“Yes, Tyler. I do.” She ran her hands through my hair, gripping it as she tried to force my head between her legs, but I resisted momentarily.

“Serafina…”

“Yes…?” She squirmed against me, telling me with her body what she needed.

“Eyes on me,” I said, just as I had during our first time. “I need to know you’re with me.”

She flung her eyes open, meeting mine. There was an intensity, an awareness of something bigger than either one of us could have imagined growing at that moment. I thought I loved her before, and maybe I did. But this love, this strange emotion flowing through me right now, was bigger and more vibrant than anything I’d felt before.

“I’m with you, Tyler,” she whimpered through the lump forming in her throat. “I’ve always been with you.”

I brought my tongue to her, wanting to savor each lick, each swirl. Her tense body relaxed, our eyes remaining locked, the connection between us deep and unwavering. “God, I love the way you taste,” I growled, increasing my speed, tightening my grasp on her thighs. “Does this feel good?”

She simply nodded, her mouth slightly agape as she tried to subdue the orgasm that was on the verge of washing over her.

“Say it, Mackenzie. Tell me you’ve been craving my touch, that no one else can ever satisfy you like I do.”

“It’s only you, Tyler,” she moaned, tugging at my hair, pushing my head further into her. “I’m an addict and you’re the only one who can satisfy me.”

Her breathing increased, her body clenched and I knew she was on the brink. I quickly pulled back, leaving her breathless.

“Tyler!” she exclaimed, frustrated.

“What?” I asked coyly.

“Why did you stop? I…”

“You…?”

“I need you,” she said softly.

I raised myself to my feet and hovered over her, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. “I know,” I murmured.

“Then why did you stop?” she asked once more.

“I want you to ask me.” I tilted her chin back and stared into her eyes. She was unable to escape me.

“Please, Tyler,” she whispered, dragging her finger up my chest, pulling at my tie and tugging me closer. “Please make me come.”

In one swift motion, I picked her up and strode across the room toward her bed. I hurriedly removed all my clothes and slithered up her legs. She moaned loudly when I swirled my tongue around the spot she wanted me to touch, her body beginning to tremble beneath me. Instantly, she screamed out my name, yanking on my hair as she rode the waves of what I hoped to be one of the most intense orgasms of her life. By the way she was responding to me, I had a feeling it was.

Her tremors subsiding, I crawled up her body and placed my hand protectively over her stomach, kissing her softly. “How was that?”

“Better than I remember.” She crushed her lips back to mine, plunging her tongue in my mouth before pulling back, nibbling on my lip in such a way that made me want to feel her even more. She raked her fingernails up and down my back, digging into my skin a little harder each time. I kissed her once more as I gently thrust against her, being careful to put all my weight on my arms.

Tearing from her lips, I stared deep into her hazel eyes, a look of peace and contentment in her gaze. I delicately ran my fingers through her hair, drinking in her face. I studied each dip and valley, each dimple, each freckle. I never thought I’d be here and I wanted to cherish this moment, a beautiful memory that would stay with me if the lonely ever found me again.

Grabbing the back of my neck, she found my lips once more. “Tyler, make love to me,” she murmured in a sultry voice.

Without saying a word, I nodded, keeping my eyes glued to hers. I carefully held onto her hips and rolled onto my back, bringing her to settle on top of me. Her gaze widened, showing her surprise.

“You’re in charge.”

Before I could say anything else, she leaned back and took me inside of her, her motions slow as she acclimated herself to me once more.

“Fuck,” I hissed through a clenched jaw, a tidal wave of carnal thirst surging through me. After our first time together, I craved her more than I thought possible, the way my body responded to her filling a void in my life. Each and every time we were intimate after that was more thrilling, more electrifying than the time before. But now, as Mackenzie moved sensually and slowly on top of me, her lips almost touching mine, her breath dancing on my skin, it was different. Lies no longer hung heavy between us. We could finally be us, the us I hoped we would eventually be, and my heart filled with more love and hunger for her.

My fingers clawing into her skin, I pushed into her with greater intensity, guiding her on top of me, wanting to feel every inch of her. No matter how fast and deep I went, it still wasn’t enough. I could make love to her for days on end, explore every crevice and dip in her body, and still need more. I was greedy with desire, the months apart making my appetite more voracious. Her skin flush with mine, our two bodies connected, was ecstasy and I could no longer control myself.

Uttering a low moan, I closed my eyes, grunting her name as I released inside her, my orgasm gratifying and intense.

Slowing our movements, we stared at each other and basked in the moment. “I love you, Serafina,” I whispered, my voice barely audible as I cupped her face in my hands.

“And I love you, Tyler, lies and all.” She climbed off of me and snuggled up beside me. I pulled the duvet over our sweaty bodies and placed a soft kiss on her head.

“I’m glad you finally found it in your heart to forgive me.”

She sighed, her body relaxing as she toyed with the little tendrils of hair on my chest. “I needed to forgive you,” she replied, her voice light. “Do you have any idea how horny being pregnant makes you?”

“Really?” I stared down at her and she met my eyes.

“Yup. So you better rest up. If you thought my sex drive was something before, you haven’t seen anything.”

“As I’ve said in the past, Miss Delano…” I adjusted my position and hovered over her, rubbing myself against her. “I’m always up for a challenge.”

Mackenzie

A LOW HUM FILLED the comfort of my bedroom, a vibration on my neck sending a shiver through my body. My eyelids fluttered open, the autumn sun streaming into the room on this last Friday in September. The weeks had passed quicker than I expected as I settled into my new normal. Tyler and I saw each other practically every spare moment we had. He worked long days as he investigated what was going on with my father and everything else, in addition to running his club once more. I had asked why he was back there when it was just supposed to be a front. He told me it took his mind off everything and gave him a bit of clarity. I could certainly understand that.

With Tyler back on the island and in my life, I fell into a new routine with surprising ease. He spent every night at my condo…except for Fridays. That was reserved for girls’ night, and I appreciated his understanding that I still needed time with my two best friends, even though he was practically living with me.

Tyler had taken on the role of soon-to-be dad with an excitement I wasn’t expecting. He accompanied me to all my doctor’s appointments, which had become slightly more frequent now that I was in my third trimester. The look of awe on his face the first time he saw our little boy on the ultrasound, hearing his fast little heartbeat, made me fall in love with him a little bit more.