What started as a giddy outflow of newly expressed love soon turned to flaring passion as Jack urged Sue back, laying her on the carpet, and following without breaking contact. Sue willingly bore his weight as he rained kisses on her lips, leaving her no choice but to respond.
He allowed his tongue to explore the far recess of her mouth, pulling from her his name, hissed across panting lips when she could take no more. Having momentary mercy on her, he slid his lips across her cheek to the hollow of her neck, where he zeroed in on another place that had her calling his name. The hollow of her collarbone was especially susceptible to his tongue, which he used expertly before finally running it from there to the lobe of her ear and nipping gently, causing her to arch into him and gasp audibly. He soothed the bruised area with his tongue and then blew gently, absorbing the shivers running through her body. Kissing his way back to her mouth, he again drank deeply from her sweetness, unwilling to stop.
Her hands pushing at his shoulders slowly began to register. Easing back with the greatest of reluctance, he was distracted by her swollen lips and the wild look in her eyes as she tried to focus on him. Her uneven breathing had him dipping his head again only to stop as she turned her head.
"Jack, wait. I need to slow down. This is all overwhelming. You overwhelm me. Your kisses make me forget who I am and what I'm doing. Please, let me catch my breath."
"Maybe if I get off of you the breathing part will be easier," he said, trying to add some levity to the situation. Easing off to the side, he kept one leg thrown over her to keep in her place, just in case he had gone too far and she felt like bolting. To his surprise and delight she simply turned on her side, cupped his cheek and thanked him.
"]WELCOME," he signed, embarrassed now at his lack of self-control. Reaching up and stroking her hair, he tried to steady his wildly beating heart. "I do love you, Sue Thomas," he whispered reverently, relaxing in the security of voicing the words. Arching an eyebrow at a remembered statement he asked, "Why did you say earlier that the first time you told me you loved me was hard? Did you honestly think I didn't feel the same way?"
Smiling, she shook her head, a blush creeping up on her cheeks. "I know you know I've dated, but that's all I've done. Nothing, no one, before you has been a serious threat to my heart. I've never said those words to a man," she admitted, almost meeting his eyes. "You are the first."
"I'm honored," he replied seriously. Making sure she was still watching, he continued. "I know you know there have been women in my life before I met you, some serious," he added dully, hating the pain that marred her lovely eyes at his words. "But Sue, I never told any of them that I loved them. I heard the words from them, but never repeated them. You are the first for me, too. I love you, pure and simple, and I plan on telling you often."
"That's fine with me," she giggled, feeling lighthearted. "I'm going to miss you the next few days," she said, frowning at the thought of being away from him.
"No you won't," he said confidently. At her look of disbelief he leaned over and kissed her, almost forgetting where he was headed. Breaking the kiss, he regained his composure and finished his thought. "You won't miss me," he emphatically stated, "Because I'm coming with you."