quickly answered him with a shake of her head.
His expression settled into one of extreme patience. He understood her fear and hesitation. Slowly, his fingers began to knead the muscles on her inner thigh, inching their way up toward where her hand covered the mound of her pelvis.
“Would you like to try?” His breath tickled her hand. She had been about to say no, but the aching inside of her increased so much that she found herself, for the first time, wanted to feel the heat of his mouth against her.
His fingers continued to work their concentric circles along her thighs. Natalie found herself relaxing, allowing her legs to ease apart with his guidance. She removed the guard of her hand and made eye contact with Chris. She was nervous, though for what reason she would later wonder. The moment that his mouth settled over her, Natalie found her eyes fluttering closed and her head tilting back as she enjoyed a sensation unlike any that she had ever felt before.
His tongue moved slowly across her flesh, making her want to press herself against him. She wanted more, but she could not find the words to tell him.
Instead, she let her body communicate her pleasure. She moved her hips against him, gasped and cried out as the streaks of pleasure raced through her.
When she thought that she could stand it no longer, he withdrew from between her legs and came to lay above her. She felt the pressure of his erection against her center and Natalie found herself begging for him to join her.
She was so close, and yet he prolonged her torture. Natalie shifted her hips against him and she felt his smile against her neck. She turned her head and joined his mouth to hers, pressing her tongue against his in a rhythm that matched her hips.
Finally, he entered her. It was all that Natalie could do not to cry out in ecstasy. Something about this moment was so perfect, and pure, that she could barely hold back the pleasure that was threatening to take over.
Together they moved, as if they were of one mind and spirit. She felt him drive against her and she knew that he was fighting the inevitable as well. With a moan of satisfaction, she gave in to the sensation and allowed the waves to crash around them.
Chapter 10:
In the early morning hours, Natalie found herself padding to the kitchen for a glass of water.
If she had thought that their lovemaking was an itch that could have been scratched, she had been sorely mistaken. Though they had made love numerous times during the course of the evening, interspersed with leisurely naps and even an excursion into the shower, Natalie found that her desire for Chris was far from being sated. If anything, it only grew as they found new ways to share in their mutual pleasure.
She gulped the water hungrily while leaning against the counter. The pale light of the rising sun cast leisurely shadows across the room. It was not for several minutes, therefore, that she noticed the box that lay haphazardly at the top of the garbage bin.
Normally, it would not have interested her in the slightest. However, a thin ray of light flickered through the window to reveal that the box was, in fact, filled with photographs and all sorts of memorabilia.
From the other side of the kitchen, Natalie could already see that the photos showcased two men who were smiling into the lens of the camera.
She crept toward the bin and peered inside of the box. Her worst suspicions were confirmed when she realized that the photos were a collection of memories that had passed between Chris and Tony Pomeretti.
She tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her gut. She pulled a handful of the photos from the box and began to shift through them. One after another the faces of the smiling best friends stared up at her. What had changed? Why was Chris so determined to forget his men, and his friend?
The creak of the floorboard in the hallway left her frozen in the moment.
Chris stood in the pale light of the doorway, watching her
Pattie Mallette, with A. J. Gregory