Page 67 of Shark’s Rise

She swallowed hard. “I…I wanted to…” She hiccupped again.

“Ssshhh. Settle down.”

“I…I wanted to wear something blue. Like you said.”

“Okay. But that’s not something to cry about. You’re stunning in blue.” I took a second to finger some of her long red curls, fanned like some fantasy goddess across the pillows. “Your hair looks beautiful with every shade of blue.”

“I…I like blue too,” she stammered back. “You know that. I have a lot of pretty pieces in blue. The color itself isn’t the issue.”

“Okay, baby. Then what?”

“I went to find something to wear for you. Something sexy and…and…”

“And what?”

“I tried on everything,” she explained. “And none of it fit. Nothing fits me anymore, Bas. Nothing.” Tears began welling in her eyes again.

“Oh, sweetie.” I leaned forward and kissed her swollen lips. I’d always loved when she cried because her mouth plumped and became even more kissable. The same was true now—except she didn’t let me continue with my adoration.

“How can you say that?” she sobbed as soon as she ripped away. “My body…this isn’t me. I’ve been taken over by another creature and—”

Well, that did it. Time for another kiss, one I didn’t mind throwing some deeper demand into. It was the right call, but I already knew that. The urgency in Abbi’s response grew with each touch of our mouths. She started rising up to meet me, clinging hard around my nape and skull. But I resisted the urge to simply fuck the silliness out of her. I pressed her shoulders back into the mattress, making her wait for what I gave her.

“Abbigail.” I ghosted my lips across her forehead and then her eyelids, cherishing the lingering salt from her tears. “You could wear a paper sack, and it would be more beautiful than the finest designer gown. If you want new lingerie, we can buy you things that fit—or not. Silk and satin don’t make you beautiful to me. They only enhance the gorgeous girl I already see. None of the jewelry or finery really matters to me, all right?”

Of course she popped her mouth open again to argue, but I started to have this drill down. I dipped in again, silencing her with a full, open-mouthed kiss. As soon as she opened for me, I stabbed my tongue in with deep demand, refusing to relent until she gripped my forearms, digging her nails into the exposed skin there.

When I released her, we were both panting. My chest was thundering. My dick was thumping so hard, I swore the thing had its own pulse point. While I was certain I’d have to repeat my speech to her post-coitus, physical needs—mine and hers—were becoming difficult to ignore.

“I need to fuck you so badly, woman. My cock needs to be inside you more than anything else right now.”

She sketched out a swift nod. “Yes. Oh God, Bas. Yesss.”

I stretched my body over hers. Nudged her legs apart with my knees so I could distribute my weight onto the bed and position my thighs between hers. I buried my face in her neck and kissed her smooth skin, licking and nibbling up and down the length of the slender column. Then I burrowed into that space with my nose and inhaled the delicious scent of her spicy arousal. Her chemistry had changed since she’d been carrying our son, but it spoke to me even louder now. All but shouted to me to claim her again and again until she screamed the walls down with my name on her lips.

Abbigail reached between us, and I leaned back to see what she was doing. She’d untied the belt on her robe and now fully bared her body to me.

She was breathtaking. Mesmerizing.

A fucking miracle.

I couldn’t think of a better way to qualify what I gazed at, full of unblinking wonder. So many changes, all happening before my eyes. So much gratitude in my heart, threatening to stretch my own damn skin now.

I couldn’t help but reach out and cover the swell of her stomach with my large hand. He was still so small. I could spread my fingers over her tummy and protect him. If I used both hands, I could shield him completely. I mentally swore I would guard him every day for the rest of my life.

Both of them.

It was time to symbolize that in one of the best ways I knew.

I pushed away from her long enough to take my pants off and toss them aside. I stroked my erection while kneeling tall over her. Abbi’s fixed stare jacked my need even higher.

“Which position is most comfortable for you, Abs?”

“Your dick inside me.”

She punctuated that with a cheeky grin. Instead of working up an answering expression, I leaned down and took her nipple between my teeth without any sort of warning. My nip wasn’t hard, but I knew both her swells were agonizingly sensitive and the bite would be more intense than usual.

Her astonished keen was like music to my ears. Her lusty wriggles were like electric zaps to my limbs. And when she arched her back, she thrust her swollen breast against my face.