Her tears soaked his shirt as Grace cried bitterly, desperately in Lucas' chest. The dam seemed to broke the moment he pulled her in his arms and her sobs only got stronger and stronger as she cried, hiding her face in his chest.
Lucas caressed her wavy hair, rocking her gently in his embrace.
"I'm here, Grace", he whispered "You are not alone anymore. You will never be alone again. Cry it all out, sweetheart".
Lucas showered her hair and forehead with gentle kisses, trying to show her how much he loves her. He knew that was what she needed now the most - unconditional love.
Lucas cupped her left cheek and leaned down, gently kissing one then another eyelid, feeling the salty drops from her eyelashes on his lips.
"My love", he said in a hushed, calming voice "How I love those beautiful eyes of yours", he kissed her eyelids once again "Sssshhhh…I'm here", he kept on wiping her tears, his lips slowly kissing their way down to her lips. He gently kissed her lips, then whispered "I love you, my angel…", his lips kissed her again, gently, sensually and lovingly "I love you so much".
He felt her sobs as he kissed her and knew that it will take some time until she calms down and let him reach out to her. Until then, Lucas knew he had to keep on trying to break through her pain and sorrow.
"My darling Grace", he whispered, his lips hovering above hers, his fingers caressing her left cheek "Talk to me, sweetheart. Don't let your past destroy your beautiful soul. You don't have to deal with it alone anymore. Let me help you", he softly brushed his lips over hers and felt a tremor shaking through her entire body.
Lucas gently kept his lips on hers a bit longer, caressing them with his love when he felt a shift in her posture.
Her right hand moved from being curled up against her and now was hovering over his chest.
Lucas decided to act.
He slowly pulled his lips away from hers, took her hand and lead it to his pulse point. Tears were still rolling down her cheeks, but her sobs were slowly starting to calm down in the light of his gentle ministrations and love.
"Do you feel that?", he quietly asked her as he put her palm on his pulse point. She stayed silent, looking down at her hand in his, but Lucas continued "Focus on that. Focus on my pulse. Take a deep breath in, hold it…and let go", his fingers covered her palm that was resting near his neck and he leaned his forehead on hers, feeling his pulse racing up at her closeness and
her touch. He looked at her, their breaths mingling as he whispered "And always remember that you are the reason it beats", he felt her eyes looking up at him and his heart ached at the sight of them filled with so much sadness.
Lucas moved his head a bit and leaned down to kiss her lips.
It was then that he noticed a change in her eyes; from utter sorrow to burning love.
And he took a chance, diving in for a kiss…
And this time she reacted…
And it was glorious.
Her rosy lips moved over his, trying to drink him in and he let her take everything she wants, everything she needs from him.
But, when he felt her fingers slowly caressing his pulse point, Lucas leant down, holding onto her lips, not wanting to let her go.
Ever.
His left hand went to the nape of her neck and brushed against her skin with fingertips, causing her to sigh…and he took a chance.
His kiss deepened, making her whimper and she pulled his head forward, trying to get even closer to his glorious mouth.
He sighed into the kiss, sending her heart racing and he never pulled back. He slowed down their kiss to a long, sensual one, if only to make her attention shift before he gently licked her lower lip. A whimper mixed with a silent sigh escaped Grace and Lucas went in deeper, kissing her with all he had, causing her heart rate to explode and a silent moan escaped her, his kisses stoking her senses to fire.
He could feel her shivering in his arms as his lips devoured her, his only purpose to make her feel absolutely adored.
He softly broke the kiss and opened his eyes to her sparkling ones, both of them breathing heavily.
He caressed her cheek, his fingertips stopping at her lips and his eyes darkening as he felt her kissing his fingertips.
"Some day, when you are ready, you can tell me about your pain, about your sorrow. You can even tell me now if you want", he took her hand in his and bringing it up, he gently kissed her knuckles "Whatever you decide, I want you to know that I love you with every breath I take. And that I am always here for you".
Grace took a shivering breath in.
"Lucas", he heard her whisper "What if I am too broken for you? Nobody ever wanted me. Nobody wanted to adopt me. Nobody wanted to love me", she swallowed, feeling tears choking her in.
Lucas' heart clenched as Grace made her pain visible. She opened her heart to him…and he gently took care of it by moving his hand over her neck, trailing the line he loved to kiss with his fingertips. She shivered most deliciously.
He looked straight into her eyes, his eyes shining and he held his lips just above hers, whispering:
"Until now".
He saw her countenance change at those two simple words and he teased her lips with his before gently nuzzling his nose with hers.
"You say that you are broken…Let me help you. Let me love you back to feeling whole again, mon coeur" ("my heart"), he said huskily and felt her shiver in his embrace. His breath warmed her lips as he continued to talk, every word brushing the rosy petals of her lips "Let me show you how special you are. Let me show you how you changed my life for better", he looked deeply into her eyes before adding, his voice filled with emotions "Let me love you back to life like you did with me".
At those words, a silent sob escaped her and Lucas decided to steal it and turn her hurt into joy. He kissed her, his lips pulling on hers, sucking her lower lip for a moment before he licked her lips lovingly. She trembled hard at the sensation, her lips parting and he deepened the kiss, making her close her eyes, letting out a soft moan as he pulled her closer.
His lips were devouring her, it felt like he tried to drink away every tear she shed and every pain she felt only to replace it with his love and passion for her.
She pulled away slightly, just for a second, just to catch a breath but he quickly whispered "No. Not yet" and dived right back in, kissing her lips passionately.
Grace trembled in excitement at his demeanor. Her heart bursted with love for this wonderful man.
She cupped his bearded cheeks and caressed them, kissing him passionately and whimpering slightly as he pulled her closer, her body flushed against his.
Grace felt she was going to faint.
She could feel muscles in his back rippling at her touch through the thin shirt he wore. She could feel his breathing growing heavier by every brush of their lips and tongues.
Right before she thought she would loose her control, his hands stopped her hands.
He pulled his lips away from hers and leaned his forehead on hers, both of them fighting for a breath.
Lucas gently smiled as Grace trembled in his arms.
"Je t'aime tellement, mon amour. Je t'adore, mon ange" ("I love you so much, my love. I adore you, my angel"), he whispered gently and he felt her palms lovingly brushing over the nape of his neck, their heavy breaths mingling.
Her tear stained face shone with a loving smile as her fingertips played with the hair on the nape of his neck.
Lucas smiled back softly.
"Tu es la reine de mon coeur, ma chère Grace" ("You are the queen of my heart, my dear Grace"), he whispered passionately.
Grace sighed, smiling through her tears and hugged him, leaning her head in the crook of his neck, feeling his arms caressing her back and hair.
And, closing her eyes and smiling happily, she let him calm her down with his love.
—--
I can see it in your eyes
And feel it in your touch,
I know that you're scared,
But you've never been this loved
Mm hmm.
It's a long shot, baby,
I know it's true
But if anyone can make it
I'm betting on me and you Mm hmm.
Just keep on moving into me
I know you're gonna see
The best is yet to come.
And don't fear it now
We're going all the way,
That sun is shining on a brand-new day
It's a long way down
And it's a leap of faith,
But we're never giving up
'Cause I know we've got a once-in-a-lifetime love.
Everybody's looking
For what we've found,
Some wait their whole life
And it never comes around Uh huh.
So don't hold back now
Just let go of all you've ever known,
You can put your hand in mine.
And don't fear it now
We're going all the way
That sun is shining on a brand-new day.
It's a long way down
And it's a leap of faith
But we're never giving up
'Cause I know we've got a once in a lifetime love.
I close my eyes and I see you standing right there
Saying 'I do' and they're throwing the rice in our hair
Well the first one's born
And a brother comes along
And he's got your smile
I've been looking back on the life we had
I'm still by your side.
And don't fear it now
We're going all the way
That sun is shining on a brand-new day
It's a long way down
And it's a leap of faith
But we're never giving up
'Cause I know we've got a once in a lifetime love.
("Once in a lifetime" - Keith Urban)