Silent Strings

Chapter 15 (18+)

His touch was like a gentle caress of the evening breeze, sending shivers of delight down her spine as he traced the curve of her neck with his thumbs.

“Ines,” Jackson murmured, his voice thick with desire, “you’re so beautiful. I’ve missed this—missed you.”

Her breath hitched at his words, her eyes meeting his. “Jackson…” she whispered, her voice trembling, “I—” She couldn’t finish. The weight of everything unsaid between them hung in the air, but the raw intensity of his gaze left her speechless.

“I’ll wait,” he said softly, brushing his lips against her jawline, then down to her collarbone. “Say it when you’re ready. Tonight, just let me show you how much I’ve missed you.”

With a hunger that had been simmering for years, his lips found hers, their kiss deepening, becoming more insistent with each passing second. Ines gasped softly, feeling the restraint in his movements, the careful way he held her as though she might shatter beneath his touch.

“You don’t have to hold back,” she breathed, her hands sliding up his chest to cup his face. “I’m here. I’m yours.”

A low growl rumbled in his chest at her words, his lips curling into a wicked smile. “You’re making it very hard to behave, sweetheart.”

“Then don’t,” she challenged, her tone playful but her eyes dark with longing. “Show me.”

Her words were like a spark to dry kindling, and Jackson groaned, his control unraveling. His mouth captured hers again, and this time, there was no hesitation. His hands moved with purpose, sliding down her sides to unbutton her blouse, his fingers brushing over her skin with a reverence that made her shiver.

As the fabric slipped from her shoulders, she caught his wrist, her cheeks flushed. “You’re looking at me like I’m your last meal.”

“You are,” he admitted, his voice low and gravelly. “You’ve always been.”

Her breath left her in a shaky exhale, and before she could respond, his lips trailed down her neck, leaving a blazing path of kisses that made her arch into him. “Jackson…” she whimpered, her hands tangling in his hair as he moved lower, teasing the sensitive peaks of her breasts with his tongue.

“I love the way you say my name,” he murmured against her skin, his warm breath sending goosebumps across her body. “Say it again.”

“Jackson…” she repeated, her voice breathy, filled with need. Her nails scraped lightly across his shoulders, and he groaned in response, his mouth closing over her n****e.

She gasped, her back arching. “Oh God… I—”

He released her with a soft chuckle, his hands sliding down to the waistband of her skirt. “No gods here, Ines. Just me. Just us.”

His words sent a jolt of heat through her, and she found herself smiling even as her heart raced. “You’re impossible,” she teased, though her breath caught when he slid the fabric down her legs, leaving her bare before him.

“You’re stunning,” he said simply, his gaze raking over her as though committing every curve to memory. “Do you know how many nights I’ve dreamed of this? Of having you like this again?”

Her heart clenched at the raw emotion in his voice. “I’ve dreamed of it too,” she admitted softly, reaching out to cup his face. “But nothing compares to the real thing.”

He captured her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm before pinning it gently above her head. “Then let’s make it unforgettable.”

He kissed his way down her torso, his hands parting her thighs as he settled between them. The first brush of his lips against her sent a sharp gasp spilling from her mouth.

“Jackson!” she cried, her hands flying to his hair. He hummed in satisfaction, the vibration against her most sensitive spot making her squirm.

“You taste just as I remember,” he murmured, his voice muffled as he continued his ministrations. “Perfect.”

Ines moaned, her fingers tightening in his hair. “Please,” she begged, her voice trembling. “I need you.”

He paused, looking up at her, his lips glistening and his eyes dark with unrestrained desire. “Say it again,” he commanded softly.

“I need you, Jackson,” she whispered, her eyes locked on his. “Please.”

The vulnerability in her voice shattered the last of his restraint. He rose to his knees, quickly shedding the last of his clothes. She couldn’t tear her eyes away, her breath hitching at the sight of him.

As he positioned himself at her entrance, he paused, his gaze searching hers. “Are you sure?”

She cupped his face, pulling him down for a kiss that left no room for doubt. “Always.”

With a deep groan, he pushed into her, his movements slow, deliberate, as though savoring every second. Her body tensed at first, but his soothing words—“Relax, sweetheart, I’ve got you”—and the gentle brush of his lips against her temple eased her.

She gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders as she adjusted to him. He paused, giving her a moment to acclimate, his forehead resting against hers.

“You’re still so perfect,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, her body eager to close the gap that had existed between them for too long. Slowly, he began to move, their bodies finding a rhythm that felt both familiar and new. Each thrust, each sigh, each moan was a testament to the years of longing that had finally reached their crescendo.

“Jackson,” she sighed.

Her body responded to him like it had been made for him, her walls tightening with every movement. He kissed her deeply, his lips capturing hers in a way that said everything he couldn’t put into words: that she had always been his, that no time or distance could change what they shared.

“Ines,” he groaned as her body quaked around him, her climax barreling toward her. He deepened his strokes, his pace quickening as he felt her unravel beneath him.

“Jackson,” she breathed, her voice trembling with pleasure. “I can’t—”

“Yes, you can,” he whispered, his lips grazing her ear. “I’ve got you. Let go for me.”

And she did. Her cries grew louder as he quickened his pace, his name spilling from her lips like a mantra. “Jackson… oh, gods, Jackson…”

“Come for me, Ines,” he urged, his voice hoarse with need. “Let me feel you.”

Her release hit her like a tidal wave, her body clenching around him as she cried out his name. The sight, the feel of her unraveling beneath him, pushed him over the edge. With a deep, guttural groan, he followed her into bliss, his body shuddering as he spilled himself inside her.

They collapsed together, their bodies trembling, their breaths mingling as they came down from the high. Jackson cradled her against his chest, pressing soft kisses to her hair.

Jackson and Ines lay entwined on the bed, their limbs tangled in an intimate knot, their bodies still joined as they breathed in harmony. Beyond the glass walls, the stars stood sentinel, bearing silent witness to the reunion of two souls. At that moment, time ceased to exist, and the whispers of their past mingled with the fiery cries of their present, hinting at a future brimming with passion and unspoken promises.