Paradox by Paula

He was certain she was aware of his pounding heart—and sure she could see his shaking hands. Keep it together soldier! But here she was at his side, placing a hand on his shoulder and the other on his face. He tried not to look, tried not to see her face as she turned him and kissed him softly, saying more with her touch than any words could convey. The promise of her caressing lips defeating his weakening resolve. His eyes met hers in one moment more intense, more terrifying than any experience in his grim, brutal life, his soul bare and raw and exposed for her to see, all his feelings for her spilling over unchecked.

Sarah’s expression held no fear, only love and a heat that instantly consumed his rigid body with raging need for her. So much of him self slipping away, falling— part of him dying. He let out a whimper of despair and joy as he pulled her to him in a crushing embrace. His kisses were hungry, desperate, devouring her. He couldn’t get enough of her, enveloping himself in her taste and scent. They staggered against the refrigerator and slid to the floor all entwined limbs and eager mouths. She was kissing his scars, caressing his ravaged body, soothing the pain of his gray life and starving soul. When she began to pull away, he was confused and fearful he had somehow misread her feelings for him. But Sarah led him to the bed then slowly let go of his hand. She turned to face him, slipping out of her clothes. There was no sound, but the soft whisper-brush of fabric against flesh.

His whole life had not added up to the smallest shred of joy, of safety or pleasure, revealed now in his expression as he looked at her, an expression that made her heart ache as she stood there naked in the moonlight in silent invitation. He reached for her, so lovely, so perfect, his bandaged hand touching the bruise on her cheek from when she had fought him in the car. She pressed her face against it, kissing the injured palm, the same hand she had sunk her teeth into as hard as she could. His body was shaking with exhaustion and desire as she began to help him out of his jeans.

Pausing, she reached up and touched her fingertips to his lips in reassurance.

“Surrender to me soldier,” she said softly as she drew him down onto the cool sheets.

Her skin was a silken treasure for him to explore and she reveled in the sensation of his hands sliding down her body as he kissed her throat, her breasts, and the smooth plane of her belly. This man was such a paradox to her. Kyle was accustomed to a brutal existence of violence and pain, trained to ignore discomfort, loneliness, and fatigue. Yet he was an exquisitely tender lover. Kissing her with unrestrained passion, caressing her skin with gentle hands so warm they seemed to burn, Kyle made her feel both safe and cherished under his touch. He looked into her eyes with an intensity that made her feel she was drowning. This was the same look he had given her in the disco, though he had tried to hide it.

Was that only hours ago?

She had been terrified of him; certain he intended to kill her. Now she realized with a wave of regret how, instead, he had desperately wanted to protect her, to be close to her. These thoughts floated randomly through her mind as her hands traveled across his ribs and up the skin of his back to guide him over her and lower him self onto her.

He heard her whisper his name in a voice full of love, her lips against his ear as she sheathed him in one instinctive, fluid motion. He began to lose himself in the sensation of their joined bodies moving together, of her body responding to his. Her legs wrapped around his waist with her thighs pressing painfully against his bruised ribs so tightly he could barely breathe. He did not care. Kyle looked down, unable to get enough of the sight of Sarah, her head thrown back, his own love reflected in her half-closed eyes. Her gasping for breath against his mouth between his kisses became his own. The feel of his fingers mindlessly grasping the sheet as he drove into her harder and deeper were replayed by her own hands as they curled into his hair, fingers contracting tighter and tighter, telegraphing her pleasure. Her body curved upward so her face was buried hard against his neck as she came. Her cries consumed his senses and he felt infinitely powerful and infinitely content knowing he could make her feel this way. It made his own climax a sweet agony of release, waves of pleasure raging through his body, his soul crying out, his mind intoxicated with the taste of his beloved.

After a moment, he drew back slightly to once again see Sarah’s face and she kissed him languidly, feeling his bone-weary muscles tremble, listening to his ragged breathing as it slowed. She cradled her spent lover, holding him fiercely with her legs still locked around his middle, her arms enfolding his beautiful, strong body, to her merely an outward reflection of his true soul and loyal heart.

THE END