Joy nods, flipping the covers back and patting the bed in front of me. I suppress a grin. I turn off the lights and get settled, lying down as she adds, “So long as you don’t push me out of bed this time.”

“I won’t,” I say, eyeing her. “But youareon my side.”

She snorts, half her face covered by the comforter. “I think you meanmyside.”

I grin into the darkness as we fall into a comfortable silence. Meanwhile, my mind keeps me awake. I try not to think of how the day ended, but it’s hard not to.

Chilled fingers graze my bicep and I turn my head to find Joy’s moved closer. I roll onto my side to face her, then silently reach for her. The action feels natural as she slides into my arms. Her bodyflush against mine. Her breath fans my chest before she turns her head to rest it against me.

My hold tightens.

We lay like this for some time. The tension that’s been wound in my shoulders eases as the weight of the day begins to fade away. Everything feels better when I’ve got her in my arms. Like it’s all going to be okay.

And it will be. Because of her.

She has no idea how grateful I am to have her here.

“Joy.”

“Hm?” She tilts her head, and the moment I see her lips, I lean in.

The kiss is soft at first, exploring. We’ve kissed several times over the last few days, but there’s something different about this kiss. It’s…more.

Her tongue tentatively grazes mine and my cock thickens. My need for her—any part of her—is growing by the second with every brush of her lips. The soft, almost shy, touch of her hand on my chest.

“Nick,” she breathes.

My hips twitch at the sound of my name on her lips. All breathy and turned on.Fuck. Is she as aroused as I am?

I veer from her mouth to kiss along her jaw, making my way to her neck. She moans in my ear. Her fingers flex over my pecs with a scrape of her nails. The sensation has my cock weeping with precum. I groan against her delicate neck, inhaling deeply. Myhand trails the dip of her waist, over her hip, and around her thigh until I grip underneath it. I nip her earlobe and drag her thigh to rest over my hip.

The erection tenting my shorts brushes between her thighs, and Joy’s innocent gasp only fuels my desire. “I want to make you feel good, angel,” I growl, kissing her neck while my hand slides under her oversized shirt. Her skin is soft and smooth, and growing hotter with every kiss, nip, and lick.

I capture her mouth as my fingers graze the seam of her pussy. The thin material of her panties is soaked with her arousal and my mouth waters. I roll on top of her, my arms bracing on either side as I pin her thighs open with me between them. “Say yes,” I pant.

She stares up at me, her chest rising and falling rapidly until she drags me down for another searing kiss and moans sweetly, “Yes.”

I grin against her lips. “Good girl.”

The sound she makes at my praise has me wishing the lights were on. To see her flushed with need and excitement for me—onlyme.

The thought is possessive. And it turns me on like no other.

She squirms with every brush of my lips on her exposed skin. I tug her shirt up until her breasts are exposed and use my tongue to caress the hard peak of her nipple. I fondle the other, tweaking it gently between my fingers. Her hands thread through my hair as her back arches, keeping me in place and begging for more.

I pull away and continue downward to the sweet arousal waiting for me. I brush her panties to the side and my finger glides alongthe lips of her dripping pussy. “Fuck, angel. Is all this for me?” I groan at the feel of her. So. Fucking. Wet.

“Nick,” she pants, “please.”

Precum drips from my cock at the sound of her begging and I groan, tugging my shorts down. My cock springs free and I grip it tightly as I push my middle finger knuckle deep into her tight, weeping cunt. I pump my shaft in time with the thrust of my finger to give us both a moment of relief before I pull away to yank her panties down her legs and discard them.

The moment they’re gone, her legs fall open in the most inviting way. I push her thighs to spread wide and drop my head. I lick her from her tight core to her needy clit.

Her muffled moans have me glancing up at her body to find her hand over her mouth. “Move your hand,” I demand. “I want to hear what it feels like to be mine.”

She does, and I eat her pretty pussy with vigor. Lapping at her folds, sucking her sweet clit, and dipping my tongue into her tight little hole.Goddamn. She gasps and moans and squirms beneath me. I pin her thighs between my shoulder and hand when they begin to shake. She grips my hair as she grinds against my face. I’m so fucking turned on by her that I find my hips thrusting against the bedding. The rub of the three-thousand thread count sheets can’t compare to what it’d be like to be inside her, but it’s the overwhelming presence ofherthat is my undoing.

The taste, the smell, the feel of her under my tongue…