Free Breathe Again by Rachel Brookes Page B

and ran my fingertip down her cheek. She squirmed in bed, and slowly her eyes fluttered open. A smile appeared on her lips as she looked up at me.
    “Tate what’s wrong?” Her voice was husky from sleep, her words spilling with concern.
    I grabbed her hand and pulled her up until she was sitting. “I need you to get out of bed for a minute.”
    Sav nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving mine as she swung her bare legs over the edge of the bed and stood before me wearing just one of my t-shirts.
    “I saw the photos in the living room,” I whispered. My fingers interlocked with hers, and the sound of her breathing increasing hit my ears.
    “Tate, I don’t know—”
    “Don’t say anything.” My finger rested on her lips and her head nodded in agreement. Once I was satisfied that she wouldn’t speak, I dropped my finger and brushed my lips softly over hers. “Just trust me, okay?”
    My hands ran up her bare arms. Instantly, goose bumps spread over her cool skin and her eyes closed at the sensation. She was so reactive to my touch and I loved every second of it, but this wasn’t what this was about. I needed her to see herself how I saw her.
    “Look at me, Sav.”
    Her eyes pried open and looked at me with heated hesitation. Our eyes searched each other’s for unspoken words. I didn’t break our contact as my hands moved down her body, searching for the hem of my shirt that looked so fucking perfect on her. She gasped as my hands moved inside the material and skimmed the delicate skin of her hips. I felt the smirk form on my lips as my hands brushed her bare hipbone, showing me that she wasn’t wearing panties. So fucking sexy.
    “Lift your arms, Savannah.”
    Without a word, Sav raised her arms and I slipped the cotton t-shirt over her head. She shook her head and her hair swished around her face. She stood before me in all of her naked form. My goddess. My Savannah. Her mouth twitched as if she were going to say something, but she closed it tight while her eyes finally smiled at me. I silently walked to her drawers, knowing exactly what I was looking for. I pulled out the black and baby pink panties, suspenders, and bra that had turned me on many times in the past. Her eyes followed wherever I was, but she remained still and didn’t say a word.
    Moving back towards her, I gently placed the lingerie on our bed and stood before her. I couldn’t stop my hands from moving to her naked skin. It was as if it were silently begging me to take ownership. My hands cupped her face, pulling her lips to mine. Our kiss wasn’t frantic. It wasn’t full of lust and need; it wasn’t aggressive or dominating. It was soft, pure, loving, and gentle. With the back of my fingers, I traced every inch of her skin, outlining her lips, sweeping across her collarbones, caressing the bare skin of her breasts and expanding stomach, and cupping her hips gently.
    “I love you, Miss Rae.”
    Dropping to my knees, I gazed up at her and was met with her eyes burning into mine. Grabbing the panties from the bed, I placed them on the floor beside me before turning my full attention back to Savannah. I lifted each of her feet, softly placing a kiss on each of the soles. Sliding the panties over her ankles and up her calves, I kissed the delicate skin as I moved the panties slowly up her toned legs. I stopped when I reached her knees and spread her legs wider so they would hold the panties in place.
    I shuffled forward and let my lips fall to her bare skin and traced the length of her thigh with the tip of my tongue while my fingertips swept over the other, giving it just as much attention. Her breathing became heavy, and suddenly her hand found my hair and her fingertips moved through it, her nails scraping my scalp with a soothing sensation that stopped me momentarily.
    My mouth continued its assault on her thighs, splashing kisses on every inch of her beautiful skin. I moved swiftly but softly to where I knew I wanted to go. I needed to