Worth the Risk

by Shannon Davis

  He lifted his eyes. They were hungry, full of passion. “Which part?” he asked. His voice, smoky.

  “All of it,” I said

  Jackson’s eyes widened. The corners of his mouth turned up in approval as I reached for the sweetheart neckline and peeled the dress down to my waist.

  “That’s how you take it off?”

  I smiled. “It’s one way.”

  He looked down at the wrinkled dress and grinned. “Need some help?”

  “Love some.” I grinned back.

  Jackson gently pulled the dress over my hips and down my legs. I lifted my feet so he could remove it completely.

  “Did I mention how much I love this dress?”

  I giggled. “A million times already.”

  He folded it neatly and placed it on the nightstand as his lustful eyes scanned my body.

  “Jackson,” I whispered. “I’d love some help with the rest.”

  That seemed to please him immensely. He swallowed and looked down at my lacey panties. Then his gaze moved upward to a more familiar area. He reached his hands around behind my back as I arched, giving him room to work. With one quick flick, the hooks on my strapless bra were unfastened. He reached down for my hand, and politely placed it over my breasts to hold my bra in place.

  “We can take it slow.” His voice was calm, comforting. His eyes, convincing. “I don’t want to rush you.”

  “You’re not rushing me, Jackson,” I said, touched by his thoughtfulness.

  He leaned down and kissed me ever so gently on the lips, lingering there, breathing in my scent.

  “I’m ready,” I whispered.

  He lifted his head and gazed at me. His eyes, burning with passion, stayed locked on mine. I wanted him to be free with me, push aside his reservations, and love me completely. I knew he was afraid of going too fast. He wanted everything to be perfect. So did I. But everything was perfect. And it was only getting better.

  I arched one eyebrow, and my smile widened. “Are you ready?” I flirted.

  Not waiting for a response, I tossed my bra across the room. Jackson glanced at the silky undergarment, now laying over the arm of one of the easy chairs, then turned his attention back to me. As his eyes wandered over my bare breasts, his lips parted. He mumbled a curse word under his breath, then raised his gaze to meet mine. Never had I seen his eyes so intense. They looked like ice on fire.

  “You’re so beautiful, Rebecca,” he uttered, breathing heavily.

  I smiled and reached down, sticking my thumbs in the top of my panties. “These too.”

  His eyes glowed mischievously. As he placed his hands over mine, he bit his bottom lip. Slowly and carefully, he pulled down the lacey bikinis, revealing my womanhood. I watched the rise and fall of his chest quicken as he removed my panties and laid them on the nightstand by my dress. As if he was trying to memorize every inch, he studied my body as I laid there, vulnerable, naked before him. For the first time, he saw me, all of me.

  “God, you’re gorgeous.” His voice was low, but I could hear the sincerity. His breathing, more controlled. He reached for my hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing the back of it, then brushing his lips across my fingers. Stopping at my engagement ring, he closed his eyes and kissed my knuckle. “Thank you for saying yes,” he whispered. When he opened his eyes, they were glassy.

  My heart melted, overwhelmed with love for this man. As emotion washed over me, I felt my eyes sting with tears. “Oh, Jackson,” I breathed. “I’d marry you this instant.”

  “I’d marry you this instant too. I don’t have to be in front of a pastor or a judge to pledge my love for you. And I don’t need a piece of paper to make it official, either. I’ll pledge myself to you right now, Rebecca.” He took my other hand and gazed deep into my eyes. “I promise, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love you and cherish you till death do we part. I love you with everything in me, Rebecca, and I want to spend the rest of my life proving it.”

  I swallowed and blinked away happy tears. “I promise to support you and inspire you, and, above all, love you, for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, for as long as we both shall live. I promise to choose you every day, and to put my everything into making now our always.”

  He covered my hands with kisses before lowering them. Then he leaned down and softly kissed me on the lips.

  “I love you,” he whispered. “Now and forever.”

  I touched his cheek. “I love you too. Now and forever.”

  He sat up and traced his fingers down my neck, between my breasts, and over my stomach. Then he reached down and gently stroked the top of my leg, across my knee, to my thigh. His eyes followed his fingers.

  “Velvet skin,” he whispered, “so beautiful and soft.” He looked at me longingly. “I want to taste you, Rebecca.”

  Before I could respond, he leaned over and lowered his head to kiss my thigh, where his hand rested. In one assertive, yet unhurried move, he climbed onto the bed and gently parted my legs. Kneeling between my thighs, he stretched out his arms to support his weight and bowed to kiss my lips, my chin, my throat, my chest. He gave ample attention to each breast before rocking back and moving lower, over my stomach.

  His hands held my waist as he licked around my belly button. Lower and lower, he kissed my bare skin until he reached my dark triangle. I shuddered as he slid his hands to my hips and nuzzled his face against my feminine mound. Desire turned liquid and burned hot as my body ached with arousal. Jackson then reached his hands between my thighs and gently spread my legs. I complied willingly as he nestled himself lower and delicately caressed my slick, swollen flesh with his fingertips. I was ready to be touched, but I wasn’t prepared for how electrifying it would feel. I chewed my lower lip to keep from crying out in pleasure, but a lone whimper managed to escape my throat.

  “Yes, my darling,” Jackson answered.

  His fingers moved slowly and carefully, making tiny circles. I squeezed my fists as the sensual vibrations intensified. Then he lowered his face and kissed the inside of my thigh as he continued to please me, now stroking up and down with slightly more pressure. My body trembled with rapturous delight. His mouth traveled higher and higher, depositing moist kisses on my skin, closer and closer to the fullness of my femininity. Gently, he parted me to kiss the very heart of my womanhood. His lips were loving. His tongue, enrapturing. Tenderly and leisurely, he licked and flicked my swollen spot. Up and down, around and around, back and forth.

  When his rhythm grew more vigorous, I lost my breath. Squeezing the comforter with both hands, I was overwhelmed by the wonderful sensation and craved more. The feeling was so powerful, I thought I would explode. He tasted all of me, passionately exploring my wet, swollen mystery, darting his tongue in and out before returning to the very essence of my fervency.

  Never had I experienced such ecstasy, such powerful desire. My hips tilted forward, my body wanting more of what he offered. His mouth kissed and sucked, and his tongue danced and stroked as I climbed higher and higher. He reached up with both hands and massaged my breasts, squeezing them, fondling my nipples. I couldn’t do anything but give in to his affection, drown in my desire, and endure the growing tension with each marvelous stroke. Then, without warning, pleasure exploded in every cell of my body, sending waves of liquid heat throughout my veins, rocking my world.

  “Jackson!" I cried out.

  Gasping for breath as the muscles in my core quivered and contracted, I dug my heels into the mattress and reached for the back of his head. Nothing could describe this feeling. My insides continued to pulsate with spasms of ecstasy and glorious release. Several moments passed before the last tremor stilled. Then my hands fell limp at my side as Jackson gave me one last kiss before lifting his head.

  “Oh my God,” I whimpered breathlessly. “You… Oh… Jackson.” My breath was labored, my body weak. “That was… Oh God,” I panted. “That was… Incr
edible.”

  Jackson raised himself above me, supporting his weight with his arms. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Inches from my face, his voice was low, deep, solemn. “You’re incredible.” He smiled. “And so very sweet.” His eyes were dark, as he was very much aroused.

  “Jackson.” His name passed through my lips with a moaning sigh.

  It was impossible to contain all the emotions that were surging through my heart, my mind. My bones were rubber, my muscles, mush, but I wanted more. I reached up and began to unbutton his shirt as he braced himself above me on stiff, straight arms. One button, then the next, and the next, until his shirt hung open. I peeled it from his shoulders and removed it one arm at a time before he tossed it across the room to join my bra on the easy chair. I pressed my palms against his bare skin. Soft, crinkly hair spread across his broad, muscular chest. He was so magnificent to look at. So delightful touch. I rubbed my fingertips over his nipples and felt them pucker.

  Jackson breathed out heavily and closed his eyes. “Rebecca,” he moaned.

  I continued to caress his skin, and then I began to slowly trace the shallow valley between his brawny pecs and chiseled abs. Lower and lower, I ran my fingers, touching, feeling, desiring, until I reached his navel and felt that entrancing strip of masculine hair. I swallowed hard, as excitement rushed through my body, then followed the trail down, investigating further until I reached his belt buckle. I paused a moment before sliding my hand over it and slipping the belt from the loop.

  His eyes opened. “Are you sure?” His voice was weak and gravelly.

  I smiled and nodded, then proceeded to unbuckle his belt. His eyes locked with mine. Our breathing was heated as I unbutton his pants. He lowered his head to kiss me. When he did so, I could feel his erection against my stomach.

  He leaned up and asked again, “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure Jackson,” I whispered. “I want you.”

  I bravely unzipped his pants, then slid my hand inside to feel his manhood. I had always been curious, always wanted to know what Jackson felt like, looked like. Especially in high school. But that was just a teenage fantasy. Now the fantasy was reality. Now I was about to discover the very essence of his masculinity.

  As I eased my hand into his pants, I felt his erection straining against his underwear. Nervously, I gathered all my courage and gently curled my fingers around him, while at the same time, leaning forward to place a hot, wet kiss on his collarbone.

  Jackson tilted his head back and groaned with pleasure. Then he lowered his chin and stared into my eyes as his hand moved down to cover mine. His breathing was labored, his body, tense, and his eyes, dark and lustful. He squeezed my hand tight before letting go. Passion radiated from his every pore as he swept down and kissed me zealously on my mouth, stroking his tongue over mine, exploring, tasting, sucking my lips.

  In less than a heartbeat, I was throbbing again, ready to be touched and taken, hungry for everything Jackson would do to me. I reached for his waistband and began sliding his pants down over his hips. Then I reached around and pulled them over his taut buttocks. My hands felt the fullness of his cheeks. I grabbed ahold, squeezing, digging my nails in, pulling him down against me.

  He moaned and muttered a swear word, then kissed down the side of my neck, sucking, biting, panting.

  “Jackson,” I gasped, “make love to me.” My eyes were heavy with passion, my vision, blurred.

  He lifted himself off the bed, and his pants fell to the floor. Forcibly, he kicked them off.

  My heart pounded against my chest, and I swallowed hard, admiring his firm, ripped, glorious body. His underwear was stretched tight against his maleness. I watched as he lowered them to his knees and then stepped out, leaving them in a wrinkled pile. I couldn’t take my eyes off his erection. Sweet Lord! He was big and thick. I wanted to feel his fullness inside me.

  “You’re beautiful,” I whispered.

  He chuckled and then climbed onto the bed. “I’m not the beautiful one, Rebecca. You are.”

  For a split second, as he settled beside me, propping himself on his elbow, I wondered if the bad memories would return, if I would freeze up. There was no denying my desire for Jackson. Physically and emotionally, I wanted him. While thoughts of the rape were still in the back of my mind, it all seemed less significant now. With Jackson, I felt safe, protected, loved. I trusted him. I was going to marry him. And I was going to give myself completely to him. I was his.

  His strong body was firm and warm as he lay next to me, and I could feel the soft hair on his legs rubbing against my skin. He gazed into my eyes and reached out to stroke my cheek. His smile was sweet, his touch, gentle. Then he leaned over and kissed me long and deep. While our tongues danced, our hands found each other. Touching, rubbing, groping. As he moved over me, I parted my legs to welcome him.

  His kiss trailed away from my mouth and over to my ear. Then down my neck to my breast. His warm, wet mouth surrounded my nipple. He sucked deeply, sending liquid fire through my body. I closed my eyes and gave a low moan. His lips traveled to my other breast and lavished it in sultry kisses before moving up, across my collarbone to my jaw, and finally returning to my mouth.

  As he kissed me, he reached for my hand. Guiding me down, he placed it on his erection and positioned my fingers, pressing them closed to hold all of his firmness. As he continued to kiss me, he gently squeezed my hand, moving it up and down in a slow, steady rhythm. When he took his hand away and lifted his head, his eyes were heavy with desire.

  I continued to move the way he showed me, stroke after stroke, giving him pleasure, loving him immensely. He bit his bottom lip, then exhaled a heavy breath. When I ran my fingers across the tip before sliding down his shaft, Jackson closed his eyes, whispering a curse. He was so hard, so ready. It made me happy to please him, to give him the same sensation I’d felt when he first touched me. I caressed the smooth, slick tip once more and then held him firmly, guiding him down toward me, inviting him inside me.

  He lifted his eyes and swallowed hard. “Rebecca, are you sure?” His voice was low, more like a moan, and I heard an urgency in his tone.

  “I’m sure, Jackson,” I answered softly. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I have waited for this moment for a long time, and I can’t wait any longer.”

  He grinned and carefully lowered himself on top of me. When the tip of his firmness touched me, I felt my entire body quiver. He kissed my jaw as he eased himself inside me. Slowly and gently, inch by inch, he sank deeper.

  God have mercy, I thought. The feeling was incredible. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer, nuzzling against his ear, breathing, begging, wanting more.

  “Rebecca,” he breathed my name through clenched teeth. Pushing in farther, slowly stretching me, filling me, until he was completely inside me.

  I tilted my hips upward to take him all in, and gasped at the wonderful, painfully breathtaking sensation. “Oh my God,” I moaned as a tear escaped my eye. My dewy walls pulsated around Jackson’s hardness as he throbbed inside me. We stayed still for several seconds while my body adjusted to his fullness.

  He gently kissed my jaw, then raised his head. “You okay?” he whispered, studying my face.

  I smiled. “Yeah,” I purred and began rocking my hips, sliding up and down on his erection.

  “Jesus, Rebecca.” His words came out in a strained cry. “You gotta stop that. You don’t know what you’re doing to me.”

  “I know exactly what I’m doing to you, baby.” I kissed his neck and reached my hands around his waist, gripping his delicious butt as I rolling my hips around. “Now participate, will you?”

  Jackson moaned and slowly withdrew, then pushed himself inside me again. “That… better?” His voice shook.

  I moved my body with his, spreading my legs, arching my back, and lifting my butt to take him in deeper. “That’s amazing,” I gasped.

  Jackson propped up on his elbows, buried his fingers in
my hair, and lightly caressed my head. “Tell me if you need me to stop. Okay?” He was so sweet, so thoughtful.

  “Don’t even think about stopping,” I said in quick breaths as my body begged for more.

  He grinned and started to move more confidently, pulling out, pushing in, bathing my body in pleasure. He lowered his head and kissed me across my eyes, down my cheek, and across my lips. Then he pulled out completely and guided himself as he rubbed the smooth tip over my swollen spot. Up and down, faster and faster, stimulating me until I nearly climaxed, and carefully pushed himself inside me again.

  I threw my head back, and my whimpers grew louder as his thrusts grew wilder. In and out, in and out, faster and faster. I moved my hips in rhythm with his as we both rode the wave of ecstasy. Higher and higher, we climbed. The tension building, our muscles squeezing, hearts pounding, bodies straining. We both cried out as we reached the peak of our sexual excitement. The orgasms ripped through us like a powerful tsunami. I wrapped my legs around Jackson’s hips, pulling him deep inside me, savoring his release, relishing the sensations and contractions rippling through my own body. Within seconds, our bodies grew limp, exhausted from our love-making.

  Jackson looked down at me and smiled lovingly. He took a long, deep breath and lowered to kiss me on the lips. “That was incredible. You’re definitely never getting rid of me now.”

  “Are you kidding me? I’m not letting you outta my sight.”

  He hooked my arms around his neck, slid his hand under my back, and rolled us over without breaking our connection. I felt drunk, relaxed, and euphoric all at the same time. My body melted on him like a wilted flower. I was barely able to lift my head. My legs fell to his sides, while his erection, now not as rigid, remained inside me.

  For the longest time, we laid completely still, locked together as one. Our only movements were from breathing and the beating of our hearts. Finally, I pulled my arms from under Jackson’s neck, rested my palms on his massive chest, and raised to look at him. He smiled at me lazily, contently. His eyes, barely open. He slowly traced his fingers up and down my back and sluggishly took a breath before he spoke.