Page 87 of Thorns and Ashes
She leans her head into my chest as I hold her in my arms. I didn’t think we’d get here. I didn’t think after what happened between us, our argument earlier this week, that either of us was going to be able to put it all aside, but when I woke up with her still in my arms this morning, I knew there’s no way I’m going back.
I spent the entire week reflecting on how I’ve stopped living since Krystal died. How I’ve let mourning over the loss of her stop me from embracing what’s right in front of me. I’ll always miss her, but I almost missed this, and even though I don’t know where a relationship with Tris may lead, I know that there isn’t anyonebetter for me now than her. She pushes back. Calls me on my shit. Stands her ground like she’s daring me to try and move her. She’s stubborn enough to go toe-to-toe with me, and strong enough not to flinch.
My fingers trace slowly along her spine, mapping every rise and fall of her body beneath my hands. Her breath evens out, and I feel a deep satisfaction in how completely she lets herself rest. Her head turns back and forth as she finally notices the pots on the stove.
“You’re cooking?” she asks, surprised.
“Yeah, I figured we needed sustenance after all our extracurricular activity,” I tease, enjoying myself as her cheeks turn red. “And I like cup-of-noodles as much as the next guy, but I figured real food would be best.”
“Hey, what’s wrong with cup-of-noodles?” She crosses her arms in mock offense.
“Nothing. In fact, the raccoons around here are real fans of it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Maybe one day I’ll tell you,” I reply with a laugh, stirring the sauce in the pan. “Here, taste this.”
She drags her tongue over her lips after tasting the spoon, and just like that, my hunger shifts to something else entirely.
“Mmm,” she moans, a sound I’ve seared into my memory and will never get enough of. “That’s delicious! You made that?”
I just had her, for the first time, and already it feels like I can’t get enough. Her moans, her heat, the way she trembled under me, it’s burned into me, a reminder of what it feels like to want, to need,to be alive with someone again. I crave it all over, every gasp, every shiver, every whisper of her name.
I turn off the burners. The pork tenderloin and herb sauce I re-heated will have to wait.
“Mhm.” I place the lid over the pan to keep it hot and take the spoon from her hands.
“Wait, what? What are you doing? I want to eat that. I’m hungry.” She looks longingly at the pan, but my mouth is only watering for one thing.
I lift her by the hips, and a quick yelp escapes her as I place her bare ass down onto the kitchen island.
“I want an appetizer first,” I explain, my voice dropping as I spread her legs wide so she’s fully on display for me. “Fucking perfect.”
Her mouth gapes open. “Levi.”
She barely gets my name out of her mouth before mine is on her. The taste of her explodes in my mouth, and I drink her up, lapping and licking, not wasting a single drop. Her body responds to me instantly, and before I know it, she’s riding my fingers and clenching around them.
“Not yet, baby,” I say, removing my mouth from her, eliciting a gasp. I pull my hard cock from my pants and slide it into her.
Her greedy pussy swallows me whole, and after a few more pumps, we both climax. Her moans fill the room as my cock pulses, and I spill into her.
Pulling out slowly, I grab some paper towels and run them under warm water before tending to her. Carefully, I help her down from the island, placing her feet on the floor. Her eyes are glazed over, still coming down from the euphoria. I grin, knowing I’m the one who put her there.
“Go sit at the table.” I lift her chin and kiss her lips. “I’ll make us plates.”
She blinks, her lips quirking up slightly. “So bossy.”
“This might be the best meal I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot of expensive dishes.” Tris drags her last piece of pork across the garlic herb sauce, picking up every drop before placing it in her mouth.
I watch as she chews, savoring the flavor. I enjoy spending time with her like this. Her walls are down, and so are mine. While eating, we’ve fallen back into the comfortable ease of conversation that’s always come naturally to us when we’re not bantering back and forth or ready to jump down each other’s throats. Honestly, though, I kind of like our banter. It keeps things interesting.
“What are you smiling about?” she asks, one brow turning down.
“Am I not allowed to smile?” I quip, petting Ellie’s head at my side.
“I don’t know yet.” She grins, standing and bringing our plates to the sink to wash. “I’ll have to get used to seeing you do it and get back to you.”
A deep chuckle escapes me, opening my chest and leaving it feeling lighter. The tension I’ve been carrying, the weight of all I’ve held onto, is easing just enough to let me breathe again.
