Love Scars by Lark Lane

back and kissed his jaw and his neck. His skin was smooth and smelled so good. I moved down and sat between his legs and started to pull his shirt up. He sat up and ripped it off and tossed it to the floor. I tossed my tank top on the floor beside it.
    As I ran my hands over his muscled chest, he slid my bra straps down. He kissed my neck, then my shoulder, then moved down. He slid my bra down and tongued a nipple, and I slipped out of my bra and put my arms around his shoulders, luxuriating in the sweet tingling as he sucked. He moved to the other nipple. I was was so hot, pulsating, wanting, wanting.
    I pushed him back against the pillow and unbuttoned his pants. He helped me slide them down and off. I ran my fingers up his beautiful huge shaft, strong, hot, dripping. At the same time, I slid a finger between my folds and rubbed my clit.
    I moaned and let go of him and straddled him. I needed to feel him inside me.
    “Wait.” He put his hands under my armpits and lifted me and slipped out from under me. “Stop,” he said. “I can’t.”
    “You can’t?” What the fuck. “Do you need a condom?” I reached up and opened the drawer in my nightstand. “I think I have one.” It was weird, searching for a condom left by my boyfriend from months ago. “Do condoms have a sell-by date?”
    He didn’t laugh. In fact, he looked a bit nauseated.
    “Well, crap,” I said.
    It was all going terribly wrong. His face was a blank. I was right earlier. J.D. didn’t want me, despite quite erect evidence to the contrary. I swung my legs around off the bed and ran to the bathroom. I locked the door, but it wasn’t necessary. He didn’t follow me. What the hell. I had to pee, anyway.
    What was I thinking? J.D. had seen me in full-tilt meltdown. My lunatic fringe was on full display tonight. How could I ever believe he’d want to make love to that ?
    I splashed cold water on my face and brushed my teeth. I found my pajama bottoms and sleep top on the floor where I’d left them this morning—yesterday morning. The bottoms were green and covered with tiny white piranhas with huge teeth. The white tank top had one big green piranha on the front. Silly, but it didn’t matter. J.D. wouldn’t see them. At that moment he was probably throwing on his clothes. I gave him a few more minutes to get out of Dodge, and opened the bathroom door.
    He was still there, still in bed.
    “I’m sorry,” he said. His eyes were as beautiful and soulful as ever. It hurt to look at them.
    “Don’t be,” I said. “There’s nothing to be sorry about.” I felt awful, but a part of me was glad he hadn’t left. “Can I ask you one more favor?” I said.
    “Name it.”
    “Would you mind staying with me tonight? It sounds trite, but I’d really appreciate it if you’d just stay with me tonight and hold me.”
    He opened his arms, and I climbed into bed with my back to his chest. We settled in nicely together. As if we were made for each other. As I drifted off to sleep, I could swear he kissed my ear and whispered my name.

Chapter 9
    The window was open. Outside, the little birdies were going cheep cheep cheep. For a second, I thought I was back at home on Orcas Island. The only thing missing was Scarlett blasting The Rascals’ It’s A Beautiful Morning through Mom’s sound system.
    I was still at Nora’s place, alone in her bed. I stayed the night because riding a bike at two o’clock in the morning was suicide, especially on a weekend. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
    I’ll also admit I wanted to postpone the inevitable.
    Once I left Nora Deven’s house, I’d never see her again. It was too dangerous. She’d slipped past all my defenses and embedded herself dangerously close to my heart. Deeper than any woman had ever touched me. She was a good person. I didn't want to hurt her.
    The best way to avoid that pain was to stay away from her altogether.
    I didn’t know where she was, but the bedroom door was open and I