Inside me, he thickened and groaned, his thrusts sloppy and without the precision with which he’d brought me to climax.
He collapsed on top of me with both elbows still on the bed.
I wrapped myself around him, not wanting to let him go, not wanting this moment to end.
He stayed on top and inside of me, not fully losing his erection.
There were no complaints from me.
Our breathing evened out, sweat cooled, and with a curse under his breath, he slowly slid his hips back.
We both groaned as he fell free from me. He went into the bathroom.
I flopped onto the pillows, not hating the view of his ass, but hating to see him leave.
Since when had I become the clingy chick? I was Bay, the untouchable woman who’d actually been untouched for much of my professional career. Suddenly it all paled compared to one night with him.
Scooting up the bed, I sat against the headboard and waited for his return. The water turned off in the sink and he returned with a washcloth.
The damp cloth brushed against the insides of my thighs, and I did nothing to help him.
He watched me, parting my legs, teasing me. Every stroke added a little more lighter fluid to the blaze that had only been under control for a few minutes.
Just as quickly as he cleaned me up, we were sweaty all over again with my legs hitched around his waist and him sinking into me again.
Collapsed in a heap and cleaned up again, he held me close and brushed the hair from my face, tracing the waves running down my cheeks.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re beautiful?”
There were social media posts and news articles saying something like that, but somehow this felt more real, just like everything did with him. The scary kind of real that, when let inside, could do real damage. A new reality was here. One where I was close enough to someone to bring up all these thoughts I’d felt so disconnected from for so long. And I felt like he was the only one who could reach me. The only one I’d ever truly wanted to let in.
“It’s been a while.”
For so long I’d believed he didn’t want me anymore, that my place in his heart had closed up, but now with him staring down at me and his fingers brushing away the tears in my eyes, I knew there was a place for me in this world where someone loved me for me. Where he loved me as much as I loved him. The scary kind of love that was easier to run from than let it swallow you up whole and change you, but I didn’t think I could stop it this time. I didn’t think I wanted to.
“Then I’ll have to do it more often.”
It hit me with a jolt, sending my heart skipping so fast spots danced in front of my eyes.
I loved him. Like I had back in my bedroom in high school. Like I had when I’d kissed him one last time in California. I loved him, and it burned just as brightly in my chest as an end-of-summer sunset, bittersweet but filled with so many happy memories. I didn’t want to look back on them with regret because they’d ended.
Snuggled up against him, this was all I ever needed in the world. How had I survived this long without it?
His fingers tightened on my shoulder. “What time does your chariot arrive?”
My throat tightened. For a moment, I’d forgotten there was a schedule to keep. Demands on my time outside of Keyton wringing another orgasm from me.
I looked up at him and traced my fingers across his muscular chest. The hair at the center between his pecs was new. He was older now and so was I. What was a few hours? A day?
“Hold that thought.” Hopping off the bed, I rushed out into the living room, searching the floor for my red, blue, and flesh-toned onesie. I grabbed it and felt around for the phone tucked in the pocket. On my walk back to the bedroom, I sent a message to Holden.
A barrage of texts flew across my screen in response.
Me: I need this
Holden: If it’s what you need, then let me handle everything. Do you want me to cancel Spencer too?
Keyton sat up against the headboard.
Me: No, keep Spencer. Cancel everything else.
Holden: Your wish is my command.
I waltzed into the room with my back pressed against the doorway. “Twenty-four hours. I have the next twenty-four hours off.” Giddy laughter bubbled up and I hopped to the bed, jumping on my knees before sinking to my butt. “Is that okay?”
Here I’d run out and arranged to spend the whole day with him when he could’ve just been wondering how much longer until he’d have his bed back to himself.
Reaching up, his hand rested at the back of my neck. “What did that cost you?”
His caring and understanding almost brought tears to my eyes. There were always tradeoffs. When deals were struck months or years ahead of time, the dominos were set, and one change could throw it all into disarray, like it had with Piper’s birthday, but how often did I do something for me? How often did I have a chance?
Other than my period reclusion, when I was usually hanging out in bed, chowing down on all the junk, my schedule didn’t allow for much in the way of vacation. “I haven’t had a day off in forever. It’ll be worth it.”
A beat of silence stretched out into an entire silence solo before he dragged me down beside him and wrapped his arms around me. They were locked tight. Not tight like he thought I would run away, but tight like he didn’t want one inch of us apart.
The heady weight of him over me, warm and strong and here, was like a dream. It was a dream I didn’t want to wake from, but the carriage was already turning back into the pumpkin, and my eyelids were droopy and heavy. I couldn’t have moved a muscle even if I’d wanted to.
He dragged the blanket over us both and buried his face in my hair.
I rubbed against him like a cat after catnip.
“Then I guess when we wake up I’d better make it worth your while.”
18
Keyton
The morning sun filtered through the light curtains pulled across the windows in my bedroom. This would normally be when I’d roll out of bed and head to the gym. I’d go over my schedule, make a few phone calls, and figure out what I’d have for breakfast.
But this morning, the weight against my chest made me want to find the remote for the blackout curtains and pretend it hadn’t risen. We had one day together.
One day to spend together pretending that tomorrow she wouldn’t have to go back to her world and I to mine.
“Morning,” I murmured, rubbing my cheek against the side of her face. She’d rolled over in her sleep, never getting more than an inch away from me, seeking out my warmth and my touch.
For so long, I’d sought out contentment, the quiet peace I’d never had growing up, but lying in bed with her, everything felt shiny-bright and made my heart race. It was unparalleled and unmatched, which made me hungry for more of these quiet moments. This contentment lit a fire in my soul, not like a quiet lake, but a mountain view after summiting and breathing in the new, fresh air.
“Morning,” she grumbled against my chest. “How’d you know I was awake?”
I pulled back to brush the hair from her face and stare into her eyes. “You stopped snoring.”
Her jaw dropped and she pushed at my chest. “I do not snore.”
Laughing, I held her tight with her arms by her sides. “Who would tell you?”