‘You okay?’ He smoothed her hair away from her face.
Still half-dazed, she slurred, ‘Never better.’
He chuckled, then cupped her breast and took it into his mouth.
‘Oh, god!’ She shoved her fingers in his hair. ‘I stand corrected.’
Finally, after showering her with all the attention, he gazed down at her. ‘Are you ready?’
‘Yes.’ She wrapped her legs around him. ‘Yes, now.’
He inched forward, slowly, perhaps expecting resistance, but she was so ready he slid in easily.
‘Oh, fuck.’ His eyes fluttered closed as he pushed all the way in. ‘I don’t … Shit, I’m not gonna last.’
Burying his face in her neck, he stilled.
Screw that. She wanted unbridled passion.
Heady with a sense of her own power and eager to see if she could make him lose control, she bit into his shoulder and scraped her nails over his back.
He swore, pulled out and grunted as he thrust into her.
God, yes.But, still, she wanted more.
Pressing her heels to his thighs, she put her mouth to his ear and demanded he move. ‘Donotstop.’
Lifting his head, he stared down at her, his eyes glazed as he thrust into her again.
And then again.
His movements became frenzied, his desperation sparking that yearning deep in her belly. She clung to him, revelling in the strength of his desire, in his lack of restraint, until he jerked violently against her and, finally, grew motionless.
Still throbbing inside her, he hung his head, his breath hot against her skin.
She stroked his back and let him find his breath.
‘I’m sorry,’ he muttered into her shoulder.
‘Huh?’ She nudged him away slightly, frowning. ‘What are you talking about?’
He rolled onto his back. ‘I can do better, I promise.’
Annoyed that he thought that what’d just happened was anything less than perfect, she shook her head. ‘Don’t say that.’
‘I’m serious, I’ll—’
‘No,I’mserious!’ It hit her—the reason she’d been so desperate to see him lose control. ‘Seeing you like that … I … I never thought—’ She bit back a sob. Hid her face in her hands when it crumbled.
‘Hey.’ Concern laced his tone as he propped himself up on an elbow. ‘Talk to me.’
He attempted to tug her hand away from her face, but she jerked away from his touch. If she opened her mouth right now, she’d lose it.
With her composure teetering precariously, she lay there, still and silent, doing her best to hide her pain as she fought to regain control.
Tugging her into his arms, Noah placed a tender kiss on her shoulder and waited. He stroked her hair, the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat helping her to relax. How could she not? He was her safe space, her refuge, and when they were together, she felt as if she were home.
Finally lowering her hands, she wound her arms around him and snuggled closer, her cheek to his chest. It was funny. Once she knew there was no pressure to explain, she found she wanted to.
