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“Honey?” He brushed a curl from her hot cheek. “What do you need? What can I do?”
She gaped. “What happened? I did not know…”
How deep he would plow her? How bad it would hurt? How much she would regret her decision to trust him? “What?”
“My body would respond in such a way. I have never felt anything like that. I…”
Wait? She wasn’t hurt but shocked? “Didn’t anticipate being able to climax with me inside you?”
“Yes. Earlier, when you…” Fresh red bloomed across her cheeks.
After what they’d just shared, she was embarrassed? “Licked your pussy?”
With downcast eyes, she nodded. “The pleasure I felt then did not surprise me. No man had ever done that to me, so had I nothing to compare it to. But when you fucked me—”
“I did more than fuck you, Laila.” At least he’d meant to. “I was trying to show you”—how I feel about you—“that sex isn’t about force but feeling good. Instead, I’m worried I hurt you more.”
“I will be sore tomorrow.”
That was a given. “I know. I’m sorry. So fucking sorry.”
“It was not pain you made me feel.” She sent him a crooked, coy smile.
“It wasn’t?”
She shook her head, then stifled a heavy-lidded yawn. Trees tried to do the same. He was so damn tired after days without a full night’s sleep, and the monster orgasm had nearly done him in.
“Don’t do that,” he scolded, unable to hold back his yawn.
Laila laughed, the sound so light and feminine, even full of joy. She liked him teasing her?
“Sorry. I will try—”
But it didn’t work. She covered her mouth with her hand, but not before he saw her lips widen in another signal of exhaustion.
He laughed back. “So much for that.”
She giggled in return.
The moment felt so sweet. Trees held her closer. He knew he needed to leave the softening clasp of her body and help her clean up so they could both have a good night’s sleep, but he was reluctant to let her go. This playful moment aside, would she ever want or trust him enough again to let him love her?
Eventually, yes. He had to believe that. Something different had passed between them tonight—something he’d never felt. Their connection had been forged in passion, but it hadn’t ended with their mutual climax. Usually, he showered a woman in aftercare. Once he knew she was sated and settled, he zipped up and beat feet. He never lingered.
Laila was different. He didn’t want to leave—her body, their bed, this moment. Instead, he dipped his head to take her lips again. She met him with a soft, sweet kiss of her own.
Too soon, she pulled back. “Trees?”
“What is it, little one?”
“Did you enjoy sex with me?”
She was kidding, right? “Absolutely. That was…” Epic. Amazing. Earth-shattering. Angels had sung. His world had been rocked. “Great. Did you?”
Shyly, she nodded. “More than I thought possible. More than I ever have.”
“I only ever want to keep you safe and make you feel good, Laila.”
She gave him another encouraging smile. “Do you want me to be happy, too?”
Trees could think of very few people on this planet who weren’t worthy of happiness, but Laila especially was. She’d been through hell, and she deserved a future that made up for all she’d endured.
He’d love to be the man to give that to her. He could picture them now, together on his property, hoping for the best future, preparing for the worst, and growing the next generation.
Really, you’ve got to slow down, buddy…
“Of course I do.”
Her smile turned brighter, her pouty, built-for-sex lips curling up until her face filled with joy.
“Why would you think I wouldn’t?” he went on.
“I-I did not know if…” She trailed off, biting her lip, reluctant to speak.
“What we did meant something to me?”
Laila took her time answering, but finally she nodded. “Yes.”
He cupped her face. “You have no idea, little one.”
She wasn’t ready to hear what he was thinking or how he was feeling. If he freaked himself out with that shit, he would freak her out even more. And she’d suffered what he suspected was years of trauma. She didn’t need anything more to deal with now. Besides, if there was even a chance she’d welcomed him into her body because she’d experienced anything like Stockholm Syndrome, he’d rather know that before he laid his heart at her feet.
“It meant a great deal to me, too. Thank you for showing me pleasure.” She yawned again.
She was obviously tired—and no wonder. She slept fitfully most every night, and after a couple of climaxes… Sleep needed to be on the menu. He had to stop selfishly wanting to stay inside her forever and let her rest.
Slowly, reluctantly, Trees pulled from the snug clasp of her body and rose from the bed naked. He felt her stare on him as he stepped into the bathroom to grab a warm, wet towel.
