Chapter 40
TALLY
“Thank you so much for tonight.” I’m riding an adrenaline high. “I can’t believe I met two of my favorite dancers. I think I was twelve when my mom first took me to see them perform at Tilton.”
Flip is all smiles as we step into the elevator and he pushes the button for his floor. “It’s a glimpse into your future.”
“Is this how you felt every time you went to see the Terror before you made the pros? Or when you were accepted to the Hockey Academy? Learning from all those legends.” He truly understands my passion for dance, the way I understand his love for hockey.
“Being coached by Alex Waters and Randy Ballistic and Rook Bowman was a dream come true, not just for me but all the guys who trained with them.”
The elevator doors open, and we walk down the hall to his apartment, fingers twined.
Tonight feels different. He always makes me feel cherished and special, but taking me to see the dancers who inspired me as a kid shows me how in tune Flip is with my hopes and dreams. I’ve been pushing extra hard with the end of the semester looming.
“This is exactly the motivation I needed to make sure my performance pieces blow my instructors away.”
Flip opens the door to his apartment and ushers me inside. “I’ll be your audience anytime you want.” He tosses his keys on the side table and flips the security latch.
I loop my arms around his neck. I have the perfect thank you for tonight. “You haven’t seen my solo piece yet.”
“I haven’t.” His hands settle on my waist, eyes lighting up.
I wet my bottom lip. “I could show you now.”
“Just for me.” He takes my hands in his, kissing them. “Before everyone else gets to fall in love with the way you move.”
“Just for you,” I agree. My heart thrums with anticipation.
“I would love that.” He kisses me softly. “Where do you want me?”
I move him to sit at the island, facing the living room. “Here is perfect.”
“What else do you need from me, kitten?”
“Just your attention.”
“You always have that, even when I’m not with you.”
I kiss his cheek and hand him my phone. “I’ll tell you when to press play.”
He glances at the screen. “This is my favorite song.”
“It’s one of mine, too.” Because of him. We danced to it at Dred and Connor’s wedding.
I move to stand in the middle of the room before I kick off my shoes and pull my dress over my head, leaving me in panties and a bralette. I bought them when I went shopping with the girls a few weeks ago and decided to wear them tonight.
“God, you’re stunning.” Flip’s eyes move over me on a hot sweep that I feel everywhere.
I give him my back and toss a wink over my shoulder.
He chuckles. “You’re too saucy for your own good.”
“You love it.” I pull my hair into a ponytail.
“I absolutely do,” he agrees.
I move into position. “You can press play, now.”
My phone is connected to his portable speaker, so the music fills the room and flows through me.
It’s such a pretty, soft opening. Awareness makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise.
I spin, and our eyes lock. The intimacy of being on display like this for only him ignites a deep, primal desire to be his in all ways.
His eyes move over me, reflecting the longing I feel, along with unquenchable desire. Everything changes—the shift irrevocable. I’m falling for him, for what we are, for what we could be. I’m scared, but I’ve never felt more alive.
He watches me hungrily, as I become the music, the emotions washing over and through me.
I could do this all day just for him. I close the distance between us as I shift into an arabesque.
He reaches for me, and I adapt the end of the routine, spinning into his waiting arms as the final notes sound.
“How was that?” My heart pounds as I try to recover my breath.
Flip gazes at me with such admiration, my knees go weak. “You are simply exquisite.” He stands and lifts me off my feet, wrapping my legs around his waist. “It’s an honor to be yours.”
I run my fingers through his hair as he carries me across the apartment.
My already unsteady breath leaves me entirely as we enter his bedroom.
Hundreds of candles illuminate the space (the kind with batteries, lesson learned), and pink rose petals dot the dark blue comforter, which is pulled back to reveal teal sheets.
“Phillip.” It’s a question enrobed in hope.
He moves to the bed, freeing my hair from the tie before he lays me down and stretches out over me. He traces the contours of my face with trembling fingers. “I don’t have expectations, Tally, but I won’t deny you anymore.” He kisses me. “I can’t.”
He’s so earnest, eyes soft and full of yearning. I press my trembling hand to his cheek. “You want me?”
“Always, Tally. Every minute of every day, you consume me.” He turns his head, kissing my palm. “I want you to be mine, and I want to be yours.”
The weight of his words settles in my heart. This is really happening. “I want this part of me to be yours.”
I’ll be his in every way. I understand why he was so intent on waiting. It feels right now, like we’re connected deeply, wholly and completely. I’m sharing a special piece of myself with him, and he’s doing the same for me.
He folds back on his knees, hands sliding up my ribs, fingers dipping under my bralette. “I’m going to take this off now.”
“And then I can help undress you?”
“I would love that.” He carefully eases it over my head, discarding it on the floor.
I shift so I’m on my knees with him and start on his shirt.
He watches me with the same intense desire as he did when I danced.
And I savor every moment, tucking each one into my heart as a precious keepsake.
We kiss and touch as we bare ourselves to each other.
Both of our hands shake, with nerves and desire.
I want it, but it terrifies me, too. He already has my heart, and this will connect us irrevocably in the most intimate way.
When we’re both naked, Phillip gathers me gently in his arms and kisses me, our tongues gilding, skin pressed to skin.
Need courses through me as he eases me back on the rose-petal-dotted comforter.
I revel in the weight of his body as he settles between my thighs.
His hips press into mine, erection thick against my lower abdomen.
His kiss is reverent and unhurried, fingers moving gently over my heated skin.
Soft strains of music float in from the kitchen—my favorite dance playlist. I’ll forever associate the music with this special, life-altering night.
He shifts until he’s lying beside me. “We’re going to take our time, kitten.” His fingers glide down my body, skimming sensitive places. “I want every moment of this to be special for both of us.”
“I want the same thing.” This isn’t just a first; he’ll be my only, and I’ll be his last.
He cups between my thighs and lowers his mouth to mine. I open for him and he strokes between my thighs to the same slow rhythm as our kiss.
I’m heavy with want, and then floating on bliss as the first orgasm rolls through me, and then he’s kissing his way down my body, mouth and hands everywhere, bringing me limitless pleasure. His eyes never leave mine as I come apart under his tongue and his touch.
He’s so painfully, wonderfully gentle, and I know that this special part of Phillip is reserved for only me. He prowls back up my body, mouth on mine, his bare erection sliding across slick, sensitive skin. My arms tremble as I wind them around him, needing him to ground me in this moment.
Flip pushes up on one arm and caresses my cheek. His eyes are soft and brimming with emotion. “You are so beautiful, Tally.” He dips down to kiss me, voice unsteady. “I want you to have all of me.”
The weight of his admission settles in my heart. “I want to be yours, and only ever yours.”
His eyes slide closed for a moment, and when they open, they’re full of deep satisfaction. “And I’ll be yours.” He brushes his lips over mine. “I’m going to take this real slow, okay?”
I nod and run my hands over his shoulders, craving the comfort of contact. He plucks a condom from the pillow beside my head, tears it open, and rolls it down his length.
He moves between my thighs again, distracting me with soft kisses. “Just relax for me, okay?”
I melt under him.
“That’s my girl.” He kisses me again, rolling his hips. “We go at your pace, as slow as you need.”
I nod, grounded in the moment and his touch.
This is it. He’ll be mine and I’ll be his.
The head nudges my entrance. “You’re sure about me, Talls?”
“I want you, Phillip.”
His body trembles as he holds himself above me and pushes in achingly slow. Our labored breaths mingle as he eases in, filling me slowly.
“Oh.” I suck in a breath at the sharp burn.
“Are you okay?” He skims my temple. “Do you need me to stop?”
“I just need a second.” I relax under him, and the burn fades and turns into something else. Need, thick and heavy, courses through me, enveloping me in a blanket of desire.
“I’m okay.” I touch his face. “I want more of you.”
He kisses my cheeks and chin, then shifts back, eyes on mine as his hips sink slowly toward mine.
He shudders when our hips meet.
“I feel so full,” I whisper.
He makes a noise, lips on my neck, traveling along my jaw. “You feel like heaven, Tally.”
I hook my leg over his hip, causing a jolt of pleasure to rocket through me, and my muscles tighten.
“Fuck, kitten.” He bites the edge of my jaw in warning. “I need you to give me a second, please.”
“Am I tight?” I whisper as I wrap my other leg around him.
He growls and pulls back, the fire in his eyes echoes through me, making my stomach flutter. His cock kicks inside me and I gasp.
He cups my face in his palms. “Good fucking God, Tally. You’re squeezing me like a fist, and you aren’t even trying. I need you to be good, so I can take this nice and slow.” Phillip seals his mouth over mine.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, he pulls back, one hand anchored in my hair, the other bracing his weight as he starts a slow, sensuous rhythm.
Every stroke takes me higher. Every roll of his hips pushes me closer to the edge. I tuck this moment in my heart. Because this isn’t just sex—every emotion and sensation is heightened, like I’m inside him and he’s inside me. Like we’re an extension of each other.
I never want it to end. I want this to be forever.
Too soon I reach my peak and tip over the edge.
I come in waves of bliss, every nerve ending comes alive under his body and his touch.
And he falls right along with me, glorious and feral and mine.
We’re both panting, bodies slick with sweat.
He kisses me tenderly before he pulls back, eyes searching mine as we float gently back to earth.
“Hi.” He brushes my hair away from my face.
I curve my hand around the side of his neck, the thrum of his pulse a comfort. “Hi.”
“How are you?” He kisses my chin and my nose, eyes soft and a little nervous.
“Incredible. You?”
“There are no words, Tallulah.” He kisses my lips.
“Best sex of my life,” I say playfully.
“Mine too.” He gracefully rolls us over, so I’m sprawled across his chest.
I love this easy closeness, how sated I feel not just in my body but my heart, too. “Really?”
“Truly.” He kisses me again, like he can’t get enough, like he never wants to stop. “I wanted it to be special for both of us.”
I press my lips to his throat. “That’s how it felt.”
“Because the connection we share is right here.” He taps over his heart, then wraps his arms around me and holds me tight for a few seconds. “How about I pour us a bath and we can have some cuddle time?”
“That sounds perfect.”
Flip sits up and carefully lifts me off him, settling my butt on his thighs.
He removes the condom and slides to the edge of the bed, gripping the backs of my legs as he stands.
I wrap myself around him and he carries me across to the bathroom.
Keeping me in his lap, he sits on the edge of the tub and turns on the water.
We kiss as the bath fills, and then he spins us around, helping me in before he positions himself behind me.
We lie in the sudsy water, letting the water wash away the sweat while he kisses my neck and holds me. When we’re clean, and I’m sleepy, Flip dries me off and carries me back to bed.
He curls himself around me, tucking me in close.
And in my heart I know I have a different version of this man than anyone else ever has.