Page 13 of Gracefully Yours

But as much as I loved his patience and care, I needed more. And even through the slight sting of pain, I wanted his relentless pounding, for us to find our climax together.

“Move,” I begged. “Please. I need more.”

With my command, he started moving inside of me, shallow thrusts as if he was working me up towards the harder, deeper motions I knew would come.

There was no holding in the moans that were escaping me, or the breathy noises I hadn’t even known I could make.

“Look how well you’re taking me, Charlotte,” he encouraged. “Such a good girl for me.”

I moaned. “Yes.”I was pretty sure I was babbling incoherently, chanting words likemore, yes, and please—

Daniel pulled all the way out before thrusting back in, a punishing motion that had me pushing closer and closer towards the edge.

“Yes, darling, let me have it. Come for me,” he murmured against my ear, and I never thought that would do it for me, but on his command, I exploded, shattering into a million pieces.

I didn’t think anyone would be able to put me back together.

I wasn’t sure I wanted anyone to.

Daniel followed closely behind me, giving me a few more thrusts as my orgasm pulsed around him, before the tension left his face and he came, filling the condom.

Even after coming down from our climaxes, Daniel just held me, and when he finally pulled out of me, I felt the loss of him immediately.

I knew I would be sore tomorrow, but I didn’t regret the ache.

“You were perfect,” he murmured against my hair before he got up to get rid of the condom.

My eyes fluttered shut before I could offer him anything back. But it didn’t matter, anyway, right? They were just flowery words offered in the throes of sex. They didn’tmeananything.

Right?

CHAPTER2

Daniel

The spot next to me in the bed was cold.

“Oh.” Charlotte came out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body as she attempted to towel-dry her blonde hair. “You’re awake.”

“Mhm,” I said, rubbing my hand over my face.

Last night, those strands had been curled, flowing down her back in ringlets of gold. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I should have been focusing on my sister’s rehearsal dinner, but all I could think about was how beautiful my best friend looked in her pink dress.

My head was pounding, a combination of the alcohol I’d drank last night and dehydration, I was sure.

“God, we really…” I looked at our clothes scattered across the floor. Sitting up in bed, the sheet fell into my lap, exposing my bare chest. We’d fallen asleep after, sweaty bodies tangled together, and I hadn’t moved to put clothes back on.

Fuck.Not a dream.

She nodded.

“Charlotte, I—” I started, but she cut me off.

“I don’t…” Charlotte tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she avoided my gaze. “We shouldn’t do that again. You’re my best friend.”

Another reminder that was all I was ever going to be. Even after last night, what we’d shared… Did she regret it?

“I get it.” I said the words, but they felt hollow. Because I couldn’t make myself regret it. I’d never regretted a single thing with her—except for one.

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