Chapter 34
After spritzing on some perfume, I check my reflection in the bathroom mirror and smile in wonder. The happy, radiant woman staring back at me is a different person from the angry, lost soul who started here a few short days ago. My old life seems like a distant memory, a bad dream that I’ve awakened from.
I take a moment to smooth out my long white silk and lace nightgown and finger brush my hair. Delicate, sexy femininity radiates from me. I packed this spicy piece of lingerie when I concocted a scenario in my head where I’d get back at Matt by seducing strings of nameless men and have wild revenge sex during what was supposed to be our honeymoon. Evening the score in my wedding night peignoir.
The ultimate fuck you.
But none of that happened. Instead, I found myself again, rediscovering who I truly am. And I found him - the man who unlocked my heart and helped me remember the joys of laughter.
My heartbeat quickens with nervous excitement. Tonight’s our last night together in Mexico. I want to be pretty for him. Soft for him.
Beautiful, like he’s told me a thousand times.
Quietly, I open the bathroom door and enter the room. Daniel stands barefoot, his back facing me, as he’s methodically undoing his shirt.
“Hi,” I say, my tone soft and breathy.
He turns around, stops his unbuttoning mid-button, and his intense stare seductively rakes over my body. “Damn,” he says, shaking his head, his voice filled with awe.
I can’t help but get lost in the way he looks at me - with hunger and reverence in his gaze, all at once. It’s an intoxicating combination.
“Turn around,” he says, twirling his finger in a circle. “I want to see all of you.” Slowly, I comply, allowing him to indulge in every inch of me—every silky curve, every trace of sun-kissed skin, and the yearning in my eyes.
He flicks the light switch, and the soft glow from the moonlight seeps through the curtain sheers. He walks up to my nightstand and grabs the remote. With a flick of a button, he programs the television to a music-only channel, serenading the room with the soothing tones of romantic jazz.
There were music channel options all this time? I never made it past the porn.
With each step he takes towards me, my heart races. He stops and delicately wraps his finger around the silk strap of my negligee. “Has anyone ever seen you in this?” he asks, his eyes filled with desire.
I sink my teeth into my lower lip and shake my head.
“I’m going to make damn sure it stays that way,” he murmurs.
His hands gently cradle my face as his lips find mine in a lingering, intoxicating kiss. Our tongues sensually caress and explore each other’s mouths. I give in to the sweetness of the kiss, my hunger for him unshakable.
Leaning close to my ear, he whispers, “This is for my eyes only.” His teeth barely graze my earlobe. “No one else, Tess,” he says, his tone serious. “Say it.”
“No one else,” I whisper back, incredibly turned-on by his possessiveness. “Only you.”
As I meet his gaze, he offers his hand to me. “What do you say? One last dance?”
I place my hand in his, enjoying the warmth of his palm, and our fingers slowly intertwining. With my free hand resting on his shoulder, he places his other hand around my waist. The music plays softly in the background as he pulls me closer, our bodies swaying in an unhurried rhythm.
In this moment, I realize we were right. Fate led us to each other. If not for anything else—for the chance for two lost and damaged hearts to heal.
This feels right. I know it to my core.
We become completely immersed in the beautiful music, holding each other tightly, and I briefly close my eyes, relishing the feeling of his body against mine. With a subtle turn of his head, he locks eyes with me, a gentle expression of warmth gracing his face. My head tilts in response, and I smile back.
With his usual grace, he releases his hand from my waist, leading me in a slow twirl before returning it to its original position. There is a shift in his demeanor, a depth I’ve never seen before, like he’s working something out.
Could he be wondering if this is how love begins too? My heart’s telling me tonight is more than lust. Is his?
Returning my hand to his shoulder, we face each other, his gaze locked onto mine. A wave of butterflies flutter in my stomach and goosebumps rise on my arms. He hesitates for a moment, then closes his eyes and brushes his lips against mine. I close my eyes as well, savoring the tender touch.
His kiss is so sweet. It lingers on my lips. A low moan escapes his throat, and I know this means more to him too. It’s unmistakable. He ends the kiss and pulls me tight, then covers my neck with delicate kisses. I close my eyes, trying to gather my composure as tears loom. We’re not just dancing… it’s more.
It feels like love. Sweep me off my feet… Forever kind of love.
But that’s impossible. Isn’t it?
Our bodies speak the unspoken and our eyes share our secrets—because our words aren’t ready. And our hearts are afraid.
He loosens his hold on me and moves back slightly, his hand sliding down my back. His touch sends tingles through my body as the smooth silk of my nightgown caresses my skin and awakens every nerve.
With a gentle stroke, his hand travels back up, lightly brushing against the fabric again. Slowly, he slides the thin straps down my shoulders, allowing the white silk to cascade to the ground, forming a delicate pile around my feet. Standing before him, completely exposed, my cheeks warming with a blush as he admires me.
“So beautiful,” he whispers.
I want him to look at me. Admire me. Want me. As I stand naked and vulnerable before him, I’m aware of my power, knowing that I’m affecting him.
He’s right. I am beautiful. Inside and out. Beautiful, like him.
His hand moves upward, cupping my breast, his thumb tenderly stroking across my hardened nipple. We lock eyes again, a longing and desire quietly passing between us. Unable to resist, I raise my hand to his shirt. My fingers finish unbuttoning it, one by one, revealing the exquisite sight of his bare chest.
My hands splay across his chest, feeling his smooth, taut muscles and the tickle of his chest hairs. He lifts his hand to my face, his touch sending shivers everywhere. His index finger traces the outline of my lips, the softest of whispers against my skin. I press a delicate kiss on his fingertip, and he rewards me with a smile.
His finger glides up to my cheek, sending a wave of warmth through me. His touch creating a path of sensual ripples in its wake. Lazily, he trails his finger down my neck, barely grazing the sensitive skin as he moves from my nape to my shoulder.
Cupping my face, he kisses me, a long and drugging kiss that leaves me breathless. I taste the passion in his kiss, a mix of hunger and longing. Slowly, sensually, he devours my mouth with deep, sweeping strokes of his tongue.
Breaking our kiss, he nuzzles my neck again, his lips brushing against my skin in a trail of feather-light kisses. Each sweet press of his lips on my neck sends a jolt of pleasure through me, heightening my senses with his touch.
Unable to resist any longer, a surge of urgency courses through my veins. I want him naked. I want to look at him, every delicious inch. Admire what’s mine. Because that’s what he is… mine.
My fingertips skate across the delectable bulge in his pants, and I trace the outline of his erection. I pull away slightly, my fingers fumbling with the waistline of his pants. Sliding my hands inside his pants, I delight in the softness of his pubic hair against my fingertips, and the moisture on the tip of his erection. He closes his eyes, yielding to the pleasure as a low groan escapes from the back of his throat.
A surge of pride fills me, knowing that groan was because of me.
I bend down to the floor, my hands guiding his pants and boxer briefs down until he steps out of them, unleashing his erection.
As he clasps both my hands firmly, longing stirs inside me, ignited by his touch. With a gentle pull, he guides me to the bed. Our eyes remain locked in a passionate gaze, never breaking contact, as he lies down beside me.
With a tender tug, he draws me closer, our bodies seamlessly melding together. The sensation of our bare skin touching electrifies my senses, intensifying my craving for him. Skin on skin…unbelievably exquisite. Unhurriedly, he explores my body, savoring each inch as if it were the first time he’s touched me. The soft sound of our breaths intermingles with the romantic music.
Slowly, his hand glides down my side, creating a trail of goosebumps in its wake. I exhale softly as his fingertips tease the delicate skin of my inner thigh.
Applying the perfect amount of pressure, he coaxes my legs apart, sensually brushing a finger over my swollen folds before plunging into my slickness. A gasp escapes my lips as my back arches in response to his touch, my body instinctively reacting to his every movement. My hips sway and I writhe in carnal pleasure, responding to his rhythm, as he teases my clit with a swirling motion of his finger. My god, I’m so wet.
Each breath I take comes in short, gasping bursts, the mounting sensation inside me becoming almost unbearable. Wave after wave of pleasure crashes through me, causing my body to stiffen as uncontrollable contractions take over, bringing me to the pinnacle of bliss. Low, throaty moans escape my lips as I surrender to the erotic ecstasy that consumes me, and intense tremors fill me with pleasure. Again and again.
As I turn my head to look at him, a mix of gratitude, wonder, and insatiable desire fills my eyes. That was… wow.
As he glides his nose along my jawline, a trail of warmth lingers in its path. Moving lower, his lips descend to my breasts, skillfully encircling each nipple with his tongue, teasing and tantalizing me. His hand reaches over to the nightstand, retrieving a condom, which he deftly rolls on.
Slowly, he positions himself on top of me, parting my legs wide with his own. I willingly yield, giving myself completely to him. In this moment, I belong to him.
Maybe I’m not supposed to, but I don’t care.
Our lips collide in a passionate, hungry kiss that ignites a fire of desire between us. The world disappears as our eyes meet. He knows I’m his for the taking, that he owns me, and I embrace it.
I give myself to him freely because I trust him completely with my body. And my heart.
Gently, he pulls one of my knees up, and in one slow, deliberate motion, he plunges deep inside me, connecting our bodies in the most intimate way. Fuck, this is heaven.
My hips instinctively arch against him, craving more. The steady rhythm of his thrusts is slow and sensual, as he takes his time, grinding his body against mine, savoring the connection we share.
Surely flings don’t feel like this. He’s giving me something beyond the sensuality of his body. This erotic pleasure is from a deeper, emotional place.
This is us, what we’ve become. Vulnerable, but united.
His hand tightens around my leg, sending a shiver up my spine. With every thrust, our bodies create a symphony of pleasure that resonates throughout the room, leaving us breathless.
“Tess,” he moans as his release crashes through him, his orgasm consuming him in a rush.
Leaning on his forearms, he gazes down at me with a warm, adoring expression. With a tender gesture, he leans down and presses his lips against mine in a soft, loving kiss that sets my heart racing.
A tender smile graces his lips as he playfully rubs his nose against mine. He sweetly kisses me again before moving next to me. We lie side by side, the air heavy with contentment, our breaths gradually returning to normal.
He wraps his arm around me, holding me tightly, and kisses my forehead. In this quiet moment, I know I’m right—what happened between us goes beyond primal, lustful sex.
We made love.
Passionate, cherishing, intimate… love.
“Daniel?” I whisper, summoning up my bravery.
“Hmm?” he hums dreamily, sated.
“I could fall for you, too,” I say, echoing the words he once said to me.
With a subtle smile on his lips, he directs his gaze downward towards me. “Let’s see if we can do better than that.”