took one in his mouth, rolling it in a way that had my toes curling. He glanced up at me and moved away for another kiss, dipping his hands under my skirt, then lifting it up.

He playfully snagged the edges of my lace underwear with his teeth, pulling it down. Reid was only the second boy who ever touched me like this, but it was so long since we'd been intimate. It felt exciting, but I was unwillingly intimidated by the idea of him being so close to me again.

"What are you thinking about?" Reid asked as he kissed past my waist to my hips. He looked up enquiringly at me from his position above my body, waiting for an answer.

I let go of his hair and looked up at the ceiling, releasing a pent-up sigh. "I'm happy we're doing this, but it's been a while." I peeked up at Reid, and he looked back understandingly.

He let go of my hips, thinking to himself. "But you're comfortable, right?"

I smiled, pulling him in by his shoulders for a kiss. When I let him go, I looked into his eyes as I spoke. "I would tell you if I wasn't comfortable, Reid."

He kissed me again. "I know you would. We can take it slow, okay?"

"Okay." I agreed quietly against his mouth. He kissed me sweetly and moved back to his position between my legs. His kisses on my skin drew nearer to the ache and when he reached my clit, my hands tightened around my pillow as I arched my hips into him. Reid was never shy when it came to my body, because we knew each other intimately. The way he touched me, the way he knew exactly how to build up the tension coiling below my stomach; it was all so perfect.