Page 130 of The Twilight Theft

I did as she asked, slowing my rhythm. I leaned away to watch her eyes struggle to stay open.

“Deeper,” she whispered, angling one leg higher up my back.

I rocked into her, setting a pace that was both maddeningly slow and incredibly intense. “Like that?”

“Harder.” Her voice was barely there between heaving breaths. The steam billowed around us. Like my dream.

My grip tightened on her thighs as I moved with more purpose.

She pulled me closer, fingers clawing at my back. “More,” the word slipped out as a shudder ran through her.

I complied without hesitation, surging into her with a fervor I thought I’d lost years ago. I couldn’t get enough of her.

“Close,” she whimpered, her body shaking. Each push brought a moan from her lips that echoed off the shower walls.

“Let go,” I told her, my own control wavering with each second.

When she did, I shattered with her—a shared moment of ecstasy that left us breathless, clinging to each other under the stream of water.

Then we were there, just breathing. Just being together, connected, with nothing but raw honesty between us.

Her legs slipped from around me and I pulled out before setting her gently on her feet. She remained silent, but her fingers traced idle patterns on my chest, grounding me.

“Good?” It was a stupid question, but it was the only one my brain could come up with.

“The best.” Her lids fell closed for a moment, and I leaned in to kiss her temple. Her hand traveled lower, brushing against my abdomen, and to the base of my shaft. “But I need to get back to those waffles you made.”

I kissed her softly, pulling her closer until our bodies molded together under the hot spray. She tasted like lust and want and something that felt suspiciously like love. Plus a hint of sugar from breakfast. With her held close, I let the water cascade over us, washing away any lingering tension.

She wrapped her arms around my neck, and we swayed in a rhythm all our own.

“Stay,” I breathed into her ear. Did I really say that? And how long did I mean?

“But there’s whipped cream and strawberries in the kitchen.”

“I meant Washington.” I pulled back to look at her. This honesty thing was going to be a problem if I kept making ridiculous requests like this. “Don’t leave today.”

Her brows fell and she blinked rapidly. “I have to go back for work.”

Work? She had a thriving career, and what did I have? An ex, a boss, a co-worker, and a former client pending bail hearings. Byron—who’d cut his vacation short and was returning today to help deal with the chaos—and Zaria were the only ones in my life who were clear of charges. Lots of acquaintances and associates, but no real friends. No family. Nothing.

What I had was Jayce, but she was leaving this afternoon.

That was what I wanted, though, wasn’t it? I could sell everything and buy that boat I’d thought about. Take Vijay up on his offer and work my way around the world. Or just leave without telling anyone and not worry about more lies or betrayals.

The Reynolds team had done a thorough sweep of my apartment and only found a single bug—in the photo of Vanessa and me. That must have been why she was at my place last week, sneaking it in. Before I’d tossed it into a drawer, she’d set it up at the perfect angle to watch all of my planning for the event that hadn’t happened at the office. When Byron arrived, he’d sweep the office, and likely find more.

“Of course, you have to go.” I turned off the water and grabbed two towels hanging nearby. “Breakfast will be cold, though, so I’ll make some more.”

“Cold waffles and hot sex.” She ruffled the towel through her hair, a tight smile on her face. “Sounds like a perfect morning to me.”

Itwasperfect until I ruined it by questioning what happened next.

I pulled on a pair of blue cotton lounge pants and she wore the matching shirt. It fell practically to her knees. It was so fucking adorable. And the little black panties I knew were under it? Even better.

Jayce Monroe was sexy, but unassuming. Not like Vanessa, who knew how gorgeous she was and treated every moment like an opportunity for me to tell her. That lost its appeal quickly.

We made our way to the kitchen and the waffle maker.

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