Holy shit.

As I flush out the condom, I glance down at my shaking hands and lick my lips. The taste of Laura’s sweet pussy is still on my tongue, stirring my need again. I’ve fucked a lot of women, but being with Laura…shit. The other women pale in comparison to her. It’s as simple as that.

I run a hand through my sweaty hair and walk back to the bedroom, eager to return to her.

But when I find the bed empty, I frown, and a sinking feeling settles in my gut.

Movement to my right catches my eye and I turn my head only to find her rushing around, gathering her clothes. Her movements are far from relaxed, and it turns my peaceful frame of mind into red alert.

“Leaving so soon?” I ask drily and lean against the doorjamb.

Her head snaps in my direction, and I cross my arms in front of me when I notice the panicked expression in her eyes. Like a deer caught in headlights—I resent it.

“Yes, well, I, um…I need to get back to the house.”

Her eyes flicker everywhere, avoiding my gaze. I can practically smell her anxiety across the room. I clench my teeth, trying to think fast.

“You’re running again.”

“No, I’m not,” she whispers, but the fact that she won’t return my gaze speaks volumes.

Think, man, think!

“You’ve got about twenty seconds to freak out, then if you’re not back in my bed, naked, I’m coming to get you,” I grind out.

Like hell is she going to treat this like some fucking hook-up. I won’t allow it.

My words stop her as she pulls on her wellies, and I smirk at the small spark in her eyes.

“That’s good,” I murmur. “I prefer snarky over affable any day.”

She huffs and puts her hands on her hips, glaring at me. I bite my lip as I trail my eyes over her just-got-shagged hair, swollen lips—bruised from my kisses—down her slender figure covered in the simple, white nightgown that stops at the top of her thighs.

“I can’t stay, Kristian. And I’m not freaking out.”

“I call bullshit,” I deadpan as my cock twitches at the mere sight of her.

When the fuck did a frumpy nightgown get sexy?

“Listen, I’m not staying, and you can’t make me,” she gripes.

“I’ll set the alarm clock so you can get back before Ailith wakes up, but no way are you leaving, Laura. That’s final.”

Her mouth gapes wide with shock for a nanosecond and then contorts, morphing into full-blown anger.

“Kristian, just because we fucked doesn’t mean we’re now together,” she yells.

Slowly, I uncross my arms and lean away from the doorway, prepared to catch her if she decides to make a run for it.

“I want you to be mine,” I whisper. The realisation that I do want her to be is unsettling, but it doesn’t make it any less true. I feel it in my soul.

Her eyes grow as big as saucers. “I am no one’s property,” she hisses. The venom in her voice takes me by surprise. She straightens her back and nods at me, a grim set to her mouth.

“Now, I’m going. Thanks for the orgasms—I needed them.”

My lips twitch with amusement.

“Fuck, you look sexy when you’re all riled up,” I mutter and push away from the door, slinking closer to her. The chase stirs my blood, and my cock starts to swell. She looks warily at me before she darts down to pick up her soaked cardigan, and that’s when I make my move.

In three steps, I reach her, then bend down and wrap my arms around her knees before I lift her up in my arms, her body hanging down my back.

“Kristian!” she shouts. “Put me down at once, you bloody fool!”

I take a deep breath when she smacks my arse and smirk at her foolhardy attempts to make me surrender to her will. Not going to happen.

Gently, I place her down on my bed and cover her body with mine, careful not to crush her. Her body bucks, and I wince when her flailing knees just miss my cock.

“Listen to me, please,” I whisper as I pin her arms down above her head.

“No, let me go!” she shouts, her eyes shooting daggers at me.

“I can see I went about this the wrong way,” I mutter with regret.

“Uh, you think?” she huffs, her voice heavy on the sarcasm.

Exasperated, I lean down until my mouth is pressed lightly against hers, hoping like hell that’ll get her attention. Hoping it will keep her quiet long enough for her to hear me out. I keep my eyes open as I nip at her lips, teasing her with my tongue, my mouth, and my teeth, satisfied as her eyes start to flutter. Little by little, her arms relax underneath mine, and I say a small prayer, hoping that now’s the time to try to explain.

“Being mine doesn’t mean you don’t belong to yourself first,” I whisper against her lips. Her eyes have lost a bit of their anger, but it’s still there, shooting daggers at me.

“Being mine doesn’t mean that you’re my property,” I soothe as I release one of her hands and tilt her face up so I can nibble on her long, slender neck.

“Being mine means that I’m the only man who’s allowed to be with you, feel you, tease you, for as long as we both want it.”

Her small sigh as I bite down on her earlobe makes me smile in victory against her heated skin.

Technically, the last part is a lie, but if that’s what it takes to make her listen, I’ll keep doing it. She’ll learn soon enough that there’s a fucking hell of a lot more to this—to us—than sex.

I grind against her crotch, so fucking ready for her again, I have trouble breathing. I could listen to her soft moans all night. The small gasp that falls from her lips as she feels how hard I am for her sends a shot of fire down my spine.

“Now, let’s see if I can make you shout my name again, sweetheart,” I growl and turn to my side so that I can push up her nightgown, baring her for me. My breath clogs up as I start to rub her clit. “I bet I can.”

With that, I smash my mouth to hers, pressing my tongue inside. I swallow her cries of ecstasy as I set out to erase any thoughts of leaving me from her mind.

When she’s all curled up, asleep in my arms, I sigh from exhaustion, relieved my diversion tactics worked. After I’ve set the alarm on my phone, like I promised her I would, I finally allow myself to give in to oblivion, my legs firmly tangled with hers.

* * *

I bolt upright at the sound of shrill ringing and look around me, completely disoriented. Vaguely, I notice the soft light shining through the windows. I’m still numb with sleep.

When a hand covers my left breast and pulls me down, I squeak and turn my head when I fall back on the pillow. When I find Kristian’s sleep-addled eyes so close to mine, I feel as if I’m falling into a deep pit.

“Crap,” I breathe.

He chuckles as he squints at me.

“Not exactly what I’d hoped for,” he yawns before he grabs his phone, silencing it. “But that’ll do for now.”

How can he look so sexy after the little sleep we’ve had?

I snap my head back and look at the ceiling.

“Um, what time is it?” I ask.

“Just about five in the morning,” he mumbles, tucking my body closer to his. My heart skips when he nuzzles against my neck, sighing softly. The unfamiliar intimacy of his actions make me tense up.

“Okay,” I whisper and try to wiggle free, but his grip tightens around me.

“Just five more minutes,” he mumbles. The touch of his warm lips as he kisses my collarbone sends tingles through my body, but I try to resist the urge to turn to him.

“I have to get up. Ailith might already be awake,” I lie. I hope he can’t hear it coating my words.

He grumbles as he ducks under the duvet, trailing open-mouthed kisses down my tummy. The feeling of delicious soreness between my legs is one I can scarcely remember, but now that Kristian has awakened my dormant desires, a part of me hopes I’ll never lose them again.

“Please,” I whisper, “you’re not playing fair.”

His rumbling chuckles against my skin sets off another round of heat through my body.

“Never said I would.”

I curse at my traitorous body as I arch my back, silently asking him for more.

“You’re so annoying,” I gasp as his hands push my thighs apart. Then I yelp when he nips at my hip bone and his tongue swipes at my pussy. I turn my head to the pillow, basking in the feelings he lets loose inside me.

“Tell me you want me to stop, and I will,” he whispers.

Kiss. Lick. Nip.

As he puts a finger inside me, the orgasm tears through me, and I cry out in pleasure.

Kiss. Lick. Nip.

The pace he sets is pure torture as I push my pussy up, begging to get closer to prolong the ecstasy.

Kiss. Lick. Nip.

“Stop, stop,” I beg, unable to take it anymore.

And he does. He stops, showing me once again how good he is at listening to me. He kisses my trembling inner thighs slowly as I take a few seconds to catch my breath.

“God, Kristian…” I let out a broken whisper and inhale deeply. “You make my head spin.”

I feel him crawl up my chest, and when his face appears from under the covers, my tummy flips when he smiles at me. His mouth is wet, swollen…because of me. His hair is all tumbled, messy.

He’s never looked more delicious than he does right now.

“Good, as you do the same to me. Being on the same page is always a good foundation, don’t you think?”

I bite my lip as I raise my hand, trailing the scruff on his face as I ponder his words.

“What page is that?” I ask him, curious to find out what he’s thinking.

“Only that, now we know we’re compatible in bed, I think we should keep exploring that side of our relationship. Don’t you?”

Can I do that? Can I simply have a sexual relationship with this man?

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a casual fling with someone,” I start, only to stop when he frowns at me.

“Doesn’t have to be casual, Laura. Let me, how do you say it?” He scrunches up his nose, and I smile at how adorable it makes him look.

And young.

“Let me court you,” he ends as he looks down at me, taking me by surprise.

“Court me? That’s ridiculous,” I laugh. “Nobody says that, let alone does it, in this day and age.”

His lips turn up in a crooked smile.

“Well, then let me date you?”

I wet my lips as I wrap my arms around his neck, teasing the nape of his neck with my nails. The sound that rumbles from his chest is my new favourite sound in the whole world.

“Can I take today to think about it?” I ask, careful not to hurt his feelings.

He shrugs lightly as he brushes his mouth over mine.

“Sure, I’m good with that.”

Touched that he’s so patient with me, I swallow the thickness in my throat.

“Thank you.”

We kiss for a while, but then reality sets in, and, reluctantly, I push his shoulders. At the questioning look in his eyes, I give him an apologetic smile.

“Ailith,” I whisper.

His eyes warm as I say her name.

“Ailith.”

He gives me one final kiss and then turns away to lie on his stomach. I breathe as I take in his naked body, revelling in its beauty, before I toss the duvet to the side and leave the bed.

Quickly, keeping my back to him, I pick up my discarded nightgown and get dressed.

“While you’re thinking about us today,” Kristian says, “are you going to tell her about us?”

I close my eyes briefly before I turn to look at him. Surprised to see the shuttered look in his eyes, I shrug lightly.

“I’m not sure yet,” I hedge. “Though it’s probably best to keep it quiet for now—she’s not exactly used to me dating.”

Kristian pushes up straighter in bed and rests his head on his upturned palm. He nods once.

“You’re probably right.”

As I pick up my wellies, a heavy silence settles between us.

I twiddle my thumbs as I try to think of the right way to do this. What’s the protocol here? Do I kiss him goodbye? Or do I just smile and leave?

Gaaah, this is all so confusing.

Kristian decides for me.

“Sweetheart, come here,” he whispers.

As if I’m a puppet on a string, I pad softly towards him and sit down on the bed.

“Give me a kiss that’ll last until tonight,” he winks at me.

A small laugh escapes my lips at the hint of the dare in his voice, but then I lean down, curling my hand around his neck.

Game. On.

Keeping my eyes open as I tilt my head, I watch as warmth and lust settle in his gaze. Once our lips touch, I push my tongue inside his mouth, sweeping it around from his gums to his teeth. Everywhere.

The long groan that hums in his throat urges me to become even braver, and I move my hand from his neck, down his defined chest and abs until I wrap it around the base of his cock. He hisses as his eyes flutter closed.

“When I see you later,” I murmur against his lips, while I stroke his cock slowly, “you’ll have to teach me how to suck you off—I’ve never been with a man who had a piercing. Deal?”

He breathes harder and nods as he bites down on his plump lip.

“Deal. I have to take the apa out, though,” he grunts, pushing his hips up. On an upward stroke, I tease the crease in the head, around the piercing, and then I pick up the pace.

“I can’t wait,” I whisper as I take his mouth again, eager to finish him off before I leave.

Kristian removes the duvet covering his lower body, giving me more room, and I sigh as his demanding lips crush mine and he pulls me down.

It doesn’t take long until his thrusts in my hand grow wilder, more erratic, and as I suck his tongue inside my mouth, he stills on a long moan as his cum squirts on my hand and his stomach. Gently, I release the hold on his cock and nibbles on his lips. Without saying a word, I stand up and move to the bathroom to wash my hands.

I hardly recognise the woman staring back at me. My eyes are shining brightly, heavy with lust, and my lips…oh, gosh, my lips are tender from kissing. I smile at Kristian when I leave the bathroom, and then I walk to the stairs. I have to leave now or I never will—he’s too tempting as he lies there, watching me with that satisfied smirk of his.

“See you later, sweetheart,” he calls after me.

Keeping my eyes straight ahead, I nod and walk downstairs.

As I move through the stable, murmuring soothing words to the horses, I realise that I’m about to do the walk of shame for the first time in years. I stop next to Thunder’s stall, taking a moment to gather myself.

“Morning, boy,” I whisper to him as he stretches his long neck towards me. Slowly, I reach out my hand to him, keeping my palm flat. When he nudges my hand, warmth settles in my bones at the trust he’s beginning to show me.

On a low snort, I run a hand through my hair and shake my head.

It’s a good thing that the horses are the only witnesses to the way I look right now.

At least there’s that.