He brought his hand down on my ass with a resounding smack, and I moaned in pleasure even as the pain spread out from where my skin burned. My ass had to be a bright shade of red by now, and I knew sitting after this was going to be an issue, but at least I worked a job where I didn’t need to be behind a desk all the time.

“You have the best ass,” Jalen said as he smoothed his hand over the burning flesh, the gentle touch the perfect balance to the sharp slap he’d given seconds ago.

“Yours isn’t bad either,” I said, my breathing heavy and sharp. “Does that mean I get to spank you next?”

He chuckled and smacked the other side of my ass before sliding his hand down between my legs. I gave a small yelp as he shoved two fingers inside me, and he laughed again.

“Always wet for me, aren’t you?” He twisted his fingers, and I pushed back against his hand. His free hand smoothed up my spine and then back down again before he slapped my ass once more. “What do you think we should do about that?”

“Fuck me,” I begged. “Fuck me, please.”

He pulled his fingers out and buried himself inside me with one thrust. I cried out, coming again as he bottomed out. Even as I shook with the force of my orgasm, he pounded into me, not giving me the slightest respite.

We’d gotten back a few hours ago, thanks to his private jet, and he’d taken me to his place after asking if I wanted to go to my apartment. We’d barely made it through the door before we were stripping off our clothes. This was round two, and he’d already made me come three times. My entire body was on the edge, primed for another climax, and I knew he’d give it to me.

Every stroke hit me deep, hard enough to be painful, or at least they would have been if I hadn’t been flooded with endorphins. I’d feel it tomorrow for sure – probably sooner – but right now, all I felt was good. Amazing, actually. Like every cell in my body was vibrating, full of ecstasy, just waiting to be released.

“Damn, I love you like this.” He slammed into me hard enough to make me gasp. “Ass in the air, those firm tits of yours jiggling.”

He reached beneath me to squeeze both of my breasts, then rolled my nipples between his fingers. I whimpered, the already tender flesh sending pain shooting through me. He’d been pinching, biting, and sucking on my nipples from the beginning, and they were excruciatingly sensitive at the moment.

“I’ve been a little rough on you, baby.” He slid his hand across my stomach to slip a finger over my clit. I shuddered, tightening around Jalen until he cursed. “Or maybe not rough enough.”

A moment later, I felt his finger pressing against my asshole. My eyelids fluttered as he pushed just the tip past the ring of muscle. The burn that would have made me gasp instead made me cry out as I came again. And again. One orgasm rolled into another until he finished with a loud groan.

The two of us collapsed onto the bed, a tangle of sweaty, trembling limbs. I knew we’d sleep now, exhausted enough that I knew we’d both go under soon. We’d need to get up eventually, but right now, I was content where I was. We’d doze, then do what was necessary when we woke again.

Tomorrow was a new day, a new start. My past was gone. Jalen and I had worked out things between us. Clay and I were friends again. I had a job I enjoyed and one I was good at. One that would allow me to help people the way I’d always wanted. I’d keep Burkart Investigations going and grow it into something that would have made Adare proud. And I’d offer my services to Jenna when she and the FBI worked on human trafficking cases.

I’d be a part of making the world better, making my mother proud of me.

And I’d have a life with Jalen.

I was feeling more optimistic about life than I ever had before.

It was time to start living.