Sugar, We're Going Down Swinging

Chapter Fifteen

I’m sure we looked like a Tumblr post as we headed across the street. Astley’s arm wrapped around my waist, my shoes in my hand, lit only by streetlights with the ocean behind us. I know that it was freezing outside, but I hardly felt it as Astley and I headed to the back door which was left unlocked. I let us in and padded across the kitchen linoleum in almost total darkness. I knew Astley was behind me but I could hardly hear him. My heart rate was roaring in my ears.

I dropped my shoes on the floor by the door and went to get a cup of water. Neither one of us spoke. Astley went into our bedroom and left the door cracked. I took a couple of sips, but then slowly followed him. The room was lit only by the moonlight slanting through the open blinds. It fell upon his hair and he seemed to glow with a halo. He was sitting on the bed, shirt half-unbuttoned. My first instinct was to unbutton it all the way. I wanted to see all of him. I wanted to feel him beneath my fingertips.

“Will you unzip me?” I murmured, the first words since we left the party. His eyes locked on mine and I shivered at the emotions purging in his eyes. They shone in the darkness.  They beckoned to me.

“Come here,” his voice was hoarse. I swallowed hard.

I obeyed and moved so I was standing between his legs, my back to him. I felt rather than heard him stand. His whole body brushed mine deliciously and his heat radiated on to me. My knees grew weak. Anticipation heightened within me.

He lifted his hand and tugged on the zipper with one hand, slowly and torturously lowering it. His other hand followed it, his fingers making feather-light trails on the newly exposed skin. I gasped at the sensation, my eyes falling shut.

Both of his hands moved back up to my shoulders and began pushing the dress down my arms. A new sensation trickled along my neck and shoulder and it took me a moment to realize he was leaving a trail of kisses along the skin. I shuddered and he smiled, blowing air against a now-damp patch.

The dress fell from my arms altogether and the top half drooped from where the dress still hugged my hips. His hands wrapped around my wrists and tugged me back so that all of his front was lined up with my back. He pressed a kiss behind my ear. I closed my eyes. His hands moved to my hips, massaging gently as he pulled the dress off completely, letting it pool around my feet.  He turned me around and held me at arm’s length, his eyes combing me up and down.

I suddenly felt terribly exposed and I moved to cross my arms over my chest. He made a noise in the back of his throat and grabbed my hands to move them away. He tugged me back to him and our bodies brushed. I shivered, biting my lip.

“Don’t ever hide yourself from me,” he murmured, his voice still hoarse. His eyes searched my face, and then his lips came down on mine.

I let out a little noise of surprise, but then I was kissing him back because oh god it’s Astley this is happening he’s kissing me I’ve been wanting this to happen for years but oh god it’s right now he’s kissing me RIGHTNOW I can’t breathecan’tbreathecan’tbreathe is this real life oh my god I’m kissing Astley.

And then everything made sense. I threw my arms around his neck and hauled him somehow closer and he didn’t complain. His lips were passionate and hot and fierce and nothing had ever tasted better than his mouth at that moment.

“Shannon,” he groaned out and I hummed in response, not trusting myself to get words out.

“Shannon,” he repeated, this time in a whisper, pulling away slightly to rest his forehead against mine.

“I love you,” he said, and my heart swelled a million times. “I love you so damn much. I’ve always loved you.”

I let my eyes rest on his. “I love you too,” I whispered and cursed myself for the tears I felt pricking behind my eyes.