“I love you, too.” She caressed his jaw, and he nuzzled against her fingers. “You’ve saved me, Seth. Over and over again.”
He kissed her again as they continued to strip out of their clothes. When they were finally, blessedly naked, Rose ran her hands down his body. She felt the bumps of his vertebrae, moving downward until she could grip his muscled ass. His cock jumped between them, and she moved so her legs were parted and he could settle between them.
Seth winced, his forehead creasing, and Rose pushed him to roll onto his back.
“Don’t make your arm worse,” she chided as she climbed on top of him. “Besides, this lets me have some fun first.”
Seth groaned, and then he swore when she licked down his torso, swirling her tongue around his belly button. His cock was like an iron brand against her skin. She smiled as he swore again when she nipped the tender skin near his pelvis.
He was so beautiful—all warm skin and sleek muscles. His hands were large, his feet equally so, his arms and legs seemingly never-ending. She loved the way his thighs flexed when her hair brushed against them as she moved downward. She loved how his eyes turned glassy with desire as he gazed at her.
She took his cock in her hand, feeling its heat and its weight, and she licked it from the base to the tip. He grew larger in her hand, and she licked a bead of moisture from the tip.
His throat contracted as she dipped down to take him further into her mouth. His hands fisted in the sheets as she loved him that way, almost taking him to the hilt.
Muttering nonsense, he panted, and she could feel him growing close to release. With one last twist of her hand around him, she kissed his belly, his pounding heart.
“You’re amazing,” he said. “I can’t believe you’re mine.”
“Believe it.”
He hefted her breast in his uninjured hand, thumbing her swollen nipple. She tilted her head back as he took one breast into his mouth and then the other. His arm encircled her waist to keep her in place. She squirmed, needing him deep inside of her.
Rose pushed his hand away and took his cock in her hand. Lodging him at her entrance, she slowly sank down on him. They both groaned aloud at the sensation. Shivering, she stayed still, never wanting this to end.
Seth let her go slowly, although she could tell it was killing him. She rode him like she had when they’d first made love, but this time, there was nothing between them.
Rose didn’t care. She wanted nothing between them, and if she got pregnant, she would only be the happiest woman in existence.
“I’m close.” Seth closed his eyes.
“Not yet.” Lifting off him, she told him to sit up. He raised an imperious eyebrow, which just made her laugh.
“When did you get so bossy?” He swore when she faced away from him and sank down onto his cock again in one swift stroke. Seth snaked an arm around her waist, holding her flush against his torso, and he took over the rhythm.
His cock plunged into her as he kissed and licked her neck, her shoulder. Pushing her hair away from her throat, he bit down on the tendon there, making her cry out to the ceiling.
He filled her with endless strokes. Rose could feel her orgasm gathering, and when she began to rub her clit, it descended upon her like a lightning strike. With one last plunge of his cock, Seth brought her to her peak. She screamed, arching and writhing, and it was only his arm around her waist that kept her from collapsing onto the bed.
He thrust once, twice, and then shouted as he came, too. His cock twitched inside her, and she moaned as he filled her with his seed.
The sun was peeking through the blinds when they pushed the covers down to go to sleep. Snuggling beside Seth, Rose yawned.
“I love you,” she whispered, tracing his jaw.
He opened one eye to look at her. “Go to sleep.” He kissed her on the nose. “And I love you, too, hummingbird. I’ll never let you go again.”
And Rose knew that he spoke the truth.
Epilogue
“Okay, I’m ready.” Rose glanced one more time in the mirror, checked her makeup for the thousandth time, and took a deep breath.
She walked into the living room, feeling rather absurdly exposed. Seth’s eyes widened.
“Well?” she said, trying not to fidget. “Is it stupid? I’ll take it off—”
“No, no. I love it.” His grin was swift as he pulled her close and into his lap. “The wings are amazing.”
“Really? Do I look like a hummingbird? I thought I might look more like a blue jay—”
“No way. It’s perfect. Best Halloween costume ever.”
She looked at his costume and rolled her eyes. “You’re not even in a costume!”
“Yes, I am.” He showed her a sign he’d made that read Nudist on Strike. “I’m on strike, babe.”
“Oh well, does that mean you’re on strike for me? Because that’s a damn shame.”
He nuzzled her neck. “No way. You can get me naked anytime.”
She laughed, and he kissed her, although she eventually pushed him away because she was not going to let him ruin her makeup. She’d gone all out: with blue-green eye makeup and false eyelashes, she’d barely recognized herself when she’d finished. To top it off, she’d glued sequins to the corners of her eyes, although she had a feeling they would be bugging her all evening.
Her costume itself was simple: a shimmery teal slip dress that she’d found at a consignment shop downtown that had screamed hummingbird. She’d bought a pair of fairy wings and added sequins and paint to match her makeup and dress.
Seth glanced down at her feet. “Nice shoes.”
“Aren’t they amazing?” She’d found some sparkly black stilettos that she knew would kill her feet within an hour, but she didn’t care.
The price you pay for beauty—and great Halloween costumes.
When they arrived at Harrison and Sara’s house for their Halloween party, they were quickly converged upon by their friends and family.
After the Johnny incident, Rose and Seth’s relationship had progressed quickly, and by the end of the summer, Rose had moved in with Seth. She’d teased it was because he had better furniture, but in reality, she hadn’t wanted them to be separated—even by a wall. Callie had loved the plush couch in the living room, and despite Rose’s best efforts, the end of the couch on the right side had become Callie’s spot from then on.
“Oh, I love your costume!” Sara said as she hugged first Rose, then Seth. She raised an eyebrow at Seth. “Did you forget it’s Halloween?” Sara was dressed as a purple grape, her rounded belly only adding to her costume. They were having a boy, news which James had met with almost more excitement than his parents.
Seth grinned and held up his sign. “I’m on strike.”
“Men,” Sara groused. She took Rose’s arm as they headed into the house. “You need to get your man in line,” she teased.
Rose looked over her shoulder. “Don’t worry. He does pretty much anything I want him to do.”
“Good. You can’t trust any of these Thornton men to know anything.” Sara laughed when Harrison rolled his eyes at her as they approached. “You know it’s true.”