“God, you feel so fucking so good,” I groan through gritted teeth, pressing my forehead to the tile as I feel myself start to come apart.
Water pounds the back of my neck as I bury myself in her, thrusting in as deep as possible, her name falling from my lips like gravel.
I need her to know that I’m not making love to a memory. I’m not getting in one last fuck before we say goodbye.
I’m staking a fucking claim, worshipping her with my body, sealing my soul to hers.
“You’re it, Meadow,” I rasp against her neck. “You hear me? Nobody else. Only ever you.”
That’s when she falls apart in my arms, coming harder than ever before.
She screams out my name as she comes, her pussy pulsing around my cock as she gasps, biting down so hard on my neck I know it’s going to leave teeth marks.
I’m not far behind her, letting go seconds later as my cock jerks, shooting thick ropes of cum, marking her deep inside. My heart jackhammers and my muscles quiver, like a massive earthquake running through my body.
I keep thrusting inside her until we’re both wrung dry and trembling, holding onto each other as we slide down the shower wall. I sit back against the wall and pull Meadow into my lap, cradling her as she buries her nose into my chest.
I soothe my hand up and down her spine and lean down to kiss her shoulder.
Her body is still shuddering, spasms running up her thighs, her breath ragged as if she’s just come up from drowning. My own release is still lingering, the aftershocks surging through my veins as I hold her steady, one hand pressed against her belly, the other curled around her hip.
There is nothing in the world more important, more precious than this.
Everything in my life could go to shit, but as long as I have Meadow in my arms, I’d be okay.
We don’t speak for what feels like an eternity. I just hold her, keeping her upright, and letting her rest against me.
I let the cold water wash over us until I know it’s getting late; the last thing I want to do is let her go, but we have to get up and get ready, or we’ll be late to the wedding.
I rise to my feet first and help her stand, gently scrubbing her long hair and sun-kissed skin with soap, rinsing her off, then wrapping her in a fresh towel before we step out of the shower.
The walls feel like they’re closing in around me when Meadow tightens the towel around her shoulder, gives me a sad smile, and exits the bathroom without a word.
Fuck.
I thought being with her like that would settle something inside both of us. Like if I could just make love to her one more time, the fear of losing her would fade away.
Instead, I just feel nauseous.
A week ago, Meadow was just my best friend. A woman I was secretly obsessed with and couldn't stop thinking about.
But now, she’s my everything. The other half of my heart. The oxygen that fills my lungs.
Maybe that’s why the second she walked out of the bathroom, I felt my chest tighten like a heart attack.
You still have time, I tell myself.
There’s the wedding and one night left in the suite.
I can’t fuck this up.
I can’t let her slip away.
TWENTY-THREE
Meadow
“Marriage isn’t just about finding someone to spend your life with,” the officiant begins, his calm voice carrying over the ocean breeze as the bride and groom stand hand in hand, eyes locked on one another. “It’s about finding someone you can’t imagine living without.”
