Her body was so hot. Radiating like an inferno.

Her pussy still rippled around me, sending delayed ricochets of bliss down my cock and into my legs.

“Damn, that felt good.”

She giggled, kissing my cheek. “I agree.”

She went to move away, but I grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head. “Ah ah, you’re not leaving.”

“I’m not?” Her cute button nose wrinkled.

“Nope.”

“Why?” Her gaze flickered to the bathroom. “A shower together would be nice...oh, we could take a bath. Spend hours relaxing.”

Images of sliding my hands over Elle’s nakedness definitely sounded like a great plan. But I couldn’t admit I wasn’t ready to let her go yet. I wasn’t ready to withdraw and no longer feel her wet heat.

This wasn't about coming.

This was about connection, and hell, I needed it.

Her hips rolled in perfect circles, pressing her clit against me. “If you’re going to restrain me, I might have to come again.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Could you?”

“Not sure. Never gone for three before.” Her smirk was the devil herself. “But I’m open to trying.”

I nuzzled her hair, pumping slowly into her, already feeling myself grow hard again. “In that case, let’s see what you’re capable of. And then I’m washing you for hours, feeding you, and then we’re taking a walk around Central Park.”

“We are?”

“We are.”

“But why Central Park? That’s where you were stolen from me the first time.”

“Because from now on, you’re going to explore every inch of this city with me. I’m going to show you were I slept; I’ll reveal my bolt holes, my food stashes, my emergency funds buried in people’s gardens. This city has not been kind to me, Elle, and the itch to leave is building. Last time Larry freed me, I moved to LA to get away. It helped.”

I kissed her nose as stress etched her eyes. “But—you can’t leave. My work...it’s here.” Tears sparkled.

“I’m not leaving. That’s why I need you to replace bad memories with good. With you, I can learn to love this city again, but only with you by my side.”

A tear rolled down her cheek. “I’ll go to every street corner, every park, every bench. I’ll go wherever you want me to, Penn. You’ll never be alone again.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Elle

WE DID ALL those things.

After a second round when Penn flipped me onto my hands and knees, and a quickie turned into kinky playtime, we soaked in his bath before catching a taxi to Central Park and walking the same path we’d sprinted from the security guards.

We followed the chain link fence of the baseball field where we’d shared our first kiss and watched an evening game where men trampled the home diamond where Penn shared his chocolate bar.

We kissed in the same bushes where we were arrested and bought cinnamon-sugared churros from a street van as we strolled a few blocks of New York.

Penn didn’t say much. His eyes turned more active, his entire body on high alert. The ruthless businessman I’d given my virginity to faded into the wild creature I’d met in the alley.

He sniffed the air as if he could smell a threat. He narrowed his gaze at a group of men coming toward us. He moved as a predator and prey all at once.

I took his hand.

He froze then relaxed. His eyes met mine. His lips turned from scowl to smile. And we made our way back to his apartment in harmony.

When we got back, I expected to climb into bed and either repeat what we’d done before or sleep. It’d been a long day and an even longer five months, but Penn ordered takeout from a local Thai place, and we snuggled on his couch while watching TV.

We laughed and snickered at jokes on the screen.

We licked our fingers free from curry puffs and slurped Pad Thai.

We shared normalcy and made it magic.

Like any normal couple.

Like a boy and girl in love.

It was the best day of my life.

Chapter Forty-Three

Penn

DEAR PENN,

I love many things in this world.

I love my company, my cat, my father, my financial security.

But I have to say, I love you more.

Watching you sleep this morning—you were soft for the first time. Your forehead wasn’t creased; your eyes weren’t narrowed in suspicion waiting for the next catastrophe. You trusted me to keep you safe while you dreamed.

My heart is so full because of that.

And I hope you can forgive me for not waking you.

Belle Elle needs me, and I have to go to work. However, I’ve left you a present. Call me when you’re awake—sleep all afternoon if you want. You deserve it. Then come find me at the office and perhaps take me over my desk.

I’d like to put that particular fantasy into reality.

I love you.

See you soon,

Elle xx

I flopped onto my back, a ridiculous grin on my face.

The gift she’d mentioned was her lingerie. She’d left it neatly folded on the covers, proof that she’d gone to work naked beneath her clothes, thinking of me as I thought about her.

I grew hard picturing her bare and waiting for me.

I shouldn’t get so caught up over a note on my pillow and her underwear on my bed, but I did.

It gave me peace of mind that this wasn’t a dream.

This was real.

The second I woke, I’d had a panic attack thinking I was back in lock-up and the soreness in my body and slight dehydration from so much sex was all make-believe.