Page 38 of Into the Fire

He came with me, his cock twitching deep inside me, filling me with his release.

Panting, he balanced himself over me, his forehead against mine.

“I love you,” he murmured. “So fucking much.”

“I love you too,” I answered back, my body a bowl of gelatin. He kissed down my jaw and onto my neck. I angled my neck for him, giving him better access. He nipped the delicate flesh before sucking gently against it.

I knew he was marking me, but I couldn’t find it in myself to care. Instead, I lay there and let him do it.

“Mine,” he whispered into my ear. “You belong to me, Sunshine.”

“Yes,” I murmured, completely sated. “Yours.”

His lips brushed against mine. “Let’s get cleaned up, OK? I need to change the sheets.”

“OK,” I answered back.

He pulled away from me until I was alone on the bed. His hand fit against mine as he helped me to my feet. I practically collapsed against him, but he was quick to hold me to his body, his arms wrapped around me.

“You OK?”

I nodded tiredly. “Yeah. Just tired.”

He chuckled softly. “Go clean up. I’ll change the bedding.”

He released me, and I made to walk away from him to go to his connected bathroom. Once inside, I did my business and winced at how sore I was between my legs. When I was done, I came out to find the bedding changed and him waiting on the edge of the bed for me.

“Come on, baby,” he urged, sliding back and laying down, his arms opened for me.

Quickly, I crawled in beside him and snuggled into his hold.

We lay in silence for a long time before he spoke.

“How is the dress shopping going?”

“It’s not,” I said, splaying my hand over his abdomen. The planes of muscle had me tracing gentle lines along them. Goosebumps erupted along his skin at my touch.

“Why not?”

I shrugged. “I haven’t looked since my mom went with me. It was so uncomfortable that I guess it ruined it for me.”

He was quiet for a moment before he spoke. “I’ll fly Jamie in if you want.”

“No, she and Spencer broke up. I don’t want her feeling any kind of way and the wedding reminding her.”

“What about taking E with you? Or any of the guys?”

I fidgeted against him. “It’s not really a guy thing.”

“Do you want to shop for dresses?” he asked gently.

I contemplated my answer. “Yes. I just. . . I always envisioned this happy moment with my mom at my side. She seemed so quiet and sad when we went. She wasn’t into it at all, and it made me not into it. I did try on a couple though. I asked her what she thought and the only thing I got from her was her saying it was my choice. Nothing past that. Maybe my dad got into her head or something. I don’t know. It just put me off from doing it.”

“I see.” He was quiet for a moment. “What if you went with my mom?”

I went up on my elbow and stared down at him. “How?”

“The hit was canceled. They’re coming out of the house. They’ll be here soon to visit us once they’re settled back in.”

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