Page 138 of The Devil’s Lair

His hands take my hips. I sit up, sinking down onto him, both of us groaning at the friction, the feeling of fullness, the intimacy we’ve built. I rise up and lower back down, rocking my pelvis to take him as deeply as I can.

“I love watching you like this. So fucking beautiful. And mine. You’re all mine.”

His words send another rush of heat to my core. I’m so slick now that I have to clench my muscles to keep him inside me. His thumb finds my clit with ease. He presses down, lightly at first, then harder, rubbing in circles.

“God.” I gasp, throwing my head back.

“Right there?”

“Yes. There. Don’t stop.” My hips undulate wildly, chasing my release.

“That’s it, Wren. Ride me. Take what you need. Use me to get off.”

Jesus. He’s going to kill me with the dirty talk. I clench, hard, knowing it drives him insane. He hisses, then lets out a groan loud enough for the kitchen staff to hear.

“Fuck. You’re playing dirty now.”

“You love it.”

“I do. I really do.”

I dig my nails into his shoulders. “Harder. Need more.”

He thrusts up to meet me, giving in to my demands. The familiar swell in my abdomen spreads outward until I’m a mass of feelings and lust and elation.

“Come, Wren. I want to feel you.”

It’s all I need to send me over the edge. “Fuck. Fu-u-ckkkk.” Everything tightens, pulses, and my thighs tremble until I can barely hold myself upright.

“Love… fuck… love you.” He groans, neck straining, lips parting. It’s the only time his eyes close, and it’s brief. When he opens them, they’re glistening. A tear slides down his cheek. “You’re my everything. You changed my life, Wren. You and Isla.”

I brush the tear away, then have to brush my own away, too. “I love you.” I bridge the gap between us and kiss him, then roll to the side before my legs cramp.

He feels around for my hand, bringing it to his chest. The sheets are damp, and I’m covered in sweat and panting like I’ve sprinted the hundred meters with the current world champion as competition.

“Just think,” I whisper, squeezing his hand in the muted light. “We might’ve made a baby tonight.”

“And if we haven’t, boy are we going to have fun trying.”

“Do you think I should elevate my hips?” I ask breathlessly. “Help your sperm on its way, so to speak.”

“I’m going to keep you in this bed so long, gravity will do its job. In fact…” He rolls on top of me, kissing his way down my body. “I think we should go again. And again. And again.”

I laugh, the sound free and unguarded—so different from the broken woman I used to be. "Purely for scientific purposes?"

"Absolutely." His lips curve against my skin. "I'm very committed to this research."

Happiness swells in my chest until I think I might burst from it. A few short months ago, I couldn't imagine letting anyone touch me without flinching. Now, I'm here, in Tobias’s arms, trying to create a life borne from the love we fought so hard to build.

We survived the darkness. We found each other in it.

And now? Now, we get to live.

Chapter Forty-Two

REBECCA

I have made my peace with many things since Tobias entered my life. Horses are not among them. But here’s the thing… watching my daughter sitting atop her pony, Clover, pigtails flying as she nails this thing called posting makes my fear considerably harder to justify.