My skirt falls to the ground and Garrett's large hands slide under my leggings, pushing them down to join my skirt. Then his hands reach up and I raise my arms for him to take my shirt off.

“You're so beautiful.” His rough beard doesn't itch or scratch, it's as though I'm home as his lips cascade down my belly, his hands leading the way as they hook on either side of my panties.

My center tightens when he slides the small piece of fabric down my legs and I step out of them. It's as though I'm not in my body as his hands glide along my skin and his lips come back up and he unclasps my bra letting it fall forward and down my arms.

In a snap of a finger, I'm standing naked in front of him.

My skin warms as I watch his gaze roam up and down my body, his tongue licking his lips, his eyes burning with desire.

“You have way too many clothes on.” My fingers disappear under the hem of his T-shirt and he helps me by raising his arms. His chest is smooth with a sprinkle of hair that shows how much of a man he is. His muscles are hard, his abs tight and on display like I'm staring at the cover of a men's fitness magazine.

Flicking the button on his jeans, I carefully slide the zipper down, over the prominent bulge that makes my center pulse with anticipation. I push down his jeans and he steps out of them, and like that our clothes are mingled on the hardwood floor of his bedroom.

“Crawl on the bed,” he instructs and there's something I like about him being bossy with me as if he’s finally claiming me.

I slide down onto his green bedspread and scoot up the mattress.

“Just like that,” he says, his eyes admiring the view of me spread eagle on his bed.

He drops his camo boxers on the floor and his hand strokes his large cock while he stares down at me.

“You are so gorgeous, Charlie.”

Wetness pools between my legs while I watch him pump his dick with his eyes glued on me.

“You promised tender kisses and kind words.” I smile.

“You're right, I did.” His hand leaves his dick and they force my legs further apart.

Then he rises, nestling between my legs, as his hands brush my chaotic hair from my face and he captures my lips in a kiss that would weaken my legs if I wasn't already laying down.

“I want to lick you inch by inch, but at the same time I can't wait to be buried inside you again.”

The tip of his dick is poised and ready at my entrance and I wiggle to entice him further. The wait is just as unbearable on my side.

“How about we save the mushy stuff for later?” I laugh and he shakes his head, his hands sliding up my arms until my hands are clasp with his.

He circles his hips and then enters me slowly, inch by inch, my pussy begging for more until he's fully inside me.

“Garrett,” I sigh.

“Shh...baby.” His lips meet mine a few times. “We're taking this slow.”

He grinds and I arch, my tits pressed into his hard chest.

“Oh,” I moan and he thrusts again.

“You feel incredible.”

I try to move my hands but he keeps them locked with his so that he has all the control except for my legs.

I plant the soles of my feet on the bed, widening my legs as far as they'll go so he can get as deep as we both want him.

“Jesus,” he murmurs when he slowly drags himself from me and then thrusts in fast again.

My orgasm builds, all the blood flow centering between my legs and waiting for him to really start fucking me is an agonizing, torturous and somehow pleasurable endeavor.

“You're so wet,” he whispers and I arch my body further, my fingers tightening around his.

He propels forward again and I wrap my legs around his torso, needing more of him. If we were velcroed together it wouldn't be close enough.

Our kisses become frantic and he releases my hands, holding my head in place while my fingers dig into his shoulder blades.

“Please Garrett, I need faster and deeper.”

He growls but does as I request. His lips only leave mine for short breaths as he continues to grind in and out of me, his pace increasing, building my orgasm one step at a time up the steepest mountain.

My fingers clutch at him, the sweat between our bodies hindering my grip. Our mouths travel along each other’s bodies in a chaotic mess.

He slows all his movements as his tongue gently slides into my mouth.

“Not yet. I want to see you come.”

His hands brush the hair from my face and he stares into my eyes.

“Oh, Garrett,” I sigh.

He says nothing, but his constant brushing of my mess of curls and the emotion in his eyes reveal his true feelings for me and pushes me off that mountain. He catches me with another surprise kiss like a parachute as I glide down back to earth in his arms.

His own thrusting slows and he circles inside me until his fingers tighten in the strands of my hair and he sprinkles open mouthed kisses along my jaw until he buries his head in my neck, gasping for air.

“Who knew slow sex could drain you too?” he chuckles into my throat and I wrap my arms around his neck, not wanting his body to leave mine.

“Yeah, and I haven’t eaten since lunch.”

He picks up his head, peering down at me as though I might be lying.

“Well then.” He withdraws from me, disappearing into his bathroom, returning with a washcloth.

Once we're both cleaned up, he pulls on some boxers, throws me his T-shirt and then picks me up over his shoulder.

“Now to the kitchen,” he says in what I imagine is his best Paul Bunyan voice.

I smack his butt. “If it’s anything like the last time you cooked for me, I can’t wait.”

* * *

I'm propped up on the counter, my legs hanging in front of me as Garrett moves between the stove and my legs. A taste of his chili followed by a taste of him every time he comes back to me.

“Cornbread in the oven. You've really embraced the single dad thing.”

He rests the spoon next to the stove, locking me to the counter with his arms on either side of my hips. I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him into me further. My arms drape over his shoulders as he kisses the hollow of my neck.

“Can I ask you a question?”

He slides back, eyeing me. “Sure.”

“Why now? I mean, what's changed?”

He stares down for a second and then meets my gaze with a seriousness that's been absent since he told me about the paper.

“When you walked out on me earlier, I realized I was more scared to lose you to someone else than to lose you completely.”

I must look confused because he chuckles.

“I've shied away from you for a couple reasons. Your brother, your age, but most of all I was scared to put myself out there. I knew you were someone who could hurt me if I allowed myself to care any more for you than I already did and I never wanted to feel that despair again.”

I tilt my head and run my hand down his rugged beard.

“But I have a confession,” he says. A smirk appears on his lips and I smile a little, waiting for him to tell me.

“What?”

“I overheard you and Syd talking at the hospital. About her stressing that I'd be by myself when she goes away.”

I draw back. “So this is to make Syd feel better?”

“No.” He leans forward until my head gently hits the cabinets behind me. Garrett cups my face with his hand. “She asked you to wait for me.”

I bite the inside of my cheek and nod, unable to look away from him.

“That's when I realized, I either lose you because of my own stupidity or I take the chance and never lose you. I read that paper you wrote again and I was reminded of the guy I was before it all.”

“I’ve been seeing more of him these past few weeks.” I smile.

“You pull that out of me.”

My grin widens and I place my arms over his shoulders again. “Well, I don't want to brag.” I flutter my eyelashes and he smashes his lips to mine.

Our kiss continues and our bodies drawing even closer. His hand slides up my bare thigh about to hit my center when the oven timer goes off.

“Tortured by the bell,” I murmur against his lips.

“I'll be back in one second.”

After he’s taken the cornbread out and turned off the oven he slides me off the counter and onto his kitchen table.

I pull his dick out of his boxers and as the chili simmers and the cornbread cools, he takes me right there.

And the best part isn’t the two orgasms he gives me. It’s when he leans over me and says, “I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”