For the past a week and a half, it feels like a new routine has established itself in my life. I wake up, make sure Carsen’s good for school before Sarah drops her off, then grab a workout before spending a few hours putting together tunes. That little ditty in my head keeps developing, and as I work on it, I’m more and more convinced it can be a good song . . . maybe even my best.

Sometime during the day, Elise either calls or comes over to talk about this and that for articles, showing me rough drafts on what she’s got. More often than not, she stays for dinner, and on those nights, the whole evening is a heady mix of professional and personal as we talk about music and tours and then roll into deep late-night conversations about everything and nothing. One night, she’ll hang with Carsen and we’ll be all about what’s on TV. The next, Elise and I damn-near have ripped the headboard off my bed as we fucked ourselves into a near coma just from an intense quickie before Carsen got home from school.

It’s been amazing to watch how Carsen, Sarah, and Elise have bonded so quickly and easily, although I’m even further outnumbered now, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. I’d worried so much for so long, assuming that I’d be alone until Carsen was grown, turning off that part of my heart, my soul.

But Elise makes it possible to have a connection with my daughter and still have a safe haven where Carsen knows she’s my priority. That takes a special woman, and I’m glad that it’s Elise.

We haven’t retraced those steps we were taking in the parking lot, saying how we feel. We haven’t had a night alone to address those feelings the way I want to. But looking over at her, I smile.

She’s at home in my house, washing up the dinner dishes from our date night-slash-interview and loading the dishwasher the way I like. It’s a small thing, really, just a nuance of daily life, but the simple fact that she’s comfortable doing it here, in my home, makes all the difference.

It resonates deep inside me, a fiery ball of joy singing out at her presence in my life, completing a puzzle at my core that I didn’t even know was missing a piece. I feel solid with her here, and I need her to know that.

Standing in the doorway with my arms crossed over my chest, I watch for one more second before I interrupt her, “Elise.” There’s already gravel and heat in my voice, but I can’t and don’t want to control it.

She looks over at me, a question in her eyes. “Keith?”

“Leave the dishes for later. I need you now. Come with me.” I can see the moment of hesitation on her face, the way she weighs whether she should sass me back, but she must sense the weight in my words. I’m glad. I don’t want to punish her tonight. I want to love her, fuck her, be inside her body so deep she feels my imprint there forever more.

Tonight, I don’t just want her body. I want her soul and her heart. It’s only fair because she has mine.

I press off the doorframe, turning to walk down the hall, feeling her presence behind me as she follows me to the bedroom. As soon as she passes the threshold, I turn, closing the door behind her.

Her eyes track me, her breath already shallow and fast as I slip my shirt over my head and toss it to the floor. I stand in front of her, and I can feel her gaze as she traces the tattoos along my chest and arms. “Strip for me, Elise. I want you naked.”

She doesn’t rush to do as I command. Instead, she takes advantage, knowing her own power even as she submits to what I want. Slowly, she slips the straps of her dress off her shoulders, looking up at me through the fringe of her lashes, a flirtatious faux-innocence on her face as she holds it to her chest.

With a dramatic flair, she lets go and it drops to the floor, puddled at her feet in a whoosh. She steps out, kicking it out of the way and standing before me in her bra and panties.

I take a mental snapshot. “So fucking beautiful, Elise. Take it all off. Show me everything.”

She reaches to unclasp her bra and slips her panties down her legs. She stands still, hands at her sides, confident in herself as she should be. She’s a work of art and I’m a lucky fucker to get to see her this way. No falsity, no pretense, just bare and exposed and vulnerable.

It’s a gift she’s bestowing on me and I know it. I walk around her, memorizing her full beauty, trailing a finger along her arm, across the back of her shoulders, around to her collarbone, down between her cleavage, and along her hips.

“Michelangelo himself could not have created a creature more beautiful than you,” I murmur as I trace my finger across her stomach, dipping into her shallow belly button and continuing across to the other side.

She is virtually vibrating with need by the time I stand in front of her again. I undo my belt, dropping my jeans and then my boxer briefs to stand nude in front of her too, letting her see me just as bare, just as vulnerable. “Keith . . .”

My cock is rock-hard, straining to get closer to Elise as I hold back, needing to do this right, wanting more than just the gift of her body. I take a half step back and speak from the depths of my soul.

“Elise, there’s nothing to hide behind right now,” I reply softly, my voice intense with emotion that fuels every syllable. “Just you and me, naked physically and emotionally. I told you before that I felt it too, but that I wanted to be able to claim you, mark you as mine when I said it.”

Her eyes, which had been roving over my form, are now locked on mine, her lips parted in anticipation. “I didn’t think this was ever going to happen to me, but you came in and crashed my world in more ways than one. You challenge me, you make me wish for things I never thought I would. Elise . . . I love you.”

I can see the glitter of tears in the corners of her eyes, but she doesn’t let them fall. Instead, she takes a deep breath and puts her hands behind her back, not only offering herself to me but making her look even more beautiful. “I didn’t see this coming either . . . any of it. I want more with you, with Carsen, than I have any right to want. I love you too, Keith.”

It feels like vows, like we’re making promises beyond this moment, the gravity of the situation pulling us together. I close the distance between us, wrapping my arms around Elise and taking her wrists in my hand as our lips meet in a passionate kiss, sealing our words with our actions.

Our tongues tangle, the fire burning hotter, brighter as we press against each other, moans and skin melding into one being.

“Take me, Keith,” Elise begs breathlessly when our lips part. “Claim me, mark me as yours.”

My whole body starts to tremble at her request, knowing this is more than we’ve done before, physically, emotionally and spiritually, because she is giving herself up to me all the way to her soul, the way I am hers.

Turning, I lead her over to the bed, still keeping my hands on her wrists, as if by encircling them I’m closing the circle that’s between us, forging our bond stronger even though I don’t have to ‘command’ her at all. “I need to worship you. Every inch of your fucking delicious body is mine. Lie down.”

I release her and she lies down, her arms and legs splayed out like she’s making a snow angel in the white sheets, and it gives me a dirty idea.

Stepping into the closet, I grab a few of my rarely used ties and make my way over to her. Slowly, methodically, I tie her to the bedposts, forcing her to spread even wider, her body open and available.

“You okay?” I ask, running a finger down one silk tie to her wrist, tracing her skin all the way to the inside of her elbow. “Not too tight?”

Elise smiles, but she’s writhing, trying but unable to get more contact between us. “No, I need you. Fuck, Keith . . .”

“No, my love,” I rumble, leaning down and kissing her lips softly. “Not fucking. Loving.”

Elise mewls as our lips brush against each other so softly that only the electricity between us guarantees that we’re actually making contact. “Mmm . . .” I murmur against her skin as I kiss down her neck to nibble at the hollow of her throat. “You look fucking stunning like this, all tied up for me, your eyes just as open as your long legs are. Is this what you want, Elise?”

“Oh, God, yes. Yes,” Elise groans as I lick her collarbones. I perch on the edge of the bed, wanting to touch her but knowing if I do, I’ll abandon all self-control, and I don’t want that.

“Your body . . . so sexy and smooth,” I purr before running my tongue over her skin between her breasts, nibbling on the soft skin. I kiss over, watching Elise’s eyes as I grow closer and closer to her nipple. I can feel the stiff pink nub drag over my throat and chin before I take it between my lips, sucking hard before biting down just enough to make Elise arch her back, moaning in pleasure.

“Keith . . . yes.”

“Sex with you is like nothing I’ve ever had,” I add, kissing down her body. I finally climb onto the bed between her stretched out legs, running my palms up her inner thighs as I look at the soft, delectable lips of her pussy. “You’re smooth all over . . . and delicious.”

“If you—” Elise tries to say, but her words are cut off as I lean down, covering her pussy with my mouth and kissing it lovingly, tracing my tongue from base to clit while my lips caress hers. Elise’s breath catches, her words dissolving into a long, guttural moan that’s deeper than I’ve ever heard her make before.

Guided by her sounds, I make love to her body with my mouth and tongue, sucking on her pussy lips before stroking her clit with my tongue in quick, soft little flicks that have Elise arching her back and trying to press her pussy against my mouth.

“Oh, God . . . I’m so going to make you come when you untie me,” Elise groans, showing me her strength and sassiness. It’s what I love and what makes her so special. She can take all I have and not wilt but come back wanting more. I nip at her thigh for her comment though, knowing that even though it’s meant to be punishing, it only fuels her higher.

But all of my focus is on her as I lower my mouth again and devour her. I’m unrelenting, cupping her ass and lifting her to my eager tongue as I stroke and suck on her clit, my ears listening for the moment when she’s about to come. “That’s it, Elise. Let me hear what you like. Tell me.”

Elise’s breathing deepens, her chest heaving as she grunts out. “Keith . . . lick me, suck me . . . please . . .” before she’s lost for words, one keening cry escaping with her air. She’s almost vibrating on the bed as I lap at her clit, and I know the moment’s here. Raising my head, I look into her beautiful eyes. “I love you.”

Elise’s breathing deepens, her chest heaving as she starts to quiver, almost vibrating on the bed as I lap at her clit, and I know the moment’s here. Raising my head, I look into her beautiful eyes. “I love you.”

Elise’s answer is torn from her lips as I bite down lightly on her clit, ripping the orgasm from her body in a tidal wave that makes her throw her head back, screaming in pleasure as she covers my face in her delectable juices. I suck, taking everything she has, letting her ride it out slowly until she’s limp, unable to even look down at me as I raise up from between her legs.

I come around, kneeling over her and tapping her cheek with my cock. “Open for me, Elise. Suck my cock down that amazing throat of yours. I’m gonna fuck your face, baby. Can you take it like this?”

She opens wide, her tongue poking out to lick at my tip as she nods. Slipping into the wet warmth of her mouth, we both moan at the sensation. “You like that? You like my thick cock in your sweet mouth while you’re tied down at my mercy?”

Elise nods again, hollowing her cheeks and sucking hard. Her eyes tell me everything I need to know as she uses what little range of motion she has to bob up and down on my cock, getting it wet and throbbing for her.

“That’s my good girl. Suck that cock, baby. Suck me hard.”

I lean forward, grasping at the headboard with one hand and tangling the other in Elise’s blonde locks. I’m getting deeper with every thrust until she’s taking me fully into her throat as I fuck her face.

My eyes are locked on her, watching as my cock disappears into her puffy pink lips, her eyes gleaming with need. I’m so close, but not this time. Not now.

Elise moans in disappointment when I pull out, gasping as she looks at me with lust. “I wanted to taste your cum.”

“I know, but I want to seal this moment inside you,” I promise her. Moving down, I kneel between her spread legs, grabbing her inner thighs as I stare at her. “I need your pussy. Are you ready?”

“Oh, my God, Keith. Inside me, please. Fill me.” Her hips are bucking, trying to get closer to my cock, but she’s limited by the ties, unable to get what she desperately needs.

I move my hands higher, spreading her lips and lining up my cock with her entrance, teasing her. “Whose pussy is this?”

She cries out, “It’s yours. My pussy, my heart, my fucking soul, Keith.”

An even better answer than I’d dreamed of. I reward her with a sharp thrust, going balls-deep in one motion, forcing a satisfied cry from her throat. I hold her hips up, her back arching as I pound her mercilessly, the pleasure overwhelming my shredded control.

“Fuck, Elise. You too . . . my heart, my soul.” I grunt, accentuating every word with another powerful stroke of my cock. “I love you.”

Elise’s eyes fill with tears, but she’s smiling so I know they’re happy tears, and I feel her pussy quiver. “That’s it, come all over my cock,” I encourage her. “Squeeze me so tight with that little pussy. I can take it, and I’ll fill you so full you can’t even hold it all.”

With a final thrust, she shatters in my arms, writhing and pulling hard on her arm restraints, but I don’t lose rhythm, keeping the driving force hard and deep as she cries out my name over and over like a prayer.

Her voice rises as her pussy clamps around me, and the pressure is too much. I come hard, my balls pulling up tight and my spine tingling before I crash over and shudder my pleasure, emptying into her.

Pulling out, I jerk my cock a few last times, covering her pussy lips with the last few spurts of my essence, needing to mark her inside and out.

I shake my cock a few times, wanting every drop on her, and then use the head to smear it around on her. It’s primal, probably something that would turn some women off, but that doesn’t matter in this moment.

What matters is that I need to mark her and that Elise wants to be marked by me. Her pride at being covered in my cum is just as palpable as my delight in seeing her dirty like this. Mine.

I untie the restraints, gently rubbing her wrists and ankles to get the circulation back as I kiss each one delicately.

“You okay?”

She smiles, stretching and squirming around like a pleased kitten as she curls up into a ball. “So much better than okay. Only one thing could make it perfect.”

“What’s that?” I ask before realizing what Elise needs. Sliding behind her, I gather her in my arms, my finally sated cock nestling against her ass as I wrap myself around her as much as possible. “That’s perfect.”