Sweet Imperfection by Libby Waterford

Closure?”
    “Closure? You mean, about us? Is that what you want?”
    Emma swallowed, suddenly uncertain. “I don’t know.”
    “Well, I don’t want closure, Emma. I want to open everything up again. I want to be real with you and tell you exactly what’s on my mind, and it isn’t closure. It’s the opposite of closure. My heart, my soul, my life, my love, they are all open—but only for you.”
    She listened, making a motion to tuck her hair behind her ears, even though it was tied back in a ponytail.
    “The question is do you want that, too?”
    Nate had been moving toward her until she found herself backed up against the guest room wall. He put a hand on her waist and rested the other on the wall behind her. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t think of the words to say, so, instead, she closed the gap between their mouths and kissed him. It was like taking a breath of air, and he groaned and deepened the kiss. She was ready for it and pulled his body against hers, opening up her mouth to him. Instantly the awkwardness she’d felt around him since the beginning of the evening faded away, and all that was left was the delicious rightness of their bodies together, hearts and souls aligned as well.
    They kissed, and the sound of their lips and tongues tangling in the otherwise quiet stillness aroused Emma to the point where she was grinding her hips against Nate’s, hoping for some relief from the acute need she had for him. He gripped her tightly, kissing along the line of her jaw, whispering endearments she only half heard. “Lovely, beautiful, need you so much.”
    “God, I need you, too.” She was hot and aching all over. She didn’t want it to end, but she couldn’t imagine that she wouldn’t explode if he didn’t stop kissing her now. Instead, she felt the button of her jeans loosen, and suddenly a more insistent pressure was finding its way beneath her panties. Nate continued to kiss her deeply while two of his fingers stroked and soothed her excited flesh.
    She whimpered when he found the exact spot that promised the most relief and the most pleasure. He stopped and focused his attention there while she panted and moaned incoherent words of praise. “Yes, more, there, fuck, don’t stop.” And then she was coming with Nate’s tongue in her mouth and his fingers on her clit, her entire body shaking as she felt all the tension and anxiety of the last week seep out of her, replaced with the buzz of carnal satisfaction. Nate slowly took her down from the high, softening his kisses, pulling away from her sex with soft, tender motions, refastening her jeans and smoothing her hair, which had finally escaped its ponytail, away from her face.
    She rested her forehead on his chest, breathing in the aroma of him, soap and wood shavings, mingled with the scent of their lovemaking.
    “God, Nate.” It was all she could manage to say and remain standing at the same time. She wanted to collapse on the bed with him on top of her, but her mother’s suitcase was on it.
    The thought of her mother jolted her completely upright. “Shit, my mother’s downstairs.”
    “Oh, yeah, I forgot,” Nate said. His eyes were bright, his mouth looked as if it had done some serious ravishing, or had been ravished itself. “Um, maybe we should clean up a bit.”
    Emma led him to the bathroom that broke up the space between the bedroom she’d turned into her seldom-used office and the guest room. “I was thinking about putting a closet in this area here,” she said, her voice trying to return to its normal timbre. “Maybe a walkthrough closet to utilize the hallway.” They took turns at the sink washing their hands. Emma ran her fingers through her hair before putting it back in its elastic band.
    “Great idea. Wouldn’t be too hard to add some shelves and clothes rods. You could do some custom built-ins, too, if you wanted it to be more permanent.”
    “I think I’m looking for permanent,” Emma said, “I’m here to