"And I love you." Jamie kissed her gently, then lay back and waited for Ryan to begin.
She was a little hesitant at first, her touch not bearing its usual easy poise. But slowly, with Jamie’s steadfast encouragement, Ryan began to regain some of her normal confidence. "That’s it, baby," Jamie said. "Yes … touch me just like that. Feel my body, let your body react to mine."
Time and again Ryan started to feel a faint tingling of dread creep into her consciousness, but each time she locked her eyes onto her partner, allowing Jamie’s fierce confidence in her to pull her back from the edge. They worked together, determined to dispel the darkness and let the light back into their hearts. Sharing everything, Ryan slowly felt her heart open wide, and soon Jamie was nestled deep inside, right where she belonged. Cradled next to her partner’s body, Ryan whispered, "I can feel you inside of me. Like you’re part of me once again."
"I feel it, too," Jamie whispered. "God, I’ve missed this. I need this, baby. I need you to make me whole."
"I’ll never leave you again," Ryan said, a few tears slipping down her cheeks.
"Stay with me now," Jamie said, snapping her from her musings. "Stay right here, Ryan. Don’t go away."
The dark head nodded, and Ryan bent to kiss her. As her tongue slipped into Jamie’s warm mouth, her fingers simultaneously slid inside of her, making her gasp. Kissing her gently, lovingly, possessively, Ryan whispered, "I’m here, baby. I’m here for you. Feel me deep inside of you." She dipped her head and rained kisses down on her partner, probing her mouth and her slick channel with the same determined intensity.
As though she were being swept away on a thunderous wave, Jamie let go and felt her entire body react to Ryan’s love. The climax that raced through her was nearly frightening – so great was the release she felt, but Ryan was right there – with her and for her. Grasping the dark beauty with every ounce of her strength, she let the larger woman’s sheer bulk anchor her to the earth, lest she float away on a cloud of pure sensation. Her body thrummed with pleasure, every nerve dancing with feeling. "Hold me," she whispered when she found her voice. "Never let me go."
"Such a nice thought," Ryan murmured, nuzzling her face into her lover’s moist neck. "Holding you like this – feeling this close for the rest of our lives."
Smiling lazily, Jamie started to stretch. "An impractical, but utterly delicious thought. Mmm … my muscles were starting to cramp." Running her hand up Ryan’s arm, she asked, "I didn’t bruise you, did I?"
"I wouldn’t have noticed if you’d broken my ribs," she said. "That would have been a small price to pay for being close to you."
"It was just like it used to be, wasn’t it?" the blonde asked gently, a touch of wonder in her soft voice.
Ryan gazed at her for a moment and said, "I think it was better. Much better. I’ve never felt so close to you, sweetheart."
"It feels so much more precious now, Ryan," she said. "Losing that intimate connection – even though I knew it would come back, made things so much harder."
"I know, I know," Ryan said. "I felt like I was drowning, Jamie, and I just wasn’t able to save myself." She kissed her gently and said, "You saved me."
"No, not me," she murmured. "It was our love. That’s what’s pulled us through this, baby. It’s a force greater than either of us, and it has the power to save. Our love is our lifeline, Ryan, and it will always lead us safely home."
Lifeline Page 48