Page 60 of Reckoning

“This is me, about to jump off that cliff with you. I want you, Tate, and whatever comes next between two people in love.” She kicked off her flats, stepped out of her shorts, and lay down on the bed, watching as he took off the rest of his clothes.

He’s beautiful…my man. Whatever pain comes with this will be worth it.

Tate heard the thought and, at that moment, knew what had to come next as he lay down beside her.

“Trust me?”

“Always,” she said.

“Then for you…pleasure before pain.” He slid a hand between her legs. He felt her flinch, but then she took a deep breath, relaxed every muscle in her body, and closed her eyes.

What happened next was beyond anything she could have ever imagined. From the first tingle of nerve endings, to the ensuing moments, he was creating wave after wave of an unbelievable blood rush. A breathless moan slid up her throat at the same time the sudden and unexpected climax hit her like a body slam. It was self-preservation when she reached for him, needing an anchor from what was happening to keep from flying away.

“Open your eyes,” Tate said, as he moved over her.

Ripples of the climax were still rolling through her when he slid inside her.

One long, quick thrust.

One moment that was more sting than pain, and then Tate was inside her, and she was giving to him what he’d given to her.

Whatever Tate thought would happen, it became so much more, and the tight wet heat of their joining was only the beginning of an ecstasy he had only imagined. He buried his face against her neck and let go of every thought, every inhibition, every doubt, and rode the madness until the climax ended the ride and most of his sanity.

Tears were rolling down the sides of Briar’s face.

He had no breath left to talk as he rose up on both elbows and looked down at her. When he saw the tears, he kissed them off her cheeks, then kissed her—slowly, with reverence for what she’d given.

“No regrets?” he asked.

Briar shook her head. “No regrets.”

He rubbed his thumb across her lower lip. “Even when distance and circumstance stand between us, this moment has sealed a pledge that will never change.” He kissed her one more time, then rolled off her and pulled her close.

They laid in each other’s arms without speaking, letting the aftershocks of lovemaking settle as they spoke in soft whispers, unable to keep their hands off one another. They were learning the topography of their lover’s body, and all of the places that were sensitive to touch, and the places that turned them on. But as much as Tate wanted to start over, he knew she would be the one to suffer.

“Do you hurt?”

“A little,” she said.

He groaned. “I’m sorry, but you will never hurt like that again. When I leave, take a warm bath, and take it easy. Even though your father will be around tomorrow, it’s not going to stop me from bringing you your birthday gift.”

“He won’t remember it’s my birthday,” she said.

Tate leaned over, kissed her one last time, and then got up. “I forget nothing about you. You’re in my blood,” he said, and went into the bathroom.

She heard water running, and when he came out, he pointed at the open door behind him.

“I’m running you a bath. Get in it and soak. I’ll lock the front door behind me when I let myself out.”

Then he held out his hand and she took it. Once again, they were standing naked before each other as if they’d been this way a hundred times before. Tate kissed the garnet ring on her finger, then stepped aside.

Briar walked into the bathroom and closed the door. She didn’t hear Tate leaving, but later, she felt his absence as she started down the stairs.

One day before her eighteenth birthday, and she’d just become Tate Bandy’s lover. She’d already found her footing with a career path, and Tate had solidified her place in his heart.

For the moment, life was just about perfect.

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