Rhythm by Marie Lipscomb

Chapter Twenty-Six

Beth

Her body pulses as they make their way to her door, the corridors in her apartment complex now irritatingly and unfairly long and winding. Finn laces his fingers with hers as she leads him through the labyrinth.

“It’s just down here,” she says, picking up her pace.

They’re almost breaking into a run as they near her apartment. He wraps his arms around her waist, kissing her neck as she fumbles with her key.

“You’re distracting.” Every kiss sends tingles through her body.

“I try to be.”

At last the door unlocks and they step into her apartment. Having him there takes a moment to adjust to, as every fantasy she’s had for the past few weeks becomes a reality.

As the door closes, she presses her back to the hallway wall and grips the lapels of his jacket, pulling him onto her. The weight of him, pressing against her against the wall sets her aflame. Heat courses through her body as his lips linger half an inch from hers.

His eyes close as he leans in, and the moment their lips touch, the fire consumes her. She can’t hold back, tugging his lower lip between her teeth, coaxing a groan from him as he takes her wrists in his hands and holds them to the wall above her head.

His cock is hard against her stomach as he kisses her, pinning her between the wall and his soft, yet sturdy body. She never wants to be anywhere else.

He shrugs off his jacket, letting it fall to the floor as he sinks to his knees. Her breath hitches as he pushes up her skirt, his hands gliding along her legs, exposing her inch by inch. Anticipation tightens a knot in the base of her stomach.

She runs her fingers back over his hair as he bunches the fabric of her skirt at her hips. Her breath comes in ragged, stilted bursts as he works slowly, cherishing every second of her arousal. He bites his lower lip as he slides her underwear down to her thighs.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, glancing up at her. “I’ve thought about this every night since I last saw you.”

“Me too.”

“I’m going to do everything I can to make this past month up to you.”

The moment his tongue slides against her clit she cries out, thrusting her hips toward him. She presses her head against the wall, gasping with every long, slow, stroke of his tongue. Her legs almost give out, and she has to steady herself on his shoulders.

The rasp of his beard against her thighs, the warmth and softness of his lips and tongue; it’s as perfect as it is devastating. He savors every inch of her, moaning as though he’d happily spend all night licking her, pinning her to the wall until she forgets everything but his name and the sensation of his mouth on her tender skin. She has to constantly remind herself that her neighbors are close, the walls are thin, and that she has to keep breathing.

As good as it feels, it isn’t easy for her to climax while standing. Each time she becomes overwhelmed or over-sensitive, he stops and lets her come down to earth. In those pauses he kisses the tops of her thighs, her hips, her belly, until she tangles her fingers in his hair and directs him back to her pussy.

When her knees begin to tremble and she can feel herself getting close, Finn increases the pressure. His tongue works her faster, faster, until she shatters, her orgasm raging through her. She buries her fingers in his tousled hair, holding his face to her, as his tongue draws out every last pulse of pleasure coursing through her body.

She comes back down slowly, pressing her head to the wall. Through the haze, she can see he’s standing, watching her with that cocky, irresistible smirk she’s both riled by and can’t live without.

He takes her hands, and once more pins them above her head, and kisses her. She tastes herself on his tongue, the heady taste of arousal, and she wants more. When he breaks away from her lips, he kisses her jaw, working his way down her neck, to her shoulders. Every kiss is an apology, and an oath that this time he won’t walk away. Neither will she.

She gasps as he lifts her into his arms, holding her to him. “Bedroom,” he whispers. “I need you.”

Finn

He’ll spend the rest of his life making her feel good if she’ll let him.

His heart is racing as he carries her while she directs him to the bedroom. Every inch of her apartment is her; her art on the walls, ongoing projects set up in nearly every room, pictures of herself, her family and friends.

He allows himself a shred of hope, that perhaps one day their homes will merge, and he’ll write music while she paints. The animal part of his brain is quieted for a moment as he lets himself imagine what could come next.

They only make it halfway through the apartment before she’s unbuttoning his shirt, kissing every bared inch of his skin and sending shivers through his body.

“I’ve never felt like this before.” He can’t keep the words locked inside. He almost lost her once because he didn’t speak his mind, and he isn’t going to let that happen again. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

“Neither could I.” She runs her hands over his body, touching him as though she’s making up for lost time too; hungry, desperate.

He could swear he’s glowing, shining from the inside out. “I never want there to be a day I don’t see you.”

She pauses, her eyes searching his, and for a moment, he wonders if he said something wrong. If he came on too strong too soon.

“There won’t be.” She nestles against him, tugging his earlobe with her teeth. “I’m yours.”

By the time he reaches her bedroom he can barely contain himself. The sensation of having her in his arms again is overwhelming, and the ferocious need to have her takes over.

They stumble together onto the bed, tearing at each other’s clothes. Their lips, tongues and teeth take anything they can, licking, biting, kissing every inch of skin.

He loves her body, so soft and full. Her curves are mesmerizing, addictive, and he can’t stop kissing them. He loves the taste of her. When he slides his cock into her, his entire body shudders with pleasure. She clings to him, nails raking his shoulders, legs wrapped around his waist as though she can’t bear the thought of him pulling away from her. He would never.

Won’t ever.

He loves everything about her, everything she is and will ever be. And though a part of him knows it’s too soon, but he can’t help it. He loves her.

He doesn’t say it, not aloud, but he damn well spends all night showing her.