Nothing Less

His hips jump at my words, and his eyes are burning into mine.

“Is that what you want?” I kiss lower.

He nods furiously, and I smile. I follow the trail of hair with my mouth and kiss him one last time, in the sensitive spot between his thigh and his cock. It jerks next to my face, and I take it in one hand. I want to admire him, the way he admired me.

I try to be patient and place a kiss on the tip of him, but the noise he makes when I do cuts through my patience. I take him in my mouth and he comes instantly. My name has never sounded better than it does when he moans it while filling my mouth.

When he’s finished, he reaches for my shoulders and pulls my body to his. I lay my head on his chest, and it moves with each rise and fall of his breath. His fingers caress me, tickling my skin as he drags them down my arm to my hip, and then back up.

Landon’s hands are strong yet soft on me, and I can’t remember the last time I was held this way. It’s been, what . . . at least two years. Even when I was with him, he never held me like this. Quiet time was sparse in our house, and I never realized just how rare it was until it was too late. Landon’s fingers move up to my hair and gently rub my scalp. I let my eyes close and soak in the contact.

The harsh pang of loss that’s been throbbing inside me for years feels as if it’s dissipating with every stroke of Landon’s fingers in my hair. I love how gentle he is, how untainted his soul remains. I’ve never met anyone like him, and I can’t help but wish for more of him. More time, more kisses, more of his fingers leaving their marks on my skin. Dakota is so lucky to have been with him for so long, sharing so many memories with him. I’ll never understand why she took him for granted. I will simply never, ever get it.

A loud crashing sound comes from the living room, and we both jump. I climb off the bed and search for something to cover my body. Landon already has gray sweatpants hanging from his hips, and he’s pulling an NYU T-shirt over his head.

Another crash. Landon looks at me. “You stay here.” He seems slightly panicked, but not afraid.

When he opens the door, the sound of shattering glass fills the room.