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“Mm.” Her eyes were already growing heavy. “Nathaniel?”

“Yes?”

“I’m glad it was you who chose me at the auction,” she breathed. “You are my happily ever after.”

She did not hear his answer, but she felt it—his arm tightening around her, his steady heartbeat beneath her cheek. Then she felt his other hand settle on her hip, as it did most nights.

“Did you ask Dr. March…” he trailed off.

“Did I ask him what?”

“Is it…” He moved his hand between her legs. “Is it safe if we…”

“Oh heavens,” she gasped. “I did not ask. Wait, he did say something… I think it was, ‘You can continue normal marital activities.’”

“Oh, thank God.” He slid a finger deep inside of her, finding the spot that drove her crazy with impossible speed. “I’ve been thinking about you all day…”

He gently rolled her onto her back and kissed her as he thrust his finger in and out of her, letting her relax into the mattress. He lowered his mouth to her nipple and sucked, then moved to the other, and she moaned as he nipped the sensitive flesh.

He pulled out his manhood and began to stroke himself in front of her, and she licked her lips in anticipation.

“I can’t wait, not when you look at me like that.” He flipped her onto her stomach. “You are saucy, my love. You undo me with the smallest look,” he growled.

He eased himself inside her, thrusting a few times to find his rhythm. He slammed his hips against her round backside, holding the cheeks apart and pushing himself in as far as he could. His hand slid beneath her and found her nub, massaging it.

“Don’t you dare stop,” she moaned into the bed, thrusting her hips back against him. “I need you too.”

“That feels so good,” he groaned. “So good.”

He lifted her hips again and thrust deep, his manhood swelling harder inside her with every stroke.

“You are perfect,” he said as release crashed over them both. “You are everything.”

Laura let out a long, shuddering sigh, her forehead pressed deeply into the cooling sheets as the final waves of pleasure rippled through her.

The night's frantic energy bled out of the room, leaving behind a profound, heavy quiet.

Nathaniel pulled out and lay beside her on his back. They were now face to face, and Laura saw his chest rising and falling heavily.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you,” she told him, smiling.

Then, he pulled her close, and she lay her head on his chest as his arms wrapped around her.

For a long moment, she remained quiet, wrapped in the comfortable, breathless aftermath of their fierce surrender.

Nathaniel pressed a slow, lingering kiss to her head. She reached out, her hand finding his; she tangled their fingers together, feeling the solid, grounding truth of his grip.

As a sweet, heavy exhaustion settled over her, Laura closed her eyes, eager for the uncharted, beautiful life waiting for them ahead.

The End?