“Impatient,” Colin observed.
“Hey, you’re the one who took the detour.”
Colin laughed. “Fair point.”
He pushed inside her in one slow thrust, and Maren’s back arched off the bed.
“Still okay?” Colin asked, his voice strained.
“God, yes.” She rolled her hips, taking him deeper.
He started moving inside her. This was different from last night, too. Less caution, more certainty. Colin knew what made her gasp now. Knew the angle that made her thrust back at him. He knew exactly how much pressure she needed to start climbing toward her orgasm.
And God, he used that knowledge ruthlessly.
“Colin. I’m so close. I can’t—I’m going to?—”
He shifted slightly, and the new angle sent sparks up her spine. “Yes, baby. Let me feel it.”
She came with his name on her lips. Colin sped up, thrusting deeper. With one last, powerful thrust, he came with a groan that she felt everywhere.
They stayed tangled together, breathing hard, hearts racing against each other.
Finally, Colin shifted to the side, pulling her with him so they were facing each other.
“Good morning,” he said.
Maren laughed softly. “Good morning.”
“You good?”
“Very.” She touched his face, still marveling that she was allowed to do this. “You?”
“Same.” Colin caught her hand and wove their fingers together. “This is—” He stopped and frowned.
“What?” Maren asked, suddenly worried.
“I was going to say this is new for me,” he said quietly. “But that sounds stupid.”
“It’s not stupid.”
“I just mean—” He looked at their joined hands. “I haven’t done this in a while. The staying part. The morning-after part. Not since Lindsey. Usually I’d be?—”
“Gone?”
“Yeah. Sorry. That’s probably not what you want to hear right now.”
“Actually,” Maren said slowly, “it kind of is.”
Colin’s eyebrows rose. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She squeezed his hand. “Because me too. I haven’t—this hasn’t been—” She stopped. Started again. “The last time I woke up next to someone was my ex. And he was gone not long after Juni.” Maren looked away, embarrassed.
Colin gently took her chin and turned her head to face him again. “Hey. This is me. I’m not going anywhere.”
Maren’s throat tightened. “Even though my life is a complete disaster right now?”
“Your life isn’t a disaster. Your circumstances are complicated.” He stroked her cheek. “There’s a difference.”
