Chapter Fifteen Laney
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LANEY
You feel so good,” I whispered, my eyes watering on their own. “You feel so right.”
“We feel so right.” Connor sat up so we were chest to chest, his large arms surrounding me as our foreheads touched. His voice was shaky. I’d never heard this much emotion from him before.
“This is you and me, Laney. We’re good together,” he whispered, his lips brushing mine as he spoke.
I nodded as a tear trickled down my face, rolling over my lips and down my chin. He wiped it with his thumb, licked it, and in one smooth motion, lifted us up off the floor.
I gasped. “What are you—”
“I’m not fucking my wife on the floor.” His muscles rippled as he carried us toward the couch. It was so hot. He had picked me up like I was nothing, still holding tight on to me.
“You ate me out on the counter,” I teased, tugging his earlobe with my teeth. He shuddered, and I dragged my tongue down his neck. He smelled like my pleasure, but with sweat mixed in.
“You just told me you fucking love me.” He sat on the couch and positioned me on his lap so his cock slid right into me. His gorgeous eyes were filled with lust and love and happiness.
“I need you like this, close to me, where I can see and feel every inch of you.”
I gasped when he thrust up, hitting me deep in a wonderful, pleasurable way.
“You’re so sexy, Connor.” I rocked my hips, taking more of him until he groaned. He gripped my butt and buried his face in my neck, the scruff from his jaw tickling. I couldn’t laugh though, not when this felt too good, too important.
He sucked my collarbone as I grinded against him in a perfected rhythm. We’d had sex on the couch before, but never like this. Each kiss felt like ten. The way his hands dragged over my back and ass and then returned to gently cradle my head felt like a declaration.
His throat bobbed when he tilted my chin to stare at me. “Thank you,” he whispered. “For giving me—us—another chance.”
My eyes prickled, but he didn’t give me a second to cry. He kissed me so hard that my soul rearranged itself to fit next to his.
“I love you.” He kissed my cheek, my neck, my jaw. “So fucking much.”
I trembled and dug my nails into his shoulders. He wasn’t close enough. There was too much space, and I had this itch deep in my core, like I needed more of him. I moaned, and he stilled, a fire growing behind his gaze.
“Let me make you feel good,” he said.
He flipped us over so I was on my back, and he ground into me in a slow, deep thrust that had me arching my spine.
He took his time fucking me though. He’d pause, suck my breasts until they stung, then kiss them better.
He whispered how much he loved me, how much he loved us, before pulling out and spreading my pussy with his tongue.
I’d never seen him like this.
Heat coursed through me. My limbs were on fire, and my throat ached with the need to cry, or orgasm. He brought me to the brink with his mouth before sliding his cock back inside, pinching my clit and causing me to explode. I saw stars, and my ears rang as he watched me, praising me.
“You’re so pretty when you come, baby.” His eyes lit up. “Nothing better than you like this. Not a fucking thing.”
I had barely caught my breath before he lifted one of my legs, kissing my calf and bending my knee so he could thrust deeper. My eyes about rolled to the back of my head when he pinched my nipple.
“No, Laney, you watch us. I want all of you.”
Connor had always been demanding in bed, taking charge and always ensuring I was taken care of, but this new version of us was hotter, more intense.
“You’re so sexy,” I blurted out, my face flushing.
“For you. Only for you.”
We didn’t speak again after that. Connor took his time with me, kissing or massaging every part of me as he went deeper and deeper. My muscles ached, and my chest heaved, yet the fuzzy feeling of yet another orgasm rooted in my spine.
My thighs tensed, and his eyes widened before he nodded. He repositioned us so we were face-to-face, our hearts beating against each other, and whether it was the intimacy or the way he angled his hips, I fell apart a third time, him with me.
He groaned my name into my mouth, his eyes fluttering as he gripped me so hard it stung.
He rested his face on my chest, his heartbeat even more erratic than mine.
“Holy shit,” he said, his breath dancing along my ribs.
He traced my wrist with one of his fingers for a few seconds before he pushed up and crashed onto the couch next to me.
I smiled, the feeling of contentment washing over me like a blanket. Sure, there were things we had to discuss, to figure out, but we were okay. Connor and I were okay. He stared at me, one side of his mouth curving up as I chuckled.
“That was wild.”
“I’ll say.” He pushed his hair out of his face before arching up and leaning toward me. He traced my jaw with his thumb, the most tender expression on his face. “You are exquisite in every way.”
Flushing, I glanced away, but he shook his head and made me face him.
“No, this is important. You are my other half, Laney, and I stopped treating you that way. I never stopped loving you, not for a second, but that doesn’t excuse the pain I caused you. I am so deeply sorry, but I’m… grateful and excited to learn this new version of us.”
I nodded, my stupid eyes welling again.
“I think I am too.”
He kissed my lips before standing and offering me his hand. “Come, let’s shower.”
We used to shower together all the time. Not in a sexy, let’s-have-sex-in-the-shower way, but more in an intimate way where we would talk. He’d wash my hair and tell me about his plans that day, and I’d repeat it on him. I ached for those moments.
“Brilliant idea, husband.”
His eyes flashed with heat. “I love it when you call me that, but be careful. That word makes me feel things.”
I snorted. “What kind of things, husband?”
He growled and led me to the shower, where, yeah, we washed each other, but we ended up having more fun in there too.
My heart burst because it was so happy, despite a small part in the back of my mind that was telling me I had missed something.
It was hard to focus on that blip when Connor was all around me.
I pushed the worry away and lived in the moment. My husband and I were back together.
Morning, baby.
A deep voice woke me up, and I groaned. The bed was too comfy, too warm, too him.
“No.”
A soft laugh followed, and then Connor’s hand ran down my leg. I’d slept in just one of his large shirts last night, and it was the best sleep I’d gotten in years.
“I forgot how fucking cute and grumpy you are in the morning.” He sat on the bed, the smell of coffee drifting around him. He repositioned me so my head was on his lap, and he played with the ends of my hair. “I haven’t woken up with you in some time, huh?”
I shook my head. Despite our new connection, there were memories of before that lingered, reminding me of the reality of why we had to be here in a rented house.
“Been a while,” I said, not opening my eyes. I liked being woken up by him.
He massaged my neck and scalp as he sighed. “New rule—we always wake up together.”
“What if you—”
“I know there will be random days you need to leave early, or if one of us has a trip, but overall, I wake up with you. No more meetings before eight.”
“Can you even do that?” I yawned and snuggled into him even more. He wore flannel pants that I had bought him three years ago, and the soft cotton felt nice against my face. “I didn’t mind waking up alone.”
“But you shouldn’t have to. And I will do it. It’s not about if I can anymore.” He stilled and then went back to massaging my head. “What are your plans today? Do you need help taking photos?”
“Shh. Too many questions,” I grumbled.
He chuckled and pulled me up so I cuddled against his chest, my legs wrapped around his middle and his hands up the back of my shirt. He smelled like home, and I buried my face into his neck, my stomach flip-flopping.
“You are fucking adorable.”
“Have you always been so chatty in the morning?” I nipped his neck, causing him to yelp, and I smiled at him. “Don’t recall you talking so damn much.”
His eyes widened before he barked out a laugh. “Are you intentionally riling me up? Was last night not enough for you?”
“Hmm, it was fine.”
“Laney Reynolds.” Connor tugged on my hair until I was forced to look at him. His eyes held that wild, desperate, lusty look again, and I couldn’t stop myself. I winked.
“Fuck me, you’re perfect.”
He kissed me, but I shoved him away. “Dude, morning breath. Come on.”
He yanked me back. “You think I give a shit about morning breath?”
“Uh, yes. Normal people do?” I covered my mouth with my hand, suddenly very, very awake. I was still sore, but in the best way ever. “Now that you rudely woke me up, I’m gonna brush my teeth.”
He closed his eyes and laughed. “I missed you so much. Never change, baby.”
I pinched his side, running to the bathroom before he could retaliate. He wasn’t lying when he said he hadn’t woken up with me in a long time. These soft moments, the playful barbs… they were what made us us, and without all that quality time together we had forgotten what made us work.
Soph had sent me an article about love languages after the first few days at my parents’ with the words I think yours changed, girl.
I hadn’t read it, but I knew of the different ways we wanted and expressed love.
They were more of a framework to help discuss what you needed, and for a while, I thought mine were acts of service.
Connor bought me flowers. Sent me lunch. Helped at events. They were thoughtful acts, but now I recognized that all I wanted from him was quality time.
Waking up together. Talking over dinner. Complaining about our jobs over lunch. I didn’t want things or acts; I just wanted him.
My cheeks flushed at the realization, and I quickly brushed my teeth. But then a brief bout of dizziness came out of nowhere. I gripped the counter, my heart racing, before it settled. That was weird.
I used the mouthwash and didn’t even bother fixing my hair before joining Connor in bed again.
“You look thoughtful.” He opened his arms, and I crawled right into them. He felt like my home. That was the damn truth. I might not love living in the city anymore, but I wanted to be where he was. That I knew.
“I can’t kiss you when you have your I’m thinking face on.”
“What if I’m thinking about kissing you?”
“I’d know.” He kissed my forehead. “Your eyes change color when you’re turned on. It is by far the hottest part about your body. I can read you so well.”
“Huh, I didn’t realize that.”
“What’s on your mind?” he said with a nervous lilt to his tone, and he swallowed with an audible click. Like he was worried.
Even though I was the one who left and needed reassurance, he was still anxious about what I’d say.
I wanted to assure my husband that we were okay.
I played with his chest, dragging a finger along the smooth skin over his heart, and took a deep breath before saying, “I was thinking about love languages.”
“That… was not what I was expecting.”
“What were you expecting me to say?”
“That last night was too much. You’re sore. You want to leave. Basically, I was drowning in self-doubt for a few minutes there. If you’d put me out of my misery, that’d be great.”
“Connor.” I sat up and ran a hand through his hair and over his jaw as I smiled. “Last night was amazing, and yes, I am sore, but no, I don’t want to leave. That was the best sleep I’ve had in a damn year. I realized that my love language changed.”
A dent formed between his brows, but he was focused, taking in every word with the same determination I saw him use at his office.
“Okay, can you tell me more about what that means?”
“I love all the acts and gifts you’ve given me, I truly have, but I don’t need them. They felt like a way to buy my forgiveness, you know?”
His jaw flexed. “I don’t… I’m not sure I understand. Do you not like what I’ve given you?”
“No, I do. Your gifts are thoughtful.” I paused. This was harder than I had imagined in my head.
“I’m trying to explain that all I want or need from you is to spend quality time together. This? This is perfect. Waking up and snuggling with you. No gifts or acts required, just us being together.”
He rubbed his lips as he nodded.
“Quality time.”
“Yes. We don’t have to do anything special either, like no extravagant dates.
I just like being with you. Even if we’re both sitting in the same room reading different books, that’s time we’re together.
I think… that’s what was missing. I’d have these short moments of time with you, but it wouldn’t be enough, and I’d be left hurt.
So every minute we did spend together, I’d be trying to get over my feelings and not enjoy us. ”
Connor sighed and ran a hand over my shoulder before cupping my face. “Thank you for explaining that to me. That helps me a lot.”
“What’s your love language? I know it used to be physical touch, but—”
“You.” He smirked. “My love language is you, Laney. Everything.”
“That is cheesy, although a little romantic.” I blushed at the intense look in his eyes. “You’re not kidding?”
“Not in the slightest. I want your touches, your time, your thoughts, your sighs, all of it.” His face was serious. “What time do you have to get ready for today’s events?”
“Uh, in an hour. Hence, why I wanted to sleep.”
“‘Hence,’” he mocked, his dimples popping out. “So fucking cute.”
My pulse raced as he leaned forward, tugging the shirt up as he said, “Can I have some quality time between your thighs, wife? I promise you’ll feel better than if you had slept.”
I shuddered as I nodded.
Yeah, I was feeling hopeful about our future. Especially when he made good on his promise.