Garrett silently closed the door behind them, remembering to lock it. He set Cora on her feet. Then he cupped her face in his hands and claimed her mouth. There was an urgency inside him, inside them both, as Cora returned his fevered embrace. Never lifting his mouth from hers, he walked her over to the bed.

As they went, their hands raced to undress one another.

He had to have her, possess her. Drive away the doubt he’d seen in her eyes over the phone call. He hated that he had to hide the situation with his ex from her. But he wanted—nay, he needed—her bound to him.

Naked, he followed her down onto the bed, his mouth never leaving hers. He could kiss this woman for the rest of his life and die a happy man. Garrett groaned as he settled himself between her lush thighs, stroking his hands down her flesh, past the sides of her silken cleavage, to her trim waist, to the flare of her generous hips, around to her succulent ass. He rocked his dick against her damp folds.

Cora writhed beneath him, her fingers gripping the middle of his back. Her nails dug tiny half-moons into his skin.

He needed to be inside her. He couldn’t wait. Garrett lifted his mouth from hers. She gazed up at him, her eyes heavy-lidded, lips swollen from his kisses, and he’d never seen a lovelier sight. He started to shift away, to grab his jeans lying on the floor and the condom in his wallet.

“Where are you going?” she protested. Her hands held firm, trying to pull him back on top of her. She was strong, much stronger than she looked.

“I need a condom, sweetheart, and it’s in my wallet on the floor with my pants.”

“No you don’t. I’m on the pill so…”

Garrett stilled, his entire body on edge at what Cora was proposing. “Are you certain?” he murmured, searching her gaze. And what he found in her eyes would have brought him to his knees if he’d been standing.

“Yes. Please, Sir, I need you.”

On a silently muttered oath, praying he could maintain control, Garrett fit himself at her entrance. The feel of her slickness, her heat, against the bare crown of his dick, made him feel like an unschooled youth with his first woman. It was Cora who shifted, rocking her hips up and impaling herself on his shaft. It was only the head, but Christ, the heated silk of her cunt clasped him, enticing him deeper. With a rough growl, he thrust, burying his cock inside her. Cora’s mouth dropped open on a moan and her eyes slid shut in overwhelming please.

“No, keep your eyes open and on me,” Garrett ordered.

He waited for her, for those eyelids to lift before he withdrew and thrust, watching the way his deep, slow penetration made emotions play over her face. He propped himself up on his elbows so he could watch every minute expression flit over her lovely visage.

Whereas before he’d had an urgency, a desire to rampage and claim her with wild abandon, feeling her without the small layer of protection made him want to savor her. Show her with more than words how she tempted him, how much he wanted to give her pieces of himself he’d not shown anyone, how she was the one he wanted to sleep beside and grow old with.

He imbued every plunging stroke, each thrust with everything he felt for her, everything she was coming to mean to him. When he looked into her welcoming gaze, he saw not just his present, but his future. Their future. The possibility of forever.

And she was right there with him, canting her hips, meeting his thrusts. Holding on to him as if he mattered to her. And Garrett knew he would slay dragons for this woman. He wanted to see her ripen with his child. He didn’t just want to collar her and have her wear his cuffs, he wanted her to wear his ring.

Deep down, he knew it was too soon. That his feelings would likely scare her off. But he was a patient man. He would build with her, just as he’d built his home and his business.

Cora’s nails dug into his rear, her passion rising.

He lifted her legs higher, wrapping them more firmly around his waist. It changed the angle of his penetration so that he furrowed even deeper. Over and over he thrust, feeling her heated channel clench around him.

“Garrett,” Cora keened his name. And then he felt her find her release and come undone in his arms. Her pussy fluttered and spasmed around his plunging cock. He picked up the pace, feeling his own climax arc down his spine, tightening his balls, his shaft swelling.

His cock jerked and poured semen inside her welcoming cunt. He buried his face in her neck as he came, thrusting as he flooded her channel with his cum. His breathing ragged, he rocked his hips as his body trembled in her arms. He thrust, drawing their pleasure out until he was blissfully sated.

Cora was tracing gentle patterns over his back, her lips against his neck, and Garrett knew he had found his way home. He raised his head and looked down at her. There was a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She lifted her gaze and it lasered through him because her emotions were naked in her eyes.

The budding spring of hope erupted in his chest and he kissed her—kissed her because he knew she was the only woman he would ever want for the rest of his existence.

It was tender. It spoke of their feelings that neither of them was quite ready to voice. But the words would come.

Then Garrett released her mouth and regretfully shifted to her side. He rested on his back and pulled her next to him. She sighed, cuddling around his body, and he knew his heart beat for her now.

He pulled the covers up over them and they fell asleep. But throughout the night, they reached for each other, loved each other, over and over, until he no longer knew where he ended and she began.

Until they finally fell into a dreamless sleep, safe in each other’s arms.