December Rain by A. L. Goulden Page A

He hooks his hands around her curves and pulls her hard as his mouth moves with feverish building speed.
    “Oh!” she gasps. “Oh Quinn…” Her hands grip near the base of his neck as he takes no prisoners.
    He can feel her quickly nearing his goal so he stops. “Do you surrender?”
    The question throws her. “Huh?’ She tries to understand.
    “Do you surrender to me?” His eyes burn without a hint of humor or irony. The question comes from a deep and dark place, and she can tell he needs to hear absolution and reassurance.
    “Yes.” She nods. “Everything is yours. Only yours.” She traces his lower lip with her fingertip. “I will only ever want you.”
    Her honest words are the key that unlocks swirling firm kisses that make her legs stiffen and body start to twitch. He takes her fast and hums with that sweet vibration as she unravels in his mouth. The rush of wetness is overwhelming, but she doesn’t feel embarrassed as before. She feels electric and wanton.
    Quinn moves up to press his body into hers, sharing her sweetness in an intensely dizzying kiss. He reaches into the bedside and quickly tears into a condom. His teeth gently tug on her lip as he lowers himself into her agonizingly slow. Yet another repressed memory. So full. So big. Quinn’s length makes her eyes grow wide with excitement. Once he’s deep he pauses before they begin rocking like waves in the deep sea. The memory of their lovemaking in her San Francisco hotel comes back as she rides his slow steady rhythm.
    Her body clenches around him as he slows to prolong her torture. She captures his lower lip then slowly lets him go. He straightens his elbows high above her and plunges in again and again. Wave after wave, until she’s moaning with each thrust. He takes her breath each time until she feels his release begin to pulse, his body arching and flexing above her. Every beautiful abdominal muscle ripples until his weight crushes down. Monica’s legs go limp as they try to tame their breathing together.
    His eyes meet hers as he moves to lie beside her. He takes her face and plants a soft, slow kiss before whispering, “Don’t leave me again. Please.” He shakes his head. “Never leave me again.”
    “You don’t want me like this. I’m a mess.” Her voice is so quiet it’s barely audible. “We can’t start a relationship when I’m like this.”
    He brushes her hair with his fingers and shrugs. “But we already started this... months ago, and...” He looks down for a brief second to get control. “It doesn’t just stop or go away when you aren’t here. I’m a mess too.” He searches for the words to convince her. “Build this with me. This is right.”
    Monica lies beneath his gaze in awe. “I don’t understand how you can… trust…”
    “I love you,” he says.
    The last time he spoke those words she died a little inside. She knew she’d have to leave behind the purest love she’s ever felt. But now, the only thing in the way is her stubborn pride, her self-loathing.
    “Mon, you’ve got to forgive yourself. You’ve got to see the wonderful woman that I see and forgive her.”
    Her tears are back. How does he know me? Read my eyes like that? She gasps for air as a sweeping panic nearly brings her to hyperventilation.
    “I love you,” he whispers in her ear. “All of you. I need you.”
    “Oh Quinn!” She reaches for his face as his words calm her enough to let go. “I love you so much it scares me! I don’t want to fuck it up…” Her eyes are wide as they return to him. “I knew when I saw you in Hawaii that I couldn’t go on. And when he made the decision to go, I cowered like a martyr… like a victim… because I was too scared of this.”
    His eyes and mouth are gently lifting as relief takes over. “I’m scared too. But this is it. This is where I want to be. Mess and all.” His lips sink into hers with a gentle electricity full of hope and promise.
    When he pulls away she glances around