I shifted my legs and winced a little. I was slightly sore; Deacon and I hadn’t exactly taken it easy on each other last night. Or early this morning, for that matter. We’d more than made up for the year or so we’d been apart.
The whole thing had been . . . different. Oh, there was a wonderful familiarity, that easiness of being with a man who’d been a lover before. I’d fallen back into the rhythm easily, remembering what Deacon liked and how well the two of us connected physically. And yet, at the same time, there was a new edge to our intimacy. More than once, as we’d moved in concert, Deacon’s body thrusting against mine, he’d slowed, cupped my face, and lowered his mouth to mine, kissing me with a heartbreaking tenderness.
At one point, late in the night, I’d sat on top of him, filled with his huge cock, rocking back and forth just enough to tease us both. Our eyes had met, and I’d heard words coming out of my mouth that I’d never meant to say.
“I may regret saying this in the morning, Deacon, but the truth is . . . I’ve never gotten over you. Our nights together play on repeat in my head. No one has ever kissed me like you do. No one has ever touched me like you.” I’d dropped my voice to a near-whisper. “And no one has ever made me feel as good as you do.”
His answer had been to pull me down and plunder my mouth, his fingers slipping down between us to drive me to climax in a matter of minutes.
And just a few hours ago, as we’d laid with our limbs entwined, clinging tight to each other, he had rested his head on my breast and closed his eyes.
“Your heart is still thundering.”
I had given a breathless laugh. “Well, yeah. Three orgasms back-to-back without coming up for a breath will do that to a woman.”
His lips had curved. “I guess so.” His hand brushed over my sensitive nipple, making me shiver. “I want every one of your heartbeats, Emma. I’m greedy for them. I like to know that I can make your pulse race.” He’d pushed up to loom over me. “And all of my heartbeats belong to you.”
His eyes had held mine, steady and unwavering. I hadn’t had the words to answer him—my breath had caught, and emotion choked my throat—but I had reached up and pulled him down into a kiss that I hoped told him everything I couldn’t express.
Now, even as I lay here remembering everything, Deacon’s leg moved between mine, drawing me closer.
“I can feel you thinking over there. Your body is tensing, and your breathing changed.” He pushed up to rest his head on his hand, swept my hair away from my face, and skimmed down my neck with his lips. “Do I need to distract you?”
I rolled over in his arms. “I think you distracted me plenty last night. Not that I don’t love your manner of distraction, but I’d like to be able to walk at work today.”
Deacon chuckled. “I guess it makes me a Neanderthal if I say I like that just a little? Not that I want you to be in pain. Just that . . . you know. It’s the reasonwhyyou might be a little sore that makes me want to pound my chest.”
I shook my head. “That’s totally sexist and primitive. Like you want to claim me as yours and carry me back to your cave.”
His grin widened, and he made a big show of looking around the bedroom. “Well . . . I did carry you back here last night . . .”
“To your cave of wonders?” I giggled. I liked this side of Deacon, the softer, more playful part of his character. I hadn’t seen it come out for a long time.
“Yeah, that’s it.” He pulled me close and lay back down so that I was draped across his chest, my chin resting on his sternum. “I like waking up with you, Emma. It’s the best way to start any day, I think.”
“I like waking up with you, too.” I traced his cheek, rough with unshaved beard, with the tip of my finger. “What time is it?”
Deacon craned his head to squint at the clock. “A little after seven.”
“Hmmm.” I wriggled down his body and sat up, leaving one hand on his warm chest. “Do you want me to make us some breakfast?”
He grimaced. “I wish I could say yes, but I need to get ready and get into the hospital. I have to catch up on everything from yesterday and deal with Ted.”
“Ugh.” I wrinkled my nose. “Maybeyou’rethe one who needs a distraction.”
“I definitely do. Maybe you could distract me tonight?” He sounded so hopeful that I laughed softly.
“We’ll see.” I swung my legs out of the bed, pushing down the sheets.
“Hey, where are you going?” Deacon frowned.
“I’m getting out of bed so I can get dressed and go home.” I shot him a questioning glance. “Didn’t you just say you have to go to work?”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t meanyouhave to get up now. You’re scheduled to go in later, right?”
I nodded. “Right after lunch, yes. But I can’t lay around here all day, Deacon. I have stuff to do at the cabin. I have rows to weed and plants to water and seeds to propagate.”
“Or you could stay here and sleep, and I could come back home around lunch, bring us some take-out from Gerome’s . . . and you could ride back in with me after we eat.” He sounded so eager that my heart splintered just a little.
