When I woke, the bed was empty. I stretched and looked at the Fitbit on my wrist. It was ten AM, and I’d slept at least fourteen hours. It looked like my bandages had been changed, and a freshly squeezed glass of OJ was on my nightstand. Wow, I was a sound sleeper, and this was good service.

I grabbed the OJ and downed it quickly. Then I padded to the bathroom, turned the shower heads on, and leaned on the glass.

How was it possible to feel this exhausted after fourteen hours of sleep?

I made it through my shower and felt marginally better. I pulled my wet hair back into a ponytail and dressed in comfy running pants and a t-shirt.

Lightheadedness hit me like a rocket and I leaned against the door jamb between the bathroom and master suite. What was wrong with me?

I climbed back in bed just as the door opened.

“Hey sleepyhead, I bring you breakfast,” Gabriel announced as he pulled the towel off the tray and showcased the breakfast he’d made for me.

I rubbed my hands together. “Mm. Looks delish!”

“How are you?” He asked, his eyes cautious, discerning.

“I’m hungry and this is perfect.”

I could tell he didn’t quite believe me, but I was determined to prove him wrong.

“I drank the juice. Thank you, that was very sweet,” I suddenly felt shy. What was that about?

Gabriel set next to me while I ate. I felt better with food in my stomach.

“Can I join you downstairs?”

“I’d rather you spend the day in bed.”

“I knew you’d say that.” I paused. “I have a lot of questions, Gabriel. I need answers.”

“We don’t have them all yet, Thea. I’d rather that you rest until we do.”

“I slept over fourteen hours.” I countered.

“And you still look exhausted.” His concerned eyes covered every inch of my face.

I knew he was right. Eating had exhausted me, and I was ready for a nap. I reached for his hand.

“I want to talk about hard limits, and what that means.”

He laughed out loud. “Thea, we’re not talking about that right now, and that’s not negotiable.”

“But we don’t have a guarantee of tomorrow, Gabriel,” I countered.

He took a deep breath. “You’re right, no one does, but we’re still not talking about that right now.”

“Kiss me.”

His eyes met mine, and a spark ignited between us.

He indulged me, but he was restrained like he was afraid I’d break. “I won’t break.”

He pulled back with a smile on his face.

“You’re not the only mind reader.”

“Fuck,” he says, claiming my lips, opening them with his tongue.

I moaned, moving his hand to my breast boldly. There’s no time to waste, I decided, squirming when he thumbed my nipple. It hardened under his touch and he twisted it.

This time I groaned, moving my hands under his shirt; my hands claimed every inch of his chest, abs, moving lower.

“Thea,” he gasped.

“Mm, hm?” But I kept moving.

He grasped my hands and brought them back to my lap. “Don’t get me wrong, I want you,” he said, “but right now you need rest.”

For the first time in a very long time, I felt a pout forming on my lips. My body craved him, and I desperately want him to ease the pressure between my legs. I reached for his hand and moved it there.

He took my lower lip between his teeth and his hand covered my mound. I sighed. Yes, this is exactly what I want.

I leaned back on the pillows, my nipples hard against the thin nightgown. He dragged his fingers over them, and I arched into his hands.

But then he sighed. “Thea—you really do need to rest.”

“Gabe, I’m wet for you. Please don’t leave me wanting.”

In one swift move, his body covered mine, and I smiled.

“You’re being very naughty and disobedient.” he scowled at me.

“Mm, hm.”

I pushed my hips into his cock. I didn’t want him to deny me—not today. Not right now.

He didn’t disappoint.

His cock pressed against my wet pussy and I reached up, pulled the nightgown over my head, then my panties down.

“Take me.”

I watched his reaction. His eyes darkened and my body responded to the journey his eyes made from my lips to my neck, to my breasts where they lingered, and then moved down to the tuft of hair at my mound.

“Thea, I want to be gentle.”

“Don’t be,” I assured him. “Just take me. What if we only have today?”

He flipped me over and entered me with one swift move.

I cried out, “God, yes!”

He grabbed my breasts, rough, and I reveled in the pleasure-pain. He pinched my nipples and started to thrust slowly.

“Fuck me,” I demanded, and he did. Hard. Fast.

The earth-shattering orgasm took all the strength I had left, but it was worth every second.

I collapsed. He covered my naked body with a blanket and whispered, “Sleep my love, sleep.”

I did.