Author's note: I didn't intentionally leave you guys hanging...sorry about that. Crazy work hours couldn't be helped, I'm afraid. I think it will be a few more days before I can post the conclusion to this story. I'll work on it as quickly as I can. Please overlook any mistakes. Sleep deprivation makes proofreading difficult...:-)
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On the morning of December 31, Nick woke up with Jess still in his arms, his groin cradling the smooth globes of her delectable bottom. He breathed deeply, relishing her womanly scent and the silkiness of her hair beneath his cheek. Her breast was a soft, warm weight in his palm. He grinned, teasing her nipple to life as he dropped feather light kisses along the curve of her neck and shoulder.
"Wake up, beautiful," he murmured, his voice gravely from sleep. "I want you."
Jess muttered an incoherent protest, burrowing her face into her pillow. Nick's smile deepened as he persisted in teasing her breasts. Her nipples had hardened into tight buds, and she squirmed restlessly trying to recapture sleep as he squeezed, pulled and twisted them the way he had learned she couldn't resist. He skimmed his hand down over her belly and waist, relishing the fineness of her skin. He toyed briefly with her thatch of hair before venturing further. Jess squeezed her thighs together and moaned another protest, much weaker than before.
"I want you," he cajoled, nibbling on her earlobe. He thrust provocatively against her bottom, smiling when she gasped from the heat of his erection.
"What time is it?" she groaned.
"Who knows," he said, his dimples carving deep crevices beside his mouth as he managed to slip his fingers between her loosening thighs. She was already slick and swollen. "Who cares? I want you now, and if the state of your sweet little pussy is any indication, you want me too."
Jess's moan was from growing arousal rather than frustration. Her breathing accelerated as his fingers grew bolder, exploring her throbbing outer folds before forging inside to be welcomed by her slick heat. She hummed with pleasure, grasping his hand to push his fingers deeper. He played inside her like a virtuoso with his instrument, plucking a symphony of gasps, sighs and groans from her as she squirmed with delight.
Jess groped behind her and found him, stroking him with clever fingers, proving herself to be equally talented. Nick relished each soft caress, each firm stroke of her hand upon him. He stood the sweet torture for as long as possible before capturing her wrist to pull her hand away from him.
"Not yet, beautiful. You aren't getting off the hook that quickly this morning."
When she thrust her lip out in a playful pout, he chuckled and rolled her onto her back. He grasped her knees and spread her thighs, exposing her for a leisurely inspection. She held her breath as he stroked her outer flesh with the pads of his fingers, his gaze intent as he explored each slick fold. He was settled on his stomach, his shoulders holding her legs wide apart, before she realized what he meant to do. Her expression turned from passionate anticipation to surprised apprehension.
"Nick, wait! I'm not sure if...I mean...I've never let anyone...Nick...?"
Her voice trailed off uncertainly, and Nick searched her face. "No one's ever kissed you here?" he asked softly.
Jess shook her head as her face flamed. Nick's heart swelled with tenderness and love. He was inordinately pleased by that revelation. To his mind, this was the ultimate intimacy, and he was glad she hadn't allowed any other man to introduce her to the pleasure. His eyes locked with hers, and he smiled reassuringly.
"It's okay, Jess. Just lie back and relax."
"But Nick..."
"You promised anything I wanted, remember?" She nodded, still looking worried. He held her gaze, gently stroking her thighs as his eyes urged her to trust him. "It's okay, sweetheart. There's no reason to be embarrassed or shy. It's just that you're so beautiful and luscious. I'm dying to taste you. Will you let me?"
Jess couldn't answer past the lump in her throat. She swallowed hard and nodded.
"That's my girl," Nick murmured, still stroking her legs soothingly. "Now lie back and relax." She leaned back on the pillows, but her legs still felt tense beneath his hands. "Relax," he whispered, dropping light kisses on her inner thighs. "Close your eyes and just feel."
Jess did as instructed, biting back an anxious whimper. Nick's lips were light as thistledown on the insides of her legs. He dropped kisses into the triangle covering her mound and ruffled his fingers through the springy hairs. He kissed her inner thighs, occasionally suckling or licking, until she stopped flinching nervously and grew accustomed to the sensations of his warm lips, rough tongue and moist breath. She began to forget her inhibitions and simply enjoy the experience.
Nick covered every inch of her mound and inner thighs, venturing as far as her knees before retracing his path. He found and teased each erogenous area, smiling to himself as her tension mounted. He avoided her pussy, always skittering away and leaving Jess panting with disappointment.
"Nick?" she moaned, arching her hips toward him when she felt him retreating again.
"Uh huh," he mumbled, intent on appreciating the satiny texture of her skin.
"Nick, please kiss me here," she begged, tilting her hips up toward his face.
"Where, Jess? Show me."
His voice was dark and seductive, sending a shiver of awareness through her body. Jess stroked herself, moaning as she felt her own moisture coating her fingers.
"Here?" he asked, blowing cool air across her wet outer lips.
"Yes," she gasped. "Please!"
She whimpered with relief when he complied. His tongue was scalding velvet against her throbbing flesh, teasing and tormenting, rasping her firmly as he tasted her musky dew. She was tangy and tart, flowering sweetly for him as her fluid dribbled over his waiting tongue. She was perfect. She was beautiful. For this moment, she was his, only his. He wanted her to be his forever, and he focused all his efforts on showing her how it could be with a man who loved only her, who needed only her.
He circled her clit, teasing it into a quivering bud before suckling it into his mouth. She rewarded him with sharp gasps and shuddering sighs of appreciation. He parted her folds so he could probe her with tongue and fingers. Jess was lost, floating in a sea of sensation. She was buffeted by stronger and stronger waves as his mouth grew steadily bolder. She threaded her fingers through his dark hair, clutching at him for support. He was tender. He was magnificent. She had never loved him more.
"Nick?" she cried, gripping his head with trembling fingers.
"Let go," he murmured. "Let go for me, just for me, sweetheart."
Jess surrendered to the maelstrom he had invoked, arching against his mouth as she released a hoarse scream of pleasure. Nick closed his eyes and shivered, savoring each tremor against his tongue. Her inner walls clutched around his fingers as her fingers gripped his head. He lapped at her, softly searching for each delicious drop of her fluid as he waited for her to return from the ether.
When her thighs began to loosen their hold, he pressed her onward, toward the peak she hadn't even guessed was there. Her eyes flew open to lock briefly with his before she succumbed to the renewed quivering of his persuasive fingers. She closed her eyes with a helpless moan as she offered herself up to appease his hunger. He feasted, growling as he nibbled and nipped, groaning as he tasted and teased. He was intoxicated by the flavor and smell of her. His cock throbbed painfully beneath him, insistently demanding relief. He resisted until she was once again panting and mewling, writhing in desperation.
Nick kissed his way to her mouth. As his tongue mated with hers, he slid into her welcoming heat. His grateful cry matched hers. Braced on his elbows, he loved her with deep, thorough, lingering strokes. She locked her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist, drawing him ever further into her tight sheath.
Their eyes met and held an instant before they found release. Her muscles clamped down like a vice as he bathed her inner walls with his pulsing hot seed. Their breath mingled and their hearts pounded as they remained motionless, savoring each tremor until the contractions finally faded away. Through it all, their gazes remained locked.
Nick knew he didn't want to be without her ever again. He didn't know whether he could trust her. He didn't know whether she would ever love him the way he did her. Even with those doubts, he wanted her in his life, every day. He started to withdraw so they could talk, but she tightened her legs around him.
"No, please stay a bit longer," she whispered.
Nick rolled until she was on top, and when he spoke, his voice was low and husky with emotion. "I'll stay as long as you want me," he whispered.
They were both aware of the double meaning, and Jess gave him a trembling smile. "Will you stay with me forever?"
"Just try to get rid of me," Nick said with a grin, running his thumb over her bottom lip. His eyes grew serious again, and he searched her face. "Marry me, Jess."
Jess's jaw dropped, and she sat stunned and perfectly still for several long moments. Holy shit, he thought. Now he had really screwed up! He had scared her off for sure with that one. Before his fears could get totally out of hand, her expression transformed into one of radiant joy. Her beaming smile was enough to answer him, but she nodded and threw her arms around his neck, showering his face with eager kisses.
"Yes, Nick! Oh yes!"
Nick laughed with relief and held her face still so he could kiss her. Jess poured all her love into her answering kiss. Her heart was pounding with excitement, but an insistent worry kept nagging at her. She finally drew back from the kiss to search his face.
"Nick, you aren't just asking because you think I might be pregnant, are you?"
"Why do you think that?" he asked with a sharp frown.
She shrugged. "It just seems so sudden. I don't want for you to marry me only out of obligation or something."
