I’d barely seen Valentina outside the gym the past two weeks and couldn’t stop thinking about her when she wasn’t in front of me. The night I’d spent with her had fucked me up. I worried about her all the goddamned time now. I’d underestimated the repercussions she talked about.

The night on her bathroom floor when I was holding her, I’d stroked the inside of her forearm, over the eum mori et resurgere tattoo covering the scar on her forearm. Die and Rise. The Latin saying had inspired her birthday gift, which now lay in a small black velvet box in a table drawer in my living room. I’d designed the piece to be a constant reminder of her strength. She was always so driven with everything outside of her, I think she tended to dismiss her own strength.

I hated she felt she needed to cover her tat. She should wear that fucker with pride. But that wasn’t my call. She had to get there on her own.

At work, in bed, the shower, even with the kids, anytime she wasn’t with me—I couldn’t stop seeing her vault out of that fucking bed. I’d never seen anyone so . . . tortured before.

She’d been a distant version of herself the few times I’d seen her since. Nothing had physically changed between us. We still couldn’t hold a conversation without ending up half-naked. It was afterwards when the changes hit me. She wouldn’t look at me. She’d wrap herself around me, grabbing my arms and pulling them around her, like some kind of security blanket.

Those badass dogs were the only reason I was okay leaving her at night and not calling her every fucking hour to make sure she was okay. If I’d thought Chris and Kyle were well-trained before, it was nothing compared to what I’d witnessed them do for her.

My life had changed since I met her. The truth was I liked being in a relationship. Then again, I craved everything about Valentina. I’d never met anyone like her. She was a paradox, an intoxicating mix of sensual, loving woman, and frightened, damaged innocent. Yet, she was iron to the core and intelligent as fuck. Whether she was aware of her own strength or not, I was, and I respected the hell out of her for it.

A soft knock on my front door cut off my inner bullshit. Some serious questions about her past sat there, unaddressed, between us. It was one barrier I needed to come down. Tonight was for her, though, so I’d keep my shit in check. Tonight . . .

Ari barked and bounded across the hardwood floor to the door, jumping up and clawing under the knob.

“Hey!” I yelled, jogging around the corner after him. He fell back, turning a wounded look my way. “Yeah, you know better, dude. Back up.”

When I opened the door, my mouth dropped open. Son of a bitch, she looked hot as fuck. She’d had a meeting with one of her junior editors this evening. Under a black jacket, she wore an olive green tunic with a plunging neckline. The gaping material hung below a lacy black bra kind of contraption. Skintight black pants hugged her muscular legs to the ankles, and she wore a pair of wicked black leather heels. A vision of her laid out on my kitchen table, legs over my shoulders in nothing but those fuck-me stilettos flashed before me. Birthday dinner be damned.

Pull your head out, dick.

“Damn, baby. How many dudes did you have to beat down tonight? You look hot as shit.” After taking her jacket, I grabbed her hands, held them out to her sides, and took my damn time admiring every smokin’ hot inch of her.

When I whistled, her cheeks flushed and she flashed a smile that liquefied my insides. “Please. They’re just clothes.”

I led her into the house by the hand and closed the door behind her.

“Ohh! Is this Ari?” She knelt down and my dog pretty much mauled her, which she made ten times worse by kissing his head and rubbing his sides. “Aren’t you a beautiful baby?” she cooed. With one hand on his head, she rubbed his back with the other. Over and over he licked her arm, trying to get to her face.

“Down, Ari.” I snapped my fingers at him and he sat down at her feet.

“He’s beautiful. I love Goldens. My cousin breeds them. They’re the most well-behaved dogs, and they’re brilliant with children.” With a final fluff of Ari’s head, she stood up on those killer heels, hands on her hips, and nodded up at me. “Great choice, Dad.”

I scoffed. “If Jessa had seen him maul you, she’d have my head. Next to your dogs, he’s a train wreck.”

“Ah, that’s not fair. Chris and Kyle are professionally trained. I mean, you’d never know it from the way they behave with you at times, but they are.” She leaned down face to face with Ari. “I think you’re perfect. Don’t let Dad give you a complex.”

“All right, all right, stop seducing my dog.” I reached out, wrapping my hand around her wrist and tugging her into me. “So hey, sugar. Happy birthday. You have a good day?”

She locked her arms around my waist and laid her head over my heart. I ran my hands through her soft hair. With an extended sigh, she lifted her eyes to mine. “Long. It’s better now. I didn’t want to be late, so came straight here. Sorry about the getup.”

“You serious? I’m tempted to skip to the end where you end up naked underneath me.”

A soft giggle vibrated through her chest and jumped to mine. “I end up there a lot.”

“You’d end up there a hell of a lot more, if I had my way.”

“Me too,” she purred against my neck before trailing her lips up to take my earlobe inside her hot mouth. Fuuuck. If I didn’t shut this down, I’d have her up against the wall with Ari as an audience, and that shit was not right.

One taste. Tightening the grip in her hair, I slanted my mouth over hers. I gave her enough tongue to make her needy. Her hard little nipples dug into my chest as she locked her arms around my neck and I stroked my tongue over the seam of her mouth.

She plunged her hands into my hair, grabbing chunks and crossing her hands behind my head, pulling me in tighter. Fucking amazing. When I drove my tongue against hers, she responded with a fevered heat, dropping her hands to clutch at the back of my shirt.

I grumbled into her mouth and pulled back. “I can’t keep my hands off of you, sugar.”

Light green eyes dropped to my swollen lips. “Then don’t.”

She was on edge tonight, and I planned to stoke that fire as much as possible. Kissing the tip of her nose, I pulled back a little. “Dinner? You hungry?”

“I’m—yeah. Yes.” She dropped her eyes to the floor and let her hands fall to her sides.

I’d never been one of those men pouting worked on, but something about the way her full lips pressed together in a small frown got under my skin. Gripping her hips, I yanked her against my way-too-hard cock. “Don’t look disappointed, baby. I guarantee you’ll love dessert. I worked my ass off on this dinner, so we’re eating before we wind up on the floor. Want to see the house?”

She nodded with a small smile. “Yes, please.”

“All right, follow me.” I took her hand. “This is gonna be fast, so keep up. Front room.” I pointed down the few stairs to the large, mostly vacant sunken living room.

“This is big. And absolutely empty.” She chuckled. “What are you going to do with it?”

“Not sure. I might let the kids decide.”

Flashing a thousand-watt smile, she glanced up at me. “Dad-of-the-Year move.”

“Yeah,” I scoffed. “Tell them that. Come on.”

Turning the corner, we walked into the family room, which was one huge space with more steps leading up into the kitchen. The big screen sat on top of a heavy oak TV stand in front of my couch and La-Z-Boy chair. The long oak table in front of the sofa was more a footrest, rather than a table, but for tonight—I’d claim coffee table.

“Now that’s a serious TV.” She covered her mouth with her free hand, stifling a giggle. “It takes up half your wall. How very male of you.”

“It’s a guy thing, chicks don’t get it,” I teased and waved her on. “Keep moving.”

She interlaced her fingers with mine and followed me to the back of the house.

I pointed to two doors across the hallway from each other. “Jessa.” I nodded to the door on the left.

“Brayden?” she suggested, pointing to the opposite door.

“Yep.”

I led her farther down the hall to the room next to the two French doors, leading into my bedroom. “Office,” I said, opening the door a little and intending to shut it quick.

“No way. You know offices are my favorite.” She dropped my hand and dipped under my arm. Standing in the middle of it, she took in the large room. “Jesus, it’s amazing. The window by your desk overlooks the lake? What a view. Why wouldn’t you want me to see this?”

“It’s a disaster right now.”

One perfectly shaped eyebrow crept up as she inspected the room once again. “Right now? So you’re saying it’s usually spotless?”

I stepped into the room, moving right in front of her so she had to look up at me. “Look, Martha Stewart, I work better with a little chaos, and I know where shit is. Don’t judge.”

Her mouth fell open and she cocked a hip, crossing her arms. “Martha Stewart’s got nothing on me, and I’m not judging. There’s nothing wrong with a little chaos. Keeps you sharp.” She winked up at me. “Besides, your office is perfect. It’s a sanctuary.”

“It is,” I agreed. “I’m not done renovating in here yet, but I’ve got three projects going right now and new plans to draw up, so it’s gotta wait.” I turned to the door.

She pulled on my hand, stopping me. “Hold on!” Her eyes searched mine. “You don’t have time to renovate your own office, but you redesigned and renovated mine?”

I shrugged. “I’m good with this for now. You need uncluttered and organized. Your workspace is important, especially since you work from home. I’ll eventually get to this.”

“Coming up,” she warned before jumping into my arms and looking down at me. Looping her arms around my neck, she bent down and took my mouth in a slow, sweet, kiss. She ran her tongue over mine, pulling away when I moved to deepen it.

“Have I told you how amazing you are?” She ran a finger across one of my cheeks and held the other in the palm of her hand.

“Not today, but hold the thought. I’ll remind you later, when you’re coming so hard you forget my name and call me God,” I teased.

The smile died on her mouth and her eyes dropped to my lips on a gasp. Her hands found their way back into my hair. She dug the sides of her crossed feet against my lower back, resting the heels of those stilettos against my ass cheeks. “I love the way you talk to me,” she murmured, her eyes locked on my mouth.

“I’m well aware you do, baby. No filter works for you.”

“It does when it’s you.” She nodded and quickly kissed my lips. “Okay, one more room.”

“Let’s do it, before I change my mind.” Still carrying her, I walked back into the hall and kicked open one of the French double doors. “My room.”

A sparkle lit her eyes and she chewed on her lower lip as she glanced around the spacious room. Huge, but basic. Massive oak dresser. Giant-ass bed. Two end tables, one with a sketch pad and pencils lying on top of it, the other with a lamp and my vitamins in front of my alarm clock. If I didn’t see the fuckers, I’d never take them. They usually ended up sprawled across my room as I slapped at the damn alarm every morning, so I had to deal with them.

The master bathroom was off to the side. It wasn’t as big as hers, but the shower was fucking awesome and dominated the room. I’d tore down and rebuilt it as soon as I got here. It was a mix of rock and wood with two benches and three showerheads at different heights.

“Oh my God,” Valentina gasped. “Jaxxon . . . you did this?”

“It was a bitch, but worth it.”

“It should be in magazines. You’re scary talented.” She looked down at me and kissed my nose. “I’d kill to shower in there.”

“Anytime, sugar.”

She glanced away from me, but not before I missed the regret in her eyes.

Fuck me.

“Alone, baby. You can use my shower whenever you want alone. It came out wrong.”

Her arms tightened around my shoulders and she kissed my neck. “No, it didn’t.”

“Enough sightseeing.” I already had her in my arms, so I jacked her up higher by the ass and threw her over my shoulder.

Squealing and pounding her fists into my lower back, she laughed. “Put me down! And this better not be your bad shoulder, Jaxxon!”

I slapped her ass cheek hard and marched back down the hall into the kitchen. “Shoulder’s fine, baby.”

“Ouch, dammit! Sure it is,” she huffed as I put her down in front of one the chairs.

Walking to the fridge, I grabbed a glass with some ice and ginger ale for her. When I turned around, she had her back to me, but was twisted around holding the tunic up looking at her ass and rubbing the cheek I’d slapped.

I bit back a smile until I saw her knitted brow. “Shit, did I hit you hard?” I set the glass down before lifting the back of her shirt higher up and rubbing my hand over the luscious curve of her ass. “Better?”

Her quick inhale and the softest moan followed, both at odds with the look on her beautiful face. I turned her hips so she faced me and slid one hand back around and over her ass. “Why the confused look, sugar?”

“Nothing. It just stung.” Her eyes stayed locked to mine and her voice dropped an octave.

“But it didn’t hurt?” I slipped my hand down her ass and between her legs. The material covering her core was searing hot . . . and wet as hell.

“Stung,” she said, staring at my lips.

I pushed my hand forward, brushing my knuckles along her pussy. Nudging her legs open a little, I flipped my wrist around and stroked her with two fingers. She ran her hands up over my chest to the neck of my tank and yanked it to the side. When her plump lips brushed across my chest, I made an executive decision—dinner could wait.

I wrapped both hands around her ass and lifted her up. Depositing her on top of the table, she laughed and straight-armed me.

“I thought you slaved over a hot stove the past few hours, remember?”

Shackling her wrists and anchoring them to her sides, I dipped my head and nuzzled her neck. “One word—microwave. Lay back.”

“Jaxx—”

“Lay. Back.” With a hand between her tits, I pushed her down on top of my table so her legs dangled over the side. Spreading her thighs so I fit between them, I looped my hands under her knees and pulled until her pussy kissed my cock. Thank fuck I hadn’t set the table.

She lifted her legs and wrapped them around my waist, eliminating any space between us. Jesus, the second I touched her, she gave me everything.

Running a hand from the top of her pants up her stomach, I wrapped my fingers around the neck of her tunic and worked it down to pool around the top of her hips. The gap in the neckline allowed it to slide down her arms with no resistance. “You’re so beautiful.” The dark stained wood of my table contrasted perfect with her alabaster skin.

“I think you’re maybe a little biased.” Her soft voice floated through the kitchen as she brushed a finger over my lips.

I leaned over her, moving both hands to rest on either side of her head. “Beautiful,” I repeated before taking her mouth hard and fast.

The second my lips touched hers, she locked her ankles behind me. I threaded my fingers through her hair on both sides and held her immobile. She shoved one hand into my hair, wrapping it around her fist, and reached over my shoulder to bunch the back of my shirt with the other. She met me stroke for stroke, groaning at the loss of my tongue with each heated break of our lips.

Caressing her cheeks with my thumbs, I pulled out of her arms to stand up. “Stay there,” I said, unwrapping her legs from my waist.

She lifted a hand to me. “Where are you going?”

“Right here. Don’t move.” I grabbed the glass of ginger ale I’d gotten for her and pulled out one of the ice cubes, setting it to the side. I moved back between her legs.

She seemed antsy tonight—needy, but in an unstable way. It was in the haunted, but hungry way she looked at me, touched me, from the second I’d opened the door. Her reaction to me slapping her ass confirmed it. It was almost as if something volatile hummed under her skin, and needed grounding. Since she wouldn’t ask for it, I listened to her body instead.

I ran one hand up the middle of her lacy black tank, between her tits to rest against the bare skin at the base of her throat. The deep rise and fall of her chest under my touch, the way she moved in sync to whatever rhythm I set . . . was a fuckin’ gift.

“Jaxx.” She lifted a hand and ran a finger over my lips. “I . . . I . . . need you.”

The hesitation in her voice, the skip in her breathing, and the depth of feeling in her eyes, told me “need” wasn’t what she meant, but was safer than the word she wanted to use.

“I’m right here, baby.” I wedged a hand under her back and she lifted for me. I’d expected a regular tank, but my fingers came in contact with tiny latches down the back. With each flick of the eye-hooks, I kissed her neck, her chest, until I got the damn thing completely undone and on my floor.

“Do you trust me, sugar?” I asked, kissing the swell of her breast. Her hands felt phenomenal in my hair.

“From the second you saved me from the leg press.”

The sexy shudder in her voice shot straight to my dick. Licking across one hard, rosy nipple, I took it between my lips and sucked soft. She squirmed and tightened the hold in my hair. I grew my hair long for Jessa and Sarah, but with Valentina’s hands in it, I wished I could keep it this way a little longer.

When I glanced up at her body, her head was thrown back. I picked up the ice cube. Her velvet little bud grew harder with each lick, every hard slide of my tongue.

“Jaxx—enough with the teasing,” she pleaded.

“Ah, sugar, I’m just warmin’ up.”

Taking her tender peak between my teeth, I bit down, giving her enough pressure so she whimpered. I kissed across the valley of her breasts to the other side. Wanting to keep her off balance, I let the melting ice drip over the nipple I’d tortured as I took the other between my lips.

She inhaled sharply and bolted up, but my body blocked her.

“What—what are you doing?!

I shifted my eyes to her face. “Does it hurt?”

Her green ones met mine and her pupils dilated. “A-ah,” she stammered. “No.”

“Relax for me, then.” I touched the cube to her skin, circling until the ice began to melt and trail down the puckered swell of her breast. When her body trembled beneath me, I shifted and covered the freezing bud with my mouth, sucking hard.

“Oh my God,” she purred, rocking her hips against mine.

I skimmed the ice to the other side, her soft moans resonating through the kitchen. I followed the water trail with my tongue, licking and giving her the occasional nip. With every soft bite, her legs locked tighter around my waist.

Dragging the ice between the valley of her breasts, I rerouted, drawing a line under the tunic to the top of her pants. I straightened up, staring down at the most erotic sight I’d yet to see in thirty-four motherfucking years.

“No,” she pleaded. “Come back.” She lifted her arms to me, her wet tits rising and falling, her eyes glowing with need.

I reached around my back and unhooked her ankles. Keeping my eyes locked to hers, I sat down in the chair in front of her and placed her feet on my knees. “I can’t think of a way to get these pants off and keep the shoes on, so for tonight, they gotta go.”

With slow hands, I undid the buckles at the sides of her ankles and took off her shoes. Her lean, stretched out body, elongating further with every move made my dick twitch. The soft light above my table illuminated the goosebumps, covering every inch of her wet skin.

“Baby.” I rubbed her calves and the underside of her thighs. “Undo your pants for me.”

No hesitation. Fuck me, she was wired. She slid both hands down her stomach under the pooled material of her tunic to the top of her pants. I’d originally thought leggings, in which case, easy access, but they weren’t. The material was deceptively soft with a button and a zipper. More to play with. Her long fingers disengaged the button and slid the zipper down.

“I want you do something for me.”

“What?” she asked, in a silky as fuck voice.

“I want you to touch yourself. Will you do that for me?”

Her hand stopped moving for a second and she raised one arm up and over her eyes. The muscles in her stomach began to shake. Now there’s a goddamn sight. Shit. Her chest rose as she took a deep breath and let it out. She moved her hand under the top of her pants and inside.

“Are you wet, baby?” The other thing I’d picked up on pretty fuckin’ quick—the more honest and graphic I was with her, the more sensual she became.

“Yes,” she admitted, on a whisper.

“Rub your clit for me.”

Her hand disappeared into her panties, the material hiding her fingers. I’d give her the security of keeping the pants on this time. Next time—all mine. Full view.

The sexy cadence of her breathing labored faster and her hips pushed into her own hand.

“Christ, baby.” My grip on her calves grew tighter, I rubbed her muscles harder as her hips began to roll. “Give me your hand.”

She slid it out of her pants and lifted it to me. I stood up and wrapped a hand around her wrist, sucking her wet fingers to my mouth. Taking them deep, I pulled them out clean and groaned at the fresh, clean flavor of her arousal. Goddamn, I was addicted to this woman.

Leaving her thong in place, I dragged her pants down her legs and sat down again, slipping one leg off at a time. When she lay there in only her bunched up tunic and panties, I scooted the chair closer to the table.

“Spread your legs.” Helping her out, I lifted her feet to the front of the chair’s arms and rested them there.

I reached into the glass, taking another ice cube. I wrapped my arms under and around her thighs, holding her immobile. Teasing the ice cube along the top of her lacy thong, the melting ice seeped into the material and cooled the skin just under the elastic.

“Jaxx,” she inhaled sharp. “I—I want you.”

“You’ll get me, sugar.” Drawing a straight line down the top of her hood to the bottom of her hot entrance, the ice melted faster and her legs quivered harder. Lifting the remaining part of the ice up, I circled her clit through her panties with the cold tip.

At first, she pulled away, but I guided her back down by her hips. “Take it for me, baby.”

Her chest rose and then her back flattened on top of the table. Up and down, I soothed the ice over and around her clit, each pass eliciting small gasps from her. When the trembling moved up to her stomach and over her arms, I popped the cube in my mouth and yanked her underwear to the side. I couldn’t get my mouth on her swollen pink folds fast enough. I covered her entire cleft with my mouth and sucked.

“Oh, jeez, Jaxx—so cold . . . I love—love your mouth.”

I ran my tongue up her slit and parted her lips with two fingers holding her open. All that glistening, soft pink skin . . . Reaching down, I ran my middle finger around her cold mound in slow circles, watching the small tremors pulse through her body. Her clit was so swollen, it popped out from under its soft hood, begging to be licked, sucked, but I wanted to hear her say it.

“What do you want, sugar—hand or mouth?”

“Mmm—”

“That feeling you’re having right now, that ache you need me to take care of, own it, baby.” I intentionally drew out the circles, running two fingers along the side of her lips on either side of her cleft, building the tension. “Tell me.”

“Mouth,” she whispered into her arm. “Please. I want your mouth.”

Splitting her lips wide, I flicked my cold tongue over the top of her sensitive clit.

Her back lunged off the table, her whole body shaking, trying to adapt to the cold on the hottest part of her. Her hands flew into my hair, stroking it, before she bunched it in her fists. “So . . . so cold. You’re tongue’s freezing.” Her teeth began to chatter.

“Let’s warm you up, then,” I said against her hot, slippery lips. Flattening my tongue, I licked her cleft in long deliberate sweeps, each stroke dragging a soft moan from parted lips. Her hips began to rock with me and I switched it up, circling the soft bundle of nerves with the tip.

“Jaxxon . . . ”

Moving my hands under her thighs, I lifted them over my shoulders and held them against the side of my face. Her inner thighs quivered against my cheeks and I put my mouth over her pussy, slipping my tongue in and out of her entrance.

Her thighs jumped and spasmed against my face. “You ready, sugar?”

“Yes! Please, yes.”

There was no sweeter sound than her begging me to fuck her.

I sucked her clit between my lips hard. She let go of my hair and covered her face, as her back arched and dropped back to the table. Moving my mouth off of her, I covered her clit with the pad of my thumb and pressed down soft.

“Noooo . . . don’t stop,” she groaned.

“Hold on, baby.” Dropping lower, I licked just below my thumb under her clit. When her breathing went super-fucking-sonic, I lifted my thumb, letting the blood flow back fast and sucked her sweet little bud hard.

“Shit!” she cried out as her body convulsed. I slid two fingers deep, rubbing up against the puffy ridge of her G-spot. Her arousal coated my fingers as she shook through the orgasm.

Before she stopped pulsing around me she bolted up from the table, and I dragged my fingers out of her body as I stood from the chair. She jammed her hands inside the elastic of my shorts and shoved them down just below my ass.

“Please.” Her heavy eyes met mine. “Now. I need you inside me now.”

Leaning down, I wrapped a hand in her hair and pushed my forehead against hers. “How do you want it, sugar?”

“I—I just need to feel you.” She stretched up and brought my mouth down to hers.

Given how oversensitive she was, I decided to slow shit down. With the trust of her tongue between my lips, I lined up at her opening and pressed home. She groaned into my mouth at my entrance. I fisted the back of her hair, holding her head to me, until I was buried deep inside what had become my fucking obsession.

“Lay back,” I spoke against her mouth. Wedging a hand between us, I pushed until she put her hands behind her and lowered herself flat on the table. I wrapped my hands under her knees and pulled her as close to me as I could physically get her.

Dragging my cock out, I kept my eyes on her face, on the flush of her skin, looking for a sign of discomfort. Her swollen walls clutched at my dick, pulsed all around it as she panted and stared at where our bodies connected.

“Breathe, baby.”

She settled down as I started to thrust slow and steady. With every penetration, I pulled her legs to me, forcing myself deeper. Once she started moving with me, I lifted both her legs to my shoulders to hold her still and pushed in a little farther, keeping the pace steady.

Her hands flew up over her head and she anchored them on the table, giving her something to use to push into me. “You feel . . . you feel—”

“What?” I ground out. “Say it.”

“So good,” she gasped and pushed forward again. “I–I crave you.” She couldn’t get there. She couldn’t say the fucking words, but goddamn, I’d never had a woman this willing to take everything I wanted to give her. And I wanted to give her so much more.

I kept one arm locked around her thighs and moved the other to her mound. Pushing my thumb through her slippery lips, I drew steady, firm circles around her saturated clit, teasing her up with me. I rubbed her faster, but rocked my cock inside her leisurely, angling the head so it hit her G-spot with each thrust. My balls tightened to the point of pain. Slow was fucking killing me, but did the job I’d hoped it would. Splayed out on my kitchen table, every move long and sensuous, she looked like a goddamned goddess.

“Jaxx—faster. Please . . . ” She panted.

“Nah, sweetness, you’re fine. Feel, Valentina, just fuckin’ feel.”

With each thrust, she squeezed around me tighter, her body pulling me in deeper. Despite her pleas for me to move faster and harder, I kept the pace the same. Moving her legs back down and around my waist, I leaned over her, taking one nipple in my mouth, worshiping her with my tongue, and savoring the vanilla taste of her wet skin. The more she moaned, squirmed, and begged, the tighter my fucking balls got and it took every motherfucking ounce of willpower I had not to give into her and piston into her tight, welcoming heat.

Sensitive from the previous orgasm, she whimpered when I ran two fingers right over the top of her unprotected clit.

“Come, sugar.”

“Jaxxon . . . Ohhhh—yes!” she cried and arched her back, pushing her hips into mine.

She came so hard, a fresh flood of arousal coated my cock, and I thrusted into her deeper, harder, but still slow until my goddamned eyes crossed. “Fuck!” The tight walls of her pussy strangled my cock, milking me, and I swear to Christ, every muscle in my body spasmed. I didn’t come, I motherfucking ignited on a roar more animal than human.

My entire world shook and went blurry. I thrust deep one last time, losing myself to the feel of her clenching muscles drawing out every last drop I had to give. “Goddamn,” I rumbled.

Who the fuck was grounding who here?

I collapsed on top of her and she wrapped her arms around me as soon as my chest hit hers. Warm kisses peppered the top of my head and my forehead until I lifted up enough to capture her mouth. I formed my hands around her face and leaned back enough to look at her. “I could make love to you every damn morning and night.”

Her eyes widened and she tilted her head to stare just to the side of my face.

I ran a finger over an eyebrow and down the slope of her neck. With a finger under her chin, I turned her head back to me and captured her lips in a soft kiss.

“Thank you.” Her eyes jumped back and forth between mine as she caressed my face with the tips of her fingers. “I—I love—the way you are with me.”

I sighed and kissed her forehead before pulling back, biting back words and thoughts she wasn’t ready to hear. “The feeling’s very much mutual, sugar.” Leaning down, I ran my lips down the slope of her neck.

“Jaxxon . . . We—I—” When her eyes jumped back and forth between mine, searching for words.

I made it easy on her. I wedged my hands under her ass and she locked her feet around my waist, her shirt caught between our stomachs. “It’s all good. All right, baby. Up. Hold on.” I lifted her and sat down in the chair, still buried deep inside her warm body. I let her sit there as long as she wanted, stroking her back, her hair, until she settled. When her breathing shifted back to a normal rhythm, I held her face away from me. “You hungry now?”

A smile lit up her face and she nodded. “I’m starving.”

“You sound like a dude.” I kissed her forehead and stood up with her in my arms. “Get cleaned up in my bathroom. Come out when you’re done. I’ll get shit set up in here.”

She glanced around us and then to the counter with a small frown. “Shouldn’t we . . . ” She looked between our bodies. “Don’t you have to, ah, move?”

I laughed and hugged her to me. “Yeah, but if I move right now, I’m gonna have more to clean and I’ve cleaned all fucking day. Bathroom’s easier. Hold on.”

She gave me a quick kiss on the mouth and locked her arms around my neck.

I walked with her wrapped tight around me into the master bathroom and set her on the sink before handing her a towel and pulling out of her with a groan. Giving her one of my T-shirts, I wrapped a towel around my waist, opened the shower door and cranked the water.

The tension drained out of her shoulders and she smiled up at me. “Thank you. For everything. I’m not crazy about forty, but if I had to reach this age to meet you, I’ll take it.”

“Age is a number, and you look twenty-four. Now move your ass.” I pointed to the shirt I gave her. “You’ll swim in that, so you’re covered. Take your time, baby.”

“Thank you,” she said, looking down at the shirt in her hands.

I closed the door behind me. I chuckled at her long moan as I walked out of my room. There were side nozzles on the wall that hit your back, hips, and ass at three angles. It was a full on water massage.

She wouldn’t stay with me tonight. Not after the episode at her house, so I had coffee ready to go. I hated the idea of her leaving on her birthday. I wanted to hold her hostage for three days, but I’d already pushed some serious emotional boundaries for her tonight.

Truth was, I was in love with Valentina, and I knew she was in love with me. It was in the way she looked at me, said my name, every fucking thing she did for me, but the words wouldn’t come.

Life was too short to deny something this strong, but she had to see that on her own. She needed to know it, believe it, and trust in it, and I wouldn’t keep reassuring her. There was a difference between reassuring someone you love them and expressing your love for them. I was all about expression. Reassurance spoke to insecurity and led to shit neither of us needed in our lives. She needed to trust me, and to do that, she had to admit how she felt to herself first before she could admit it to me. Good thing I was a patient motherfucker.