Page 68 of Cruel Dreams

She sucks in a deep breath, quivering with rage. “Another hour, and we would have been gone.”

Stella squeezes Quinn’s hand. “It’s okay. He’s here now. It’s better to say goodbye. It’s always better to say goodbye. You know that. I’ll be right back.”

She joins me at the door, staring at the floor, and we walk to the Honeymoon Suite. I can’t talk to her in Max’s room. I’m not ready to face those memories.

I let the door lock behind us. The curtains are closed, and sunlight bleeds around the edges. Enough that I can see the outline of her face.

“Stella—” I start to apologize, but she throws herself into my arms and crushes her lips to mine. I devour her greedily, hungrily. All the time in the world won’t be enough.

Tugging her hair, I tilt her head and push my tongue into her mouth. She tastes sweet, and I lap at her as she consumes me. I’m hard in a second, and I walk her to the bed, laying her gently on her back. I nestle between her legs, her cleft cradling my cock, and she wraps her arms around my neck. Her cast is bulky between us, but I don’t care. I press into her welcoming body, her thin pajama bottoms only a thin barrier to what’s underneath.

Familiar scents surround her—coffee, sleep, and love. She tilts her hips offering herself to me, and I fall desperately into our kisses.

“Do you want—”

“Yes,” she interrupts me, “yes.”

I brush my lips down her jaw, over the delicate skin of her neck. Slow, easy. This will be the last time I have her and I need to enjoy it, savor it, store it. I need it to last for the rest of my life. I lick at her collarbone, and she laughs, relief I’m back coming out in the breathy giggles.

It humbles me I can make her happy. No matter how few seconds that may be.

Pulling the strap of her tank top down, I kiss my way to her breast, her skin soft and sweet. I tease her nipple with my tongue, suckle on the tender flesh. She gasps even as she presses my head closer, encouraging me. I pull the other side of her top down and tease her other nipple, pinching at the hardened tip with my teeth. “Didn’t want this one to feel left out.”

“Zane,” Stella laughs, “I need you.”

“I’m here, baby. Slow. We gotta go slow.” I ease off her and nudge her to a sitting position. I tug the tank top over her head. “You’re so beautiful,” I say, rubbing the pad of my thumb over her jaw. “No one is more beautiful, kind, or compassionate as you.”

“That’s not true, but I’m glad you think so,” she says, unknotting my tie. She wraps the ends around her hands to pull me closer. It always turns me on whenever she does that. Pushing her lips to mine, she unbuttons my dress shirt.

I’m not sure what I was thinking when I dressed this morning. Maybe I thought this would be an easy, simple business transaction. An exchange of information. But nothing concerning Stella will ever be easy, and nothing concerning Stella will ever be simply business.

As her hand smooths over my skin, I inhale a ragged breath. Her touch has always affected me like that. Even the first night I met her and she sat next to me on the couch, electricity and awareness buzzed around us.

I take my shirt off and drop it onto the floor. Stella reaches for my belt, but I say, “Finish getting undressed.”

She does what I say, sliding off the bed and pushing her panties and pajama bottoms over her perky ass and slim thighs.

My mouth dries looking at her. Sometimes I wonder how this perfect angel was made for me, and then I remember she wasn’t. I’m only borrowing her until she finds the man she’s truly meant to be with.

Stella draws back the bedspread and climbs into bed.

I finish undressing, leaving my clothes in a heap on the floor. I pull a condom out of my wallet and crawl into bed next to her. After all I found out, I’m so glad Stella and I didn’t have an accident. I lie in bed, and she curls into me, pressing her breasts to my chest.

I kiss her and explore the apex of her thighs. She’s wet and engorged, her clit quivering under my touch. She whimpers.

“Shh, shh. Do you like that, baby?” I ask, gently gliding my finger inside her, getting her ready for me. It’s been a little while, and I want her so hot she’s bursting from anticipation.

“Yeah,” she whispers. “Please.”

I add another finger and thrust my hips, encouraging her to touch me. She wraps both hands around my cock, though her cast limits how tightly she can hold me. My cock sure as hell doesn’t care, and I surge under her touch. I want us to enjoy the foreplay—once I’m inside her, it will be all over.

My fingertips tease her clit, and I play, swirling over the slippery, sensitive nub. I can’t remember feeling her so wet, and I nudge her in the back, delicately feeling her ass. “Do you want me to touch you here?”

“Yes.” She lets go of my cock and wraps her arms around my neck, hooking her leg over my hip to give me access. I wet my forefinger and press into her tight opening.

My cock strains, and I wiggle closer.

Fingering her ass has always turned me on. I have to possess her in all ways possible.

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