Page 81 of Every Beat of My Heart

That’s what anyone would have expected me to say. It was on the tip of my tongue to say this felt deeper and more meaningful than anything I’d ever experienced. But seemed too big and scary to admit out loud.

Especially when I didn’t know how she felt.

Claire sighed, her expression filled with happiness. “How much time do you think we have?”

I glanced out the window to see the landscape frozen in ice, the branches of the trees weighed down with it. “I don’t think anyone’s going to venture out until the temperature rises.”

Claire grinned. “Enough time to eat and go back to bed?”

“I like how you think,” I patted her butt as she checked the eggs. Then I took a seat at the island. Is this how mornings would be if we were together? Contentment settled in my chest at the idea of cooking breakfast alone and Owen joining us later.

She plated the eggs and bacon, sliding the dish in front of me. “I found some coffee beans in one of the cupboards. Would you like coffee?”

“You don’t have to serve me. I’m capable of getting it myself.” I started to rise, but she stopped me with a hand on my arm.

“I want coffee too.”

I waited until she’d brewed the coffee and sat next to me to dive into the food. “I’m glad I thought to bring food with me last night.”

“The way you packed, I would have thought you had all of this planned,” Claire said with an amused smile.

“The thought might have crossed my mind when I was driving Sutton home.”

Claire sobered. “You think she’ll be okay?”

“She might have a headache and some whiplash from the impact, but otherwise, she’ll be fine. Have you heard from Owen?”

“He texted me back late last night when they were going to bed.”

“You don’t mind that my brothers kept him up?” I asked her.

She shook her head. “He doesn’t have school today. This is a fun adventure for him.”

I wanted it to be more than that. I wanted this to be something lasting. But it was too soon for talk like that. “Will he need you this morning?”

She let out a laugh. “He’ll probably sleep until noon.”

That was perfect for what I had planned. We finished eating, and I cleared the dishes while she jumped into the shower. I hurried so I could join her. It only took a second to push off the sweats and slide behind her in the steaming water.

I ran my hands over her hips, pulling her against me, my dick nestled against her ass. I kissed her shoulder. “This feels like a dream.”

Claire turned in my arms, pressing her breasts against my chest. “One I never want to wake up from.”

I kissed her, needing to be inside her. She widened her stance when my fingers moved between her folds, sliding over the slickness, diving into her wet heat. I ducked my head to suck on her nipple. When her hand gripped my cock, I groaned. I let her pump me for a few seconds, and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I lifted her against the tiles.

Then I dropped my head against hers. “I don’t have a condom in here. I can wait or run and get it.”

Her hand tangled in my hair. “I’m on birth control, and I’m clean.”

The blood drained from my head. “If you’re sure.”

“I want to feel all of you inside of me.”

That was the only invitation I needed to slide home. Her walls surrounded me, and I was lost in her. I kissed her, swallowing her moans and cries.

It was quick, probably too quick, but I couldn’t control myself around her. I felt desperate with need.

Anchoring her body against mine, I moved my hand to her clit, circling it as I pounded inside of her. I’d never been bare with anyone before. I’d never wanted to take that risk, and it felt more intense, not just physically but emotionally too.

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