Again (Brandy Jeffus)

long, long time."
    I take off the remainder of my clothes and we start kissing again. I feel weak and vulnerable, but underneath all that are the familiar feelings of raw love, hunger, and need. Every time we made love, it convinced me our bodies had been made specifically for each other.
    This time wouldn’t be any different, no matter how many years had passed.
    He picks me up with ease and carries me out of the room. I raise an eyebrow, and he smiles, his eyes warm and intense. His eyes show every emotion he’s feeling right now, they always did give him away. He continues to walk through the house naked and finally stops at another room. This faces towards the lake and the wall was made out of glass. A black dresser is to the side and in the middle is a white sheeted round bed with a white canopy halfway around it. Red pillows decorate the head of the bed. The room is adorned with art that I gifted him in high school. I am taken by surprise to see more of my artwork, long ago forgotten.
    "You built this?" I whisper. He nods and kisses my nose.
    "I've never used it, to be honest. It was just something that I needed to build for some reason. You like it?" he asks. I kiss him on the nose back and nod.
    He carries me to the dresser where he turns the CD player on. Ed Sheeran’s “Kiss Me” comes on and Eli looks apologetic.
    “I swear I’m not trying to be cheesy. This song always reminded me of you.”
    "It's beautiful, just like you," is my answer. He lowers me down slowly on the bed and lies down beside me. I feel self-conscience laying there in the nude, so I reach for the covers, but Eli stops me.
    "No, please. Please, just let me look. You're so beautiful, Bonnie. You've gotten more beautiful with time," he murmurs. He gently caresses my tattoo with his fingertips.
    "Song of Solomon verses always reminded me of us. ‘All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you’."
    He leans down and kisses the tattoo and moves up. His lips are on my neck, touching it so softly and move behind my ear. Each kiss makes my insides quiver. The room is spinning. His touch is a thousand flames; exhilarating every inch of me. My body quivers in anticipation because it recognizes his touch, his kiss.
    He raises his head and looks in my eyes. His hand rests on my stomach right below my belly button, "Is this the spot still?" he asks softly, his fingers tracing a certain pattern only he knew that made my legs turn to jelly.
    I nod, unable to talk. I touch his face and wrap my fingers through his silky hair, "Please, Eli. Please."
    "Okay, love. Okay," his voice is thick with emotion as he lowers himself down to kiss me. When he slips inside me I feel my heart beat right out of my chest. He has his head buried in my shoulder but I lift it up. His smile brings his dimples coming out. We lock eyes and make love.
    Time stands still and everything becomes quiet. A line of sweat beads his brow and his cheeks are flush. One hand comes to my face and cups it lightly. We take our time, exploring each other. He feels amazing; he makes me feel amazing.
    "I love you. I've never stopped," he admits quietly. I can feel the buildup and I know the explosion is approaching. His declaration has turned me on even more. To have this man, this gorgeous man, love me after all this time is beyond me.
    "Tell me again. Please," I beg. I grip his arms, feeling his muscles. He leans down and kisses me hungry and rough. His pace quickens, pushing me farther to the finish.
    "I love you. I love you. You are my sun, and my moon and my stars," he tells me as I start moaning softly. I grab his hand tighter and he keeps talking, "And I was dead without you. I love you so... Damn….Much."
    Suddenly, we explode together. We yell out as we peak together. The world becomes an inky black and all I can see are a million stars. Every inch of my body tingles.
    Eli collapses on top me, his body drenched in sweat. We’re panting, willing our bodies to calm down and our hearts to slow. He spoons up against me, his arm slung over my body. I take a finger and gently run it up and down. Things are silent for a while.
    Finally, he breaks the silence; his voice a shaky whisper, “I was always so jealous when I saw you with him. Or when I turned on the TV and saw some video clip of you and him at his concerts. You were by his side and looked so pretty, so gorgeous… just like always. The first time I saw you two together, I threw up. I was sick for the rest of