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Oh, God. I let out a groan as the blood pumps through my body, coming to a head in my cock. I’m on the verge of exploding but doing all I can to hold off. She feels incredible, so tight and wet. My hands roam over the curve of her hips as I rock her against me.
“You’re amazing,” she whispers, gazing down at me. Her hair’s a mess and sweat trickles down her neck, but she’s every bit as beautiful as she always is. I hate what she does to me almost as much as I love it. It’s a fucking mess.
Growling, I grab her ass and drive myself deep inside her as I release. My cock aches as blood courses through it, leaving me light-headed and unable to think straight. I groan as she tenses, milking the last of me dry.
Sighing, I collapse onto the bed. She falls into place beside me, snuggling up under my arm. We lie there, exhausted, for hours, in each other’s arms, drifting in and out of sleep.
—
Opening my eyes, I listen to the faint sound of her breathing next to me. I carefully roll over so I’m facing her. My heart races as I watch her. She looks even more stunning while she sleeps. There’s a vulnerability about her that she keeps hidden when awake.
I can’t remember the last time I lay in bed with a woman like this. Actually, yes, I can. The last woman who got anything more than sex from me was Brynne. It scares me how exposed I feel right now, like this woman could look into my eyes and read my goddamned soul.
Her eyes flutter open. She smiles when she sees me staring at her. I look away, embarrassed. I’m not ready to think about why I’m feeling this way. I know what it means, but I until I face it, I can pretend it’s not happening.
“Take a picture, it lasts longer,” she teases, her voice sleepy. She rolls over, resting her ass against me. “What are you thinking about?” she asks.
“Life,” I admit. It’s a rare piece of honesty from me. “How I can think I have it all figured out, and then something changes everything.” I don’t tell her she’s that something. Before she came into my life I had everything worked out. At least I thought I did. But now I’m beginning to wonder if that’s because I didn’t know what I was missing.
“You’re thinking about your family?” she guesses, turning back to face me.
“That and other things,” I say. I keep things vague because I’m not ready to bare my soul. At the same time, she makes me want to share. I’m not used to feeling like that. “I was really close to my sister and my parents. We were the kind of family who did everything together.” I pause, gathering my thoughts. God, this is so fucking hard to talk about. “The day I found out about my mom and Ryan I thought things couldn’t get any worse. Turns out I was wrong.”
She moves closer to me, snuggling in my embrace. I can feel her sorrow, but for once I don’t shy away from it. I sigh, wrapping my arms around her warm body. I lean down and kiss her neck, my mouth lingering on her soft skin. She smiles and turns her head to face me, her lips pressing against my own.
“I can’t even imagine what that must have felt like,” she whispers. Her lips touch mine. She rests her head against my chest. “I understand why you want answers.”
“Do you?” I ask, my voice harsher than I’d intended.
“You’re not the only one who’s lost someone close to them,” she says, her eyes growing sad. “I don’t begin to compare my situation to yours, Jaxon, but losing a parent hurts just as much, whatever the circumstances.”
“I lost both,” I point out. I’m not even sure why I’m making this harder, but I can’t help but think that maybe I’m trying to justify what I’m doing to Ryan. “And my sister.”
“Forget it. You’re right,” she responds, frustration flashing in her eyes. I feel bad for dismissing her loss so easily. Reaching out, I stroke her arm. She tenses but then relaxes, forcing a smile.
“Who did you lose? Your mom or your dad?” I ask gently.
“My dad.”
“What happened?” I press.
“Cancer.
” She shrugs, her eyes glassy. “When I was just a kid. He and I were close. Mom and I not so much.”
“I’m sorry,” I murmur. I’m not sure what else I can say. I can barely handle my own pain; I’ve never had to deal with anyone else’s. “So, Ryan…Do you have a plan?” I ask, changing the subject. My jaw twitches as I wait for her answer. The thought of her with him makes me angrier than I’m comfortable admitting. The thought of her with anyone else makes me want to raise hell. And if Ryan suspects for even a second what I’m feeling for her, he’ll do everything he can to ruin it.
“Depends what you mean by a plan.” She smiles. I frown at her as she props herself up on pillows so she’s facing me. “Relax, I’m kidding. I know what I’m doing.”
“Just make sure you understand how ruthless he can be,” I advise her. “He’s not someone you want to mess with. Do not go after him without knowing exactly what you’re doing, okay?”
“I’ll be fine, okay? Trust me.”
Trust. I do trust her. It’s him I don’t trust.
Chapter 22
Charlotte
