“Apparently, you’re spending tonight with me too?” She pushes her fingers into my hair and smiles softly.

“I can’t let you out of my sight tonight,” I reply honestly, before sitting on the edge of the bed with her in my lap. “I need to keep you safe.”

“Is that all?”

I bury my face in her neck, skim my nose up to her ear, and kiss her softly. She shivers, making me smile. “No, that’s not all, cher.”

“Have I mentioned that I’m glad you’re home?” She cups my face in her hands and kisses my lips lightly.

“Are you?”

She nods, her fingers moving gently over my face. God, just having her against me has me hard, but her magical fingers, the way she’s looking at me, has me tied in knots.

I need her.

And I don’t need anyone.

“Kate, tell me now if you’re not okay with me making love to you, because in about two point four seconds, I won’t be able to control myself anymore.”

Her lips curve in a purely feminine, seductive smile as she pulls herself out of my arms, stands, and in one fluid motion, whips her T-shirt over her head and tosses it on the floor by her feet. I’m struck dumb as she hooks her thumbs in the waist of her black leggings and works them down her legs, and suddenly she’s standing before me in a matching lacy light pink bra and panty set.

Jesus Christ, she’s breathtaking.

She moves to unhook her bra, but I shake my head and stand, just inches from her.

“You are stunning.” My voice is nothing but a hoarse whisper as I take her in. She’s slender, but has curves in all the right places. Her breasts…Fuck, I can’t wait to get my hands on her breasts.

She lifts her hands and unbuttons my white shirt, then tosses it down with her things, and her intoxicating green eyes take a journey down my torso.

“Wow,” she whispers, and traces the muscles of my chest and stomach with her fingertips, sending heat through me. “You’re even better than I imagined.”

Her hands land on the waist of my slacks and she pops the clasp open, and just as she slides her hands inside to nudge them down my hips, she leans in and plants her lips right over my heart.

Fuck me.

When my pants hit the floor, I lift Kate back into my arms and lay her in the center of the bed, then brace myself on my elbow next to her and run my fingers over the lace of her sexy as fuck underwear.

“I didn’t hear from you this week,” she murmurs, and watches my face as my hands roam over her body. “I thought maybe you’d changed your mind.”

“Hell no,” I reply and nudge her nose with mine. “I knew if I heard your voice I’d get on the next plane out and come straight here.” My finger pushes under the cup of her bra and brushes over her nipple, making her gasp. “I’ve thought of nothing but you.” I glide my finger to the other breast and repeat the movement, making her squirm next to me.

God, she’s responsive.

Her hand cups my cock over my boxer-briefs, making my eyes cross. I take her hand, kiss her palm, then hold it over her head as I cover her body with mine and lay kisses on her lips, her neck, her collarbone, and begin working my way down her warm, writhing body.

“Oh, gosh,” she breathes, shoving her hands in my hair.

“I want to learn every inch of you,” I murmur, my lips against her belly. “I want to know what makes you gasp.” I cup her sex in my hand and grin against her hip when she arches into my hand with a low groan. “God, you’re soaked.”

I glance up in time to see her bite her lip and her cheeks flush as I push one finger under the elastic of her panties and rub her wet pussy with just the fingertip, not sinking inside, just gliding over her lips and clit.

“Oh, that feels good,” she whispers. I kiss my way across her lower belly to her other hip, then down to her thigh and hook my fingers into the material at her hips to pull them off, throw them over my shoulder, and spread her wide.

“Fucking hell, you’re gorgeous, cher.” And she is. God, her freckles are everywhere, sprinkled all over her body, even her pussy, which is waxed clean. I spread her wider and drag my fingertips up and down her thighs, making them quiver.

“Eli,” she moans.

“Yes, babe, moan my name.” And with that, I lean in and take one long swipe with my tongue from her wet opening, all the way up to her hard clit.

“Holy crap!” She jackknifes, but I press one splayed hand on her belly, holding her down, and nuzzle that hard nub with my nose as I pull her lips in my mouth and tug gently. “Eli, oh my.”

I grin against her, still charmed that even in the throes of sex she refuses to swear.

I drag my fingertips down one thigh, around her ass to her crack and slide one finger over her anus and into her slick opening, making her moan all the more.

I love how fucking vocal she is.

I begin to slowly fuck her with my finger and kiss my way up her body. I tug on her nipples through the lace of her bra, kiss up her neck, and finally her lips. She wraps her arms tightly around my neck, holding me to her, still riding my hand and kissing me for all she’s worth.

I’m going to fucking explode.

“Kate.” Her feet are pushing my boxer briefs down my hips, just as anxious as I am for me to be inside her. “Kate.”

“I’m sorry,” she replies and arches against me. “Kate’s not available right now.”

I chuckle and bite her shoulder and her pussy clenches like a vise on my finger. “God, babe, you’re so tight.”

“Eli, I need you inside me.”

Just the sound of her sweet voice against my neck while she’s squeezing the fuck out of my finger makes me want to come. She’s not going to get any more ready.

I reach into the bedside table and retrieve an unopened box of condoms to protect us both. I take myself in my hand and guide the tip through her slick folds, making us both moan.

“Are you trying to kill me?” she asks. Her eyes are bright green and wide as she pants and stares up at me in wonder and longing, matching every emotion running through me.

“No, cher, making sure you’re ready.”

“Never been more ready for anything in my life,” she confirms and reaches between us, wraps her small hand around me and guides me to her opening. “Now.”

I slide in, in one long, fluid motion and pause when I’m buried balls-deep. She’s closed her eyes and is biting her lip, her fingernails digging into my shoulders.

“Open your eyes, dawlin’.” She obliges and surprises me when she smiles up at me and circles her hips, inviting me to move. “You feel—” I shake my head, not having any words for the way it feels to be buried inside her.

And I know, in this moment, I’ll never grow tired of her. I’ll never want anyone else.

She rotates her hips again and I pull back, almost all the way, then push back and she closes her eyes.

“Keep them open,” I instruct her. “I want you to see what you do to me.”

Her eyes soften as she cups my face in her hands and kisses me deeply, and that’s it. I can’t stop my hips from setting a rhythm, moving in long strokes in and out of her, claiming her.

She’s mine.

Her legs begin to shake and her whole body tenses. Her eyes widen in alarm.

“Oh, God.”

“I’m right here,” I whisper and nibble the corner of her lips. “It’s okay.”

I reach between us and press my thumb on her nub, and that’s all it takes. She cries out, arching off the bed and coming spectacularly. I’ve never seen anything like it. Her pussy spasms around my cock, her arms tighten around my neck, and I have no choice but to follow her over into the most amazing orgasm of my life.

Our breathing is ragged and loud in the quiet room as I roll us and tuck her under my chin, cradling her on my chest. Her fingers are trailing up and down my ribs, in the same rhythm of my fingers on her back as we regain our senses.

“Eli?”

I plant my lips in her hair. “Yes.”