NO CONDOM, HER TIGHT heat constricting around me, I fucking lost it.
Selfishly, stupidly, triumphantly, I gave her exactly what she asked for.
I came inside her.
Goddamn, I came inside her.
Caging her in, stroking in and out through our releases, feeling every contraction of her orgasm, I didn’t want this to fucking end. She was mine. All fucking mine.
Caressing her hair, her face, I stared down at the woman I’d loved forever, still not believing I was inside her. “You okay?”
Her legs, her body, they trembled beneath me. “Yes.”
Her voice was so damn soft and sweet, I could listen to it forever. “You’re amazing.” So fucking amazing, I didn’t have words.
“I didn’t do anything.” Her hips shifted, and she pulled her lips into her mouth.
“You gave me the best damn gift I’ve ever had.” Seeing her discomfort, I kissed her and slowly eased out.
She sucked in a sharp breath as the head of my cock slipped out.
“Come on.” I scooped her up. “Let’s get you in a hot bath.”
She flinched. “No, I’m okay. I can walk.”
“You’re sore from me taking you. You haven’t had a chance to fully heal from the other day, and you’re mine. I’ll carry you if I want.”
Her arms wrapped around my neck. “You know I’m not going with you.”
I carried her into the bathroom, thinking how best to get what I wanted. “Then I want a compromise.” I set her down and turned the water on for the tub.
She pressed her thighs together. “What kind of a compromise?”
I tested the water and adjusted the temperature before stepping up to her and tipping her chin. “You’re staying here.” Before I got the last word out, she was already protesting.
“I have my own house, and it’s not like I’m any safer here. Marcus knows where you live. He even got past the downstairs security gate.”
“That was because he had the code. Now he doesn’t. I already changed it.”
She dropped her gaze. “He’s not going to come after me.”
“A couple weeks. That’s all I’m asking.” That would give me enough time to either find his ass and get him in rehab or wherever the hell he needed to be, or get my replacement on the tour.
She stared at her legs as my release ran down the inside of her thigh. “I, um, I need privacy.”
Fuck, that was sexy. I dragged a finger up her thigh and brought my lips to her ear. “Why? Because I’m coming out of you?”
She shivered. “Ben,” she whispered. “Stop.”
“No. Do you know how beautiful you look right now?” My dick was hard again.
“Please.” She caught my wrist as I gently cupped her. “I just need a minute.”
“And I need you to be safe.” I kissed her neck, then I gave up playing fair. “I won’t be able to concentrate on the tour if I don’t know you’re protected. It’s a secure building, the underground parking is safe, and I can download the security app on your phone so you can see anyone who rings to get in.”
She exhaled.
I knew I had her. “Stay at my place, and unless you need to use the restroom, don’t hide from me after sex.” I stroked my fingers through her cum-soaked pussy. “I want to see every drop that drips out of you.”
Heat flushed her cheeks bright red, and she let go of my wrist. “Fine.” She stepped toward the tub. “But only two weeks, and I get to drive past my house once a day to see if he’s there.”
No fucking way. I upped the ante. “One month and I’ll have Hank drive past your house on his way to work and text you if he sees him.”
She bit her bottom lip as she gingerly got in the tub. “Two weeks, fine on Hank.”
“Deal.” Remembering she was thirsty, I kissed her on the top of her head. “I’ll grab us some waters, then join you.”
She looked up in surprise as she sank into the hot water. “You take baths?”
“With you I do.” I winked and walked out.
As I passed the nightstand, my phone vibrated with an incoming call. I didn’t recognize the number, but it was local.
I answered as I walked to the kitchen. “Hello?”
“Hey, it’s Hank.”
I frowned. “What number are you calling from?”
“The gym. You’re gonna want to hear this. Hold on, I’m putting you on speaker.”
I grabbed two waters out of the fridge.
“Can you hear me?” Hank asked.
“Yeah.” My muscles tightened as another voice came on the line.
“Hey, this is Tucker. Hank said you’re looking for Maher. He was in here earlier today, ready to fucking pound anyone who looked twice at him. He asked everyone who was anyone if they were ready to fight. I told him to get lost, but some new asshole cornered him before he left. Supposedly the guy was claiming to be a scout from south Florida. Said he had ties to Alastair’s in Miami. He left with Maher.”
“Alastair’s?”
“Yeah, Pete Alastair. Used to be a big-time AFC trainer before he retired. Now he has a gym, and every idiot who thinks he can crush it in the ring tries to convince him to come out of retirement and train them. Word on the street is there’s a big underground scene being run out of the place.”
Shit. “Underground as in unsanctioned fights?”
“Yeah. No rules, no refs, fight till you get knocked the fuck out or die.”
Jesus Christ. “You know Alastair or got a contact down there?”
“No, I stay the hell out of that.”
Fuck me. “Hank?”
“I know less than Tucker,” Hank answered. “But I’ve met Alastair once before. Want me to call him?”
And say what? This was beyond the scope of anything Hank could do. I scrubbed a hand over my face. “No, let’s keep this between us. Thanks for the information, Tucker. I appreciate it. Hank, I’ll catch up with you later.” I hung up knowing I needed to call Talon, but Elyssia was waiting for me. I walked back to the bathroom, not sure what the fuck to tell her.
“Here.” I handed her the water without making eye contact. I couldn’t fucking believe I was leaving her again. Stepping into the tub behind her, I pulled her back to my chest.
She didn’t relax into me all the way. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Everything. I stroked her arms and kissed her shoulder. “I don’t want to leave you.”
She slowly leaned back into me. “I’ll be fine.”
I brushed her hair aside and kissed the back of her neck. “I know you’re strong.”
“But?”
“No buts.”
She turned and looked up me. “What just happened?”
Naked, her hair floating in the water around us, her trust in me—Jesus, she was stunning. “I love you.” The words flowed like rightness.
Her eyes went wide and her mouth opened, but I put my fingers over her lips.
“I’ve always loved you. I think you probably know that. Just like I know how incredibly strong you are. I’m not telling you how I feel now because I’m leaving, or because we made love or because I need to hear the words back. I’m telling you because I don’t want to hold back anymore.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Ben—”
Like a coward, I kissed her. I kissed her until the water turned cold. But I didn’t tell her about her brother.