“I’ve got you,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “You’re mine, honey.”

“Yours,” she whispered as her hand slid up to cup my face.

I kissed her again, and the tension between us snapped completely as we finally gave in. Every touch, every movement was electric, like the culmination of five years of waiting and wanting.

Her body moved with mine. Every gasp and sigh drove me further over the edge. She was everything I’d ever wanted, everything I’d ever needed, and I couldn’t get enough.

And when she whispered my name, her voice breathless and raw, it was like the final piece clicked into place.

I kissed her again and poured everything I felt into that moment—every ounce of passion, every bit of longing, every unspoken word I hadn’t had the courage to say before.

As I guided myself into her, I paused and searched her gaze one last time. “Are you sure?”

Her hands slid up to cup my face again, her eyes soft and steady. “I’ve never been more sure.”

I pressed a kiss to her lips before I moved. The moment I entered her, the world seemed to tilt. She gasped, her fingers dug into my shoulders, and her body tightened around me, drawing me deeper.

The heat of her body, the way she enveloped me, was unlike anything I’d ever felt. She was soft and warm and so incredibly close that it was almost overwhelming. I exhaled shakily, paused to let her adjust, and savored the feeling of being completely connected.

Her hands slid down my back and urged me forward. I moved slowly, carefully. Every shift brought a new wave of sensation, and her body responded to mine in a way that felt almost instinctive.

“Axel,” she whispered, her voice breaking on my name.

Hearing her like that, feeling her so completely, sent a rush of emotion through me. I moved with her, each motion deliberate, every brush of my skin against hers heightening our connection.

She tilted her hips, and I groaned her name. The new angle sent sparks through me. Her legs wrapped around my waist andpulled me closer. Her hands slid into my hair, and her fingers tightened with each movement.

The tension between us built slowly as every gasp and sigh pushed us closer to the edge. Her body clenched around me, holding me tighter, and I buried my face in her neck. I pressed kisses to her skin as I fought to hold on.

“You feel so good,” I murmured into her neck. My voice was rough and barely sounded like me.

She didn’t respond with words, but the way she moved and whispered my name told me everything I needed to know.

When we finally reached the peak together, it was like the world shattered and rebuilt itself all at once. Her body trembled beneath mine, and her legs tightened around me as she gasped my name. I followed, and I lost every part of me inside of her.

The aftershocks lingered as my body held her close. I struggled not to collapse on top of her and braced myself on my forearms. Her fingers traced lazy patterns on my back. Her touch grounded me and slowly brought me back to reality.

I fell to the side and gathered her in my arms. I buried my face in her neck and calmed my breathing.

I finally lifted my head and pressed a soft kiss to her neck. She turned her head, and her eyes met mine. The soft smile on her lips made my chest tighten all over again.

“You okay?” I asked and brushed a strand of hair from her face.

She nodded, and her smile widened. “More than okay.”

I chuckled, leaning down to kiss her gently. “Good, because that was…” I trailed off, unable to find the words.

“Yeah,” she said softly and rested her hand over my heart. “It was.”

I slipped out of bed, turned off the lights, and laid down next to her. She rested her head on my chest. I gathered her in myarms, and her breath was warm against my skin as she drifted off to sleep.

Yup, that was fucking fantastic.

Chapter Thirteen

Star

Christmas morning sunlight filtered softly through the blinds and bathed the room in a warm glow. I was tangled in the sheets, snug against Axel’s warm body, with his arm draped over my waist. He was still asleep, his breathing steady and deep.