Ethan smiled devilishly before he lifted her and tossed her flat on the bed, her breath rushing out of her. Before she had a chance to voice a protest, he covered her body, his mouth devouring hers. Her body writhed beneath his, quivering with her desire and passion for this man whom she loved with all her heart. She exhaled raggedly when his knowing hands found her breasts and kissed each globe through the fabric.
He made quick work of the front clasp and had the bra undone and on the floor in seconds. He lowered his head and placed soft, tantalizing kisses along her breasts before taking her hard nipple in his mouth, sucking hard, occasionally nipping the sensitive bud. Her fingers threaded his hair as she held him there.
No one did what Ethan could do to her body. It electrified her, coursed through every limb and back again as it pooled between her legs. They were about to make love for the first time in almost three years and nothing ever felt so right.
Still at her breast, he lowered his hand between her legs, rubbing up and down her thigh, before his finger teased her opening, slickening his digit before he went to work driving her out of her mind.
He always knew what to do to her to make her lose control. With her head falling back against the plush pillows, Mia let herself go, the moans flowing from her body.
She felt the loss when he left her breast, but then his handsome face was hovering before hers, his caramel eyes smiling.
“Hi,” he said, quickly possessing her mouth.
“Hi,” she replied back when he let her up for air, feeling happier than she had felt in years. She smiled knowingly as he positioned himself between her legs.
She couldn’t help but cry out and clutch at his arms as he slowly pushed himself inside of her. Way too long since he’d made her feel like this. She’d missed him so much, this closeness, this intimacy with him. Nothing compared to it.
Mia held him close, his chest rubbing against her sensitive breasts, kissing him tenderly as he moved inside her. Her tears free flowing. She had thought she would never be with him again. But here she was, kissing his face, holding him to her, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, loving him like she was meant to do. She would be emotionally raw after this, but he deserved the honesty of her emotions. No more hiding.
She felt him smile against her skin and she smiled too. This was right. This was how they were supposed to be—together, not apart. God, never apart ever again.
Mia wanted this moment to last forever, but her body was quickly reaching its peak. The cries rolled out of her as the orgasm coursed through her body.
Ah God . . . this orgasm wasn’t like anything she was used to—it had never been like this, even with Ethan. She felt free, nothing was holding her back. She was giving all of herself to him.
Maybe for the first time ever.
Ethan
Mia dug her nails into his back as he moved faster and harder within her. There was nothing like being inside her. From the moment Ethan met her, it just felt right. Home. It still felt like that. Right where he needed to be. Right where he should be for the rest of his life.
Waiting for her these final few months had been agony. The thought of making love to her had kept him up many nights since he’d last seen her—hell, even before that.
Finally after close to three years, she was below him, her body flushed with desire, calling out his name as she came again. This time he couldn’t hold out. Ethan rammed into her hard two more times and let go, releasing himself into her.
Ethan rolled over and brought her to him, holding her tight, as he tried to regain his breath. She snuggled perfectly against him, assuming her normal post-coital position with him: her breasts against his side, her leg draped over his, her hand on his chest. Some things never changed.
He kissed the top of her head, keeping his lips there, breathing in another thing that hadn’t changed—her honey scent, letting it calm him.
They had been through so much over the years, but they always seemed to find their way back to one another. She was the only one for him. While they had been apart, Ethan may have slept with other women, gone out on dates, but the connection to his heart, his soul, was never there. But in this moment with Mia in his arms, it was back.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she said, kissing his chest. The feathery touch of her lips on his skin had him thinking of making love to her again.
“You do realize that I will probably make love to you at least a couple more times tonight.”
“I’m counting on it.”
He chuckled at her. That was his girl. He pulled the soft down comforter over their naked bodies, still holding her tight against him, not wanting to let her go. After she settled under the covers, Ethan placed his cheek against the top of her head.
“So, I came here to just talk . . . about us, about you. I did not expect this. I didn’t expect you to tell me you still loved me nor did I expect you and I to be so naked.”
She laughed. “I like being naked with you.”
“Oh, you do?”
“Mmm hmm,” she said as her lips traveled down his chest, first teasing one nipple then the other before gliding her tongue even further before she stopped right above his awakening cock. “You like it too.”
She was right about that. His tired body responded to her. He had wanted a short rest, but that was not going to happen now, he thought, as her lips touched the tip of his cock. Her goal obviously was to torture him.
“Mia . . .” he groaned.
“Shh,” she said against him, making him quiver.
“Uh, you don’t have to do this.”
“I know,” she said before taking him in her mouth. His head dropped to the pillow as her warm lips enveloped and moved upon him. With her hand grasping his base, she began to move in sync with her very talented mouth.
Ethan exhaled slowly as Mia made him forget how tired he was. The only thought in his head now was being inside her once again, loving her over and over. He knew they couldn’t possibly make up for all the time they’d been apart, but he was going to enjoy trying.
His fingers tightly grasped her hair when she let him slip from her mouth. “Come here,” he said, tugging lightly and when she didn’t comply fast enough, he grabbed her beneath her arms and lifted her on him, his eyes even with hers.
“Hi, suga.”
“Hi,” she said, just smiling at him, knowing what was going to happen next, but not doing a thing about it.
He could probably slip right inside her without much effort, but he was enjoying the look on her face too much. “So, do I have to do this or are you going to get on?” he dared.
She chuckled and bent down, capturing his mouth in a kiss as she guided him inside her. He groaned happily as she slowly moved upon him.
Ethan knew they needed to talk. He needed her to trust him, to tell him all the things she couldn’t before. He needed her to tell him she was okay. But at the same time, he needed this physical connection with her. That was kind of taking precedence right now. And he was completely fine with that. They would talk about things later.
Grabbing her face, he held it, forcing eye contact with him, causing her to stop.
“Ethan? What?”
“We still need to talk.”
“And we will. I promise, but not now,” she said, squeezing his cock with her pussy. “We are not finished here.”
“No, we’re not,” he agreed, rolling them over so he was on top. He regarded her long, chocolate hair spread out against the bed, framing her beautiful face, and he resolved he would never let her go again. This was it. He knew it five years ago when he’d met her, and despite everything that’d happened, she was the person with whom he would spend the rest of his life. She might not know that right now, but she would soon enough.
He was meant to be with her—forever this time.
Ethan
Waking up, he found his arms around a very naked and sleeping Mia and smiled happily. Ethan knew this was not a dream.
He felt her long, wavy hair tickle his skin, her steady breath against his chest. He’d missed every single thing about her. The way she smiled after he made love to her. The simple yet soul-stirring way she said his name. The way she rested against him, her hand always on his heart.
Holding her head against his chest, he thought about last night. He swore he had been hallucinating when her face popped up on the big screen. He had scanned the boxes while on the sidelines and then, amazingly, he’d seen her. He could never forget those big, dark eyes and that full mouth. Ethan resolved that he would talk to her that night, one way or another.
A part of him wanted to rush up to her box and talk to her right then and there. Heck, he wanted more too. Just seeing her had made his pants uncomfortably tight. He had never wanted a game to be over as badly as that one.
It had been so long since she had been to one of his games. How had they let so much time come between them? He had missed so many big moments in her life—winning her first Grammy, her first movie, her Academy Award nomination.
Mia amazed him, even from afar. He kept track of her, listening to her music, hearing her heart break, her sadness, her anger, and her realizations. He understood the veiled messages to him, especially in her latest album. He heard hope and the hunger for love. He just hoped it was his love that she wanted.
Yes, she’d said she loved him. They had the most intense lovemaking of his life last night. And Ethan felt her love, but there were still so many unknowns.
He glanced at his watch and saw it was after noon. Time to get up and start the day. He looked down at her resting so peacefully and really didn’t want to wake her up, but they had places to be. Squeezing her in his arms, Ethan softly spoke her name but got no response. He shook her slightly.
“Mia?”
Her eyes opened slightly, flitting back and forth, and after a few beats, they flew wide open. “Shit! What time is it?” she said, rolling over and then onto her back before flying out of bed. She quickly glanced at the clock. “Damn it!” she exclaimed.
“Good afternoon, Mia,” he said from the bed, enjoying the sight of the naked woman before him. A sight he’d thought he may never see again. The wildness of her sleepy hair. The way her breasts swayed. The marks he’d put all over her body. He smiled at the thought of making those.
Mia stopped her frenzy and turned to him, the dopey smile he missed so much lighting up her face.
“Hi there,” she said, walking back to him.
“Forget about me?” he asked, grabbing a hold of her hips.
“Never,” she replied, leaning down and placing her soft lips on his, lingering for a long moment before she broke the contact.
“Now why’d you get up in such a fit?” he asked, tucking her fallen hair behind her ear, his eyes locked on hers.
Her eyes darted over to the hand toying with her hair. Ethan could see the happiness there. She bit her lip to stop her grin but the smile won out. “It’s Kaitlyn’s birthday party today and it starts at one. I have got to be there.”
He couldn’t resist kissing her nose. “Well, you know something. I’m supposed to be there too.”
“You are?”
“Yeah, guess I would have seen you sooner or later, hmm?”
“I guess so,” she replied, looking down, lost in thought. A few short moments later, her eyes still downcast, she spoke. “Do you want to go together?” she asked hesitantly.
How could she even doubt that he wouldn’t?
“Of course I do.”
“Okay then. I need to get ready. Just let me take a quick shower,” she announced and stood up to walk away.
He grabbed her hand, stopping her. “Oh, you’re so not going in there without me.”
Mia turned and went to help him up, but of course, that wouldn’t happen. He outweighed her by at least one hundred pounds.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to get you up,” she grunted, still pulling at his arm.
“I don’t want to get up just yet,” Ethan teased, exerting a bit of force and bringing her back to him, her breasts crushed against his chest.
“Ethan,” she warned, making him laugh. He kissed her nose before letting her go. She stood up and backed up a few steps. “I’ll meet you in there,” she said, hurrying to the bathroom.
With a sigh, Ethan pushed himself out of bed and strolled into the bathroom, listening to her humming some tune he didn’t know. He got into the shower to find her under the spray. Seeing her under the water, the way the light reflected off her wet skin, it tempted him, but his exhausted body wouldn’t allow it. Though he wasn’t so tired that he couldn’t explore her beautiful naked body.
Reaching out, he let the tips of his fingers glide down her chest, over her breasts, and down her slim stomach. She inhaled sharply with his touch. He may have affected her, but it hadn’t stopped her from showering. She smiled at him and then grabbed the shampoo to wash her hair. As she massaged the shampoo in, her eyes followed his hands as they went further south. Her lids drooped as he caressed her, cute, little sounds escaping her parted lips.
Mia shook her head, determined not to get distracted. She turned around, rinsing her face off, and that’s when he saw the flashy color on her back.
“What the heck is that?” Ethan exclaimed loudly. He turned her so he could get a better look. “Is that a tattoo?” he asked, coming closer.
“Yeah,” she said, soapy water over her face. She moved her head under the water to rinse off the rest of the shampoo.
He studied the colorful . . . what was it? A tree of some sort. It was above her waist along almost the entire left side of her back. It looked like a painting that should be in a gallery or a museum, not on someone’s skin. He couldn’t believe she’d marred her skin like that. Her beautiful back. But as he studied it further, he could see the breathtaking way the tree followed along her curves. He’d never thought that about a tattoo before. But on her . . . a work of art. He was completely fascinated by it.
“So, a tree?” he asked, hoping he didn’t offend.
“A very pretty tree?” she said playfully, looking at him over her shoulder.
Ethan laughed. “Well, yeah, but there’s meaning behind it, right?” he asked, taking the soap and lathering it over her skin.
“Yeah. The cherry blossoms are a sign of power. The Chinese symbols carved in the trunk mean ‘love yourself.’ And the cherry tree itself represents reawakening, new life,” she explained, shrugging her shoulders. “I have another one,” she admitted hesitantly.
His eyes did a quick scan of her body. “Really? I don’t see it.”
“That’s because it’s hidden,” Mia said. She lifted up all her hair and that’s when he spotted it on her neck, right at her hairline. It was simple and small, two stars moving towards each other.
“Two stars colliding,” he said thoughtfully.
“Well, I guess colliding, but more like finding each other again.”
“Why did you get it there?” he asked, tracing the tattoo with his finger.
“’Cause I knew it was going to hurt there.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Well, I was trying to drown out the pain of the two stars drifting apart.”
Her answer hurt his heart. He wanted to know what these years had been like for her. He knew of some of her struggles. The drugs. Her therapy. But not much else. God, how he wished he could take all that pain away from her.
“Mia.”
She released her hair and rolled her neck from side to side. Ethan knew she was uncomfortable. He just hoped she’d talk to him instead of running away.
“So, that ends the tour of Mia’s body art,” she announced, her tone failing at levity.
Closing his eyes, Ethan sighed in disappointment. He had to remember that she’d shared the other tattoo. She was sharing and gave him something. More than she had before . . . but he wanted more.
“Well, they are beautiful. Though you don’t hav
e any plans for others, do you?”
“No.” She chuckled. “Those were painful enough.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “I cried.”
“Really?” he asked, wanting to know why. From physical pain or the emotional kind?
She sighed, gathering herself. He knew she was thinking about it, remembering it, and he wanted her to share it with him. To not keep her pain from him. To break the cycle.
“Yeah.”
He let out a terse puff of air. “See this right here? What you just did?”
“What?” she asked, her head cocked to the side, bemused.
“I know there’s more to what you’re saying, but you didn’t tell me. Why? You can talk to me, Mia.”
He saw the tears in her eyes and had a feeling she’d rebuff him. After a shaky exhale, she spoke and surprised him. “I cried because of the physical pain, but also because of the weight of the emotional pain that was wearing me down.”
“When did you get these?” he asked, his hands moving over her shoulders and then down her back.
“Um, I got the stars about two and a half years ago and the one on my back was finished in January.”
He needed more and said so. She kept her eyes locked on his then stepped under the spray and rinsed herself off. Before leaving the shower, she smiled timidly at him and kissed his wet chest, her lips warm against his now chilled skin. His hope rose with that smile. Maybe she would give him something more, but then she stepped away from him and quickly exited the shower, telling him to hurry up.
“Goddamn it, Mia,” he sputtered, beyond frustrated now. He heard her sigh and he didn’t care.
After a few moments of tense silence, she spoke. “What I have to say to you will take a long time. I can’t just say a little and stop. There’s too much. Plus . . . I cannot miss Kaitlyn’s birthday party. I need to see her. What I have to say can wait. It’ll still be there.”
Still Into You Page 30