He brushes his thumb over the ink as he watches me quietly for a long moment, then places several kisses over my hip, nuzzles my small tattoo, and then travels farther down my thigh.

“You’re killing me,” I tell him and wiggle my hips.

“Settle in, baby, because you’re in for a long ride.”

“Jesus Christ, what did you just do with your finger?” I boost myself up on my elbows and stare down at him as he kisses my knee.

“Who says that was my finger?”

I laugh and fall to my back and then moan when he reaches my foot and begins to rub it in strong circles.

“Oh God.”

“Your feet have taken a beating.”

“Don’t look directly at them. You’ll run screaming.”

He chuckles and kisses the top of my foot then moves to the other one and repeats the process.

“I’m not going anywhere, baby.”

He moves up my leg to make me writhe and moan as he pays extra attention behind my knee and just when I think he’s going to dive into the sweet spot, he avoids it completely, kisses up my hip, belly and teases the other breast.

“Mark?”

“Yes, love.”

“Take your shorts off and let me have a turn.”

“You got very bossy,” he murmurs and kisses my jaw. “I’m clearly not doing my job right if you’re still able to string words together.”

“You’re doing fine.”

“I’m going to do a lot better than fine, sweetheart.”

His hand drifts down my belly and his fingers finally slide between my folds and into my wet core.

“Holy fuck,” he whispers against my lips. “You’re so fucking wet, M.”

“Need you,” I reply and gasp when his fingers move slowly in and out then up to circle my clit.

“Is this what you need?”

I shake my head and lift my hips, pushing against his hand. Dear God, he’s good with his hands.

“What do you need?”

“You!”

“I’m right here,” he replies. I can feel the bed shift as he shuffles out of his shorts then kneels between my thighs. “I’m going to eat this pussy before the night is out.”

“Fuck,” I whisper.

“No?”

“Yes!”

He chuckles and I hear the rip of a condom wrapper.

“Look at me, M.”

I open my eyes and look directly into his dark blue gaze. He takes one of my hands in his, links our fingers and holds our hands over my head while guiding himself to my entrance. His eyes never leave mine as he begins to push inside me. His fingers tighten on mine. I cup his face with my free hand, and I’ve never loved him more than I do in this moment.

I love you.

He pushes in all the way and stops, every muscle tight with the effort of holding still, panting, watching me.

“So tight.” He kisses me softly and nibbles his way to the corner of my mouth. I hitch my thighs up higher around his hips and he growls. “You’re going to make me lose it.”

I grin and rotate my hips, watching with fascination as he bites his lip. I love watching him struggle to keep his composure.

“Mark,” I whisper and pull my fingertips down his face. “You feel so good.”

He begins to move now, slowly at first and then faster, as though an outside force is pushing him on. He grabs my other hand in his and pins it above my head as our bodies take over, moving in perfect tandem.

Fuck, he’s so big. I can’t help but grip him hard as he thrusts in and out until finally he swears a blue streak as I come apart beneath him, crying out as the orgasm consumes me.

“That’s it, baby,” he says and watches with hungry eyes as I shiver beneath him. “Fuck yes.” He groans and comes hard, rocking his hips against mine as he empties himself inside me. He’s panting as he releases my hands and rests his forehead against mine. I can’t move my arms, so I leave them resting on the bed where he left them.

“Do you know what I whispered to Jax yesterday?” he asks suddenly.

“Uh, I wasn’t really thinking about Jax while you’re still inside me,” I reply and chuckle making him flinch as my pussy squeezes him with the movement.

“Smart ass,” he whispers and kisses me softly then brushes loose tendrils of hair off my cheeks. “I told him that I love you more than I can say.”

I still and feel my eyes widen as I stare up at him. “You did?”

He nods and continues to watch me soberly. He looks like he’s going to say something more, but before he can, I wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his neck and murmur, “I love you so much.”

He rolls us so he’s beneath me and I push up onto my elbows so I can see his face while I continue. “But I never stopped, M. I gave you my heart all those years ago, and I never took it back.”

“I’m not giving it back,” he replies.

“Good.”

“But I believe I made you a promise.” His face is completely serious as he stares up at me and I frown.

“What?”

“I promised,” he says and kisses my palm. “To fuck you.”

My lips twitch as I try to stay serious and nod gravely. “You did.”

“I’m a man of my word, you know.”

“Yes, you do have that reputation.”

He sits up and pulls me from the bed then tosses me over his shoulder and carries me into his master bathroom. It still smells of sawdust, and the new gleam of fresh countertops and tile makes me smile. “This is beautiful.”

“I finished it this morning.”

“Did you stay up all night doing this?”

He nods as he sets me on the countertop and discards the condom.

“You wanted to go to the movies yesterday,” he says.

“You were supposed to do this instead?”

“No, I was supposed to go to the movies with the woman I’m in love with.” He starts the shower and then returns to me.

“I’m still on the pill, M. We don’t need the condoms.”

He cringes and shakes his head, glances down and then meets my gaze. “I haven’t been a saint, Meredith. I’ve always, always used condoms, but I won’t take any chances with you. We’ll use them until I see a doctor this week.”

The thought of him with other women makes me want to claw someone’s eyes out, but I take a deep breath and remind myself of what I told him the other night on the pier. It’s been ten years.