Page 78 of Fragile

“Touch your clit for me, baby. Loosen up a bit, or I’m going to come real fast.”

My hand moves with his command, finding my clit. I apply enough pressure to spur on my orgasm. “Mmm,” I moan as he leans down, intensifying the position even more for a second as he sucks my nipple into his mouth. “More. More,” I pant like a person possessed. Maybe I am, maybe I’ve fully moved into the world of delirium because I feel like I’m having some kind of out-of-body experience here.

“More?” he rasps, before pulling out completely and slamming back inside me, hitting a place no one ever has before, and I cry out in pleasure.

My body trembles as he pulls back again. “Miles, god, don’t stop,” I beg. That sweet spot inside unfurls a new wave of lust into my body as my nails dig into the bed beneath us, my eyes squeezed closed.

“Eyes, Queenie. On me. Always,” he demands, and they spring open. His jaw slackens as he moves deeper again, before he hisses against his teeth.

His movements become faster, and he stutters a few times, cursing out loud diving down against my neck as he peppers kisses all over my skin.

My orgasm sneaks up on me. One minute, it’s a simmering heat, and then as soon as he thrusts into me and lightly bites onmy neck, I’m done for. “I’m…I’m…Oh god, Miles, Miles,” I moan, as everything in my body coils tight and explodes into a gazillion stars that blur my vision. He looks down at me, eyes locked on my face as I come, taking in every single moment of this. It feels like I’m floating, weightless, and somehow also completely and utterly exhausted in the best way.

“Fuck, Quinn, I’m gonna—” He doesn’t finish, but the low groan he lets out is the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard as he pistons into me, chasing his release too.

When he’s still inside me, my hands gripping his on my one leg hitched up and the other wrapped around him, I still feel the tremors from my release too as he pulses inside me.

I’ve never had sex that felt so connected. I’ve never had an orgasm that fast either. He’s ruined my heart and now my body belongs to him too. There’s no coming back from this, I can feel it in my bones.

He drops his head into the crook of my neck and the feel of his hot breath skating over my skin sends another ripple of heat throughout my body. Humming, he presses a kiss to my collarbone. The gesture is so soft and sweet, and he’s kissed me there before, but I’m feeling everything so strongly, as though all the emotions I’ve locked down for years and years of my life are bubbling just beneath the surface. He’s here with me in way I never thought we would be, and it’s like a dream. I run my fingers down his biceps, over the muscles that he works so hard for, over his broad shoulders, and I memorize the feel of his weight on top of me, the way he feels inside me. It’s too much and not enough at the same time.

Lifting his weight off me, my entire existence begs him to come back, but I don’t. The way his brown eyes rake over my face, as though he’s looking for something, makes me smile up at him and his messed-up hair. “You’re incredible, Quinn. I…” He stopsand sucks in a sharp breath. “I don’t think you realize how lucky I am to have you.”

His words. God, they strike me like a shot to the heart. “I’m the lucky one.”Because I love you.It didn’t matter how many nights we spent together growing up, or how much time I’d mentally begged him to kiss me. I’ve lost count the number of nights wishing that we would someday take the next step, that he would be my first, that he would be my only. When that didn’t happen, I grieved for that, for him, for me because I knew that loving him would be my biggest downfall. Yet here I am, getting everything I thought I’d never have. Getting the one person my heart beats for.

He doesn’t argue with that. Instead, he lightly presses a kiss to the tip of my nose and pulls out of me.

I watch him as he discards the condom, and my mind reels from what we’ve just done. When he settles back into his bed, he taps his chest for me to rest my head. As soon as I feel the steady thrum of his heart beneath my ear, the rest of the world fades away.

The softness of his lips kiss the top of my head, feeling a contentment I’ve never known before.

“I could get used to this,” he whispers, his voice sleepy but sated.

“Me too,” I reply, wrapping my arms around him and holding him close.

His fingers trace lazy patterns on my back, and I can feel his heartbeat gradually slowing, syncing with mine. “It scares me a little,” he admits after a moment, his voice so quiet I almost don't hear him.

I tense up, unsure of what he means. Tilting my head up to look at him, my eyes search his. “Scares you?”

“How right this feels.” He meets my gaze, his expression serious now. “I feel things for you, Quinn, and I don’t knowwhere they’ve come from, because we’ve only ever been friends, but they’re there. Feelings. Big ones and…” He pauses for a second, and I realize I’m not breathing either. “I want to feel them. I think I’ve loved you across lifetimes, Quinn, and I don’t want to stop now.”

The world seems to tilt on its axis as his confession sinks in. I want to speak, to tell him everything that’s been buried for so long, but all I can do is stare at him, wide-eyed and stunned. I could confess that he’s the love of my life, but the words are stuck in my throat, and selfishly I don’t want to ruin how special his confession is either.

My voice is barely a whisper when I finally manage to speak. “Don’t ever stop, Miles.”

He doesn't reply, just leans in and kisses me softly, his lips warm and reassuring. I sink into it, feeling the weight of everything melt away as he pulls me closer. When we part, his arms are still around me, and without saying a word, we curl up together, my head on his chest, his heartbeat steady beneath me. Safe and content, I close my eyes, and before long, we fall asleep, tangled up in each other.

Chapter thirty-six

Miles

The room is softlylit by the morning sun, its golden rays filtering through the thin curtains and casting a gentle glow over everything. It feels like the world outside has paused, holding its breath just for us.

This morning feels like a dream. With her warm body nestled on my chest, legs intertwined under the sheets, her red hair splayed out across my arm and pillow. I want to stay here for the whole day. Something shifted in me last night. It felt real and I don’t know if I’ve ever felt things like that before for anyone.

I trail my fingertips over the soft skin of her arm hugging my stomach, and she begins to stir, her body seeking more of mine even in sleep. As I press a soft kiss to the top of her head, she immediately opens her eyes, snapping her head to look up at me. “Morning, Queenie.”

“Morning,” she says, sleep lacing her voice. “What time is it?”

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