54. Emily
54
EMILY
I let him lead me through the garden, away from the chess game and Sophia’s laughter, toward a secluded corner that’s become our special place.
It’s a spot surrounded by tall hedges and blooming flowers, hidden away from the rest of the world. Here, it’s just the two of us, just like it’s always been.
The sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, and the air is thick with the scent of jasmine.
It’s a place we’ve retreated to countless times before, a hidden corner of the garden where we can escape the demands of the outside world and just be ourselves.
He pauses, his hand still holding mine as he turns to face me. There’s a seriousness in his eyes now, a depth of emotion that I can feel radiating from him.
He’s always been the strong, silent type, but I’ve learned to read the subtle shifts in his expression, the unspoken words that lie beneath the surface.
“Do you remember the first time we made love in this garden?” Lucas asks, his voice husky as he traces the line of my jaw with his fingers.
“How could I forget?” I reply, my own voice thick with anticipation. “I was still getting over the morning sickness.”
“Helped, didn’t it?”
“Might have done.”
A soft laugh escapes my lips as I let him guide me down onto the soft grass, the warmth of the sun enveloping us.
He lowers himself beside me, his touch reverent as he brushes a strand of hair from my face.
He leans in, capturing my lips in another kiss, this one deeper, more urgent, as if he’s pouring every ounce of his love into it.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough. The sincerity in his tone sends a warmth spreading through my chest, and I feel my breath hitch in response.
I smile up at him, my hand coming up to trace the line of his jaw. “You’re not so bad yourself,” I tease, though my voice comes out softer, breathier than I intended.
He chuckles, a deep, rumbling sound that sends a shiver through me. “Is that so?” he asks, his lips curling into a playful grin. “Guess I’ll have to try a little harder, then.”
Before I can respond, he leans in, capturing my lips in a kiss that’s both gentle and demanding, a perfect blend of softness and urgency.
His mouth moves over mine with a heated precision, coaxing a quiet moan from deep within me. I arch up into him, my body instinctively seeking more, craving the connection that only he can provide.
The kiss deepens, becomes more insistent, as if he’s pouring every ounce of his love, his need, into it. His hand slips beneath my shirt, fingertips grazing my skin in a way that leaves a trail of fire in their wake. I gasp against his lips, my fingers curling into his hair, pulling him closer.
“God, I love you,” he breathes against my mouth, his voice rough and thick with emotion. There’s a rawness to his words, a depth that makes my heart pound harder in my chest.
“I love you too,” I whisper back, my voice trembling with the weight of it. And I mean it—every single word. I press up into him, my body aligning with his, and he responds immediately, rolling us so that I’m beneath him, his weight settling over me in a way that feels grounding, solid.
He kisses me again, deeper this time, his tongue slipping past my lips to claim mine in a slow, sensual dance. His hands roam over my body, exploring, savoring, as if he wants to memorize every curve, every line.
I can feel the heat between us building, the tension coiling tighter and tighter, and I know we’re both on the edge of something deeper, something more profound.
“Lucas,” I gasp, breaking away from the kiss to catch my breath. My hands slide down his back, feeling the taut muscles ripple beneath my touch. “I need you in me.”
He growls low in his throat, a sound that sends a delicious thrill through me. “Then take me,” he murmurs, his lips moving against the sensitive skin of my neck. His words are both a command and a plea, and I feel a rush of desire flood through me.
I shift beneath him, rolling us again so that I’m on top, straddling his hips. I can see the hunger in his eyes, the way his gaze darkens with lust and something deeper, something that mirrors the intensity of my own emotions.
I lean down, brushing my lips over his in a teasing kiss, and he groans, his hands gripping my hips, guiding me over him.
I take him in slowly, savoring the way he fills me, inch by inch, until he’s buried deep inside me. We both moan at the sensation, our breaths mingling in the small space between us.
“You feel incredible,” he whispers, his voice thick with desire. “So perfect… always so perfect.”
I start to move, setting a slow, steady rhythm that has both of us gasping. His hands guide my hips, matching my movements with a controlled intensity that makes my toes curl.
I lean back, my hands resting on his chest for balance, and I can feel his heart pounding beneath my palms, echoing the frantic beat of my own.
“Just like that,” he encourages, his voice strained but full of admiration. “God, you’re amazing.”
I pick up the pace, rolling my hips in a way that makes him groan, his head tipping back against the blanket. His eyes flutter shut for a moment, his jaw clenching with the effort to hold back.
I can feel the tension building inside me, winding tighter and tighter with every thrust, every grind of our bodies together.
“Lucas,” I gasp, my voice breaking with need. “I’m so close.”
His eyes snap open, blazing with a mix of desire and determination. “Come on,” he urges, his hands sliding up my sides, his thumbs brushing the sensitive skin just beneath my breasts. “Let go. I want to feel you come.”
I grind down hard, finding that perfect angle, and I feel myself shatter, pleasure crashing over me in waves that leave me breathless, trembling. I cry out his name, my body clenching around him, and I feel him tense beneath me, his control slipping.
Before I can fully come down from the high, he moves us again, his hands gripping my thighs as he flips me onto my back. He doesn’t give me a chance to catch my breath—he’s over me in an instant, thrusting into me with a new urgency that sends shockwaves through my oversensitive body.
“Lucas,” I moan, my hands gripping his shoulders, my nails digging into his skin as he drives into me, deep and hard, each thrust more desperate than the last.
“I need you,” he growls, his lips brushing against my ear, his breath hot and ragged. “I need all of you.”
I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer, deeper, until I feel like I’m going to unravel all over again.
“I’m right here,” I manage to whisper, my body arching up to meet his. “Always right here.”
His thrusts become erratic, his breathing heavy, and I know he’s close. He buries his face in the crook of my neck, his breath hot against my skin as he groans my name, and I feel him shudder above me as he finds his release, spilling into me with a force that sends me over the edge again.
We collapse together, our bodies still intertwined, our chests heaving with the effort to catch our breath.
The sun warms our skin, the gentle breeze cooling the sweat that clings to us, and for a moment, we just lie there, wrapped up in each other, feeling the steady beat of our hearts slow back to a calm, even rhythm.
He pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me in a protective, comforting embrace. I rest my head on his chest, listening to the deep, steady thump of his heartbeat, and a sense of peace settles over me.
“This,” he murmurs, his lips brushing the top of my head, “this is everything.”
I smile, my eyes drifting shut as I press a kiss to his skin. “Yes,” I whisper, my voice filled with quiet contentment. “It really is.”