But then he licks my clit, just a bit harder, pulls it between his lips, and sends me right off into space.

I cry out, gripping the bedding in my fists. Rhys lowers me to the bed, then flips me to my tummy, tugs my ass up into the air, and slaps it good and hard on the right cheek.

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course,” I reply immediately.

“Good girl. Grab onto the headboard,” he instructs me, his voice harsh. I have to stretch out, flat on the bed, to reach the railings and grip them in my fists. “Don’t let go.” He rubs his palm over my bottom in slow, hypnotizing circles, then drops his fingers into my folds, sending my hips back against him, and finally I hear the tear of a foil packet and he guides himself inside me.

Oh. My. God.

He covers me completely with his long, lean body and presses his lips to my neck, then beside my ear.

“Your body makes me fucking crazy,” he whispers. “I always want to take it slow, and then I can’t.”

“Next time,” I whisper. “Just fuck me, Rhys.”

He growls and picks up the pace, pushing harder, just a little faster. His hands cover mine, holding on tightly to the bed. Suddenly, he pulls out of me, gently guides my hands away from the iron rungs, and turns me over. He’s sweating, panting, and the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.

Rather than lie back and let him have his way, I take him in my mouth, tasting him and me.

“Holy fuck,” he growls. “Gabrielle.” His hands are immediately in my hair, as if he’s torn between making me stop and encouraging me to continue.

So, I just keep going until every drop of me is licked off of him.

“I thought I should clean you off,” I say with a sassy smile as I lie back on the bed and open my legs, then crook my finger at him, inviting him to join me.

“You surprise the shit out of me,” he says as he kisses my belly, and then each of my breasts, teasing the nipples with his nose and tongue. The change in pace is fun, going from wild and urgent to lazy and playful.

He slips back inside me and covers me once more, his arms braced on either side of my head, hands in my hair, mouth just inches from my own.

“Every time I slip inside you is like the first time,” he murmurs. “It’s so fucking amazing.”

“Mmm,” I agree and close my eyes as he moves in long, slow strokes. “You fit me perfectly.”

He kisses me softly. “I can taste you on your lips.”

I grin.

“It’s damn sexy.”

“That was fun. I’ve never done that before.”

His eyes flair. “I want you to have lots of firsts with me, baby.”

“There have already been quite a few.”

My hands trail down his back to his ass. God, I love his ass. I pull him even closer to me and we both gasp. “You have a great ass.”

“Ass girl, are you?”

“I’m pretty much a fan of every part of your body.”

He pauses and kisses the corner of my mouth. “I can’t get enough of you.”

“I’m right here.” I clench down on him and watch his eyes dilate. “Like that, do you?”

“God, you’re going to kill me.”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

“I’m concerned that you can string sentences together,” he says matter-of-factly. “I think that means that I’m not doing my job.”

“Oh, you’re doing it.” I catch my breath and bite my lip when he slips a hand between us and presses his thumb to my clit. “Oh yeah, definitely doing it.”

He nibbles down my jaw to my neck while still pressing to my clit, moving just a little faster in and out of me, and now I can’t even remember my name.

God, he makes me come undone.

Every. Time.

“Lost your words?”

“Fuck.”

“That’s a good one.” He chuckles and grinds into me, pushing his pubis against his thumb and that’s all it takes. I fall right over into oblivion.

He follows me over, then collapses on the bed next to me, breath heaving, sweating.

Sexy as ever.

“Why is this so easy with you?” I ask, staring at the ceiling, waiting for my heart to return to normal.

“Maybe I just know what I’m doing?” he replies sarcastically.

“Well, you do, yes.” I chuckle and turn on my side, facing him. “But I’m comfortable with you. It’s amazing, but it’s also just…easy.”

“Because we trust each other,” he replies and gently runs his fingertip down the bridge of my nose. “I feel like I’ve known you a long time. This might sound silly, but I feel like your heart and my heart are very old friends.”

I blink at him as my heart swoons. But he’s exactly right. I trust him. I feel like I’ve known him forever.

This feels like…home.

Chapter Eleven

~Gabby~

“Mom! Mom!” Sam jumps out of my mom’s car and runs right for me, smiling and happy to be home. His face is a little darker from all the sunshine he’s been soaking up in Florida.

And nothing ever looked so good in my life.

“Hey, sweet boy.” I swoop him up in a big hug, holding him extra close, kissing his head and breathing him in. “Oh my goodness, I missed you.”

“I was only gone for eight days,” he says with a giggle, but he doesn’t pull away quite yet.

“It was a long eight days. Entirely too quiet. And you’re my baby. I missed you.”

“I’m not a baby,” he whispers. “But if it makes you feel better to hug me a really long time, I guess it’s okay.”