Page 50 of Sworn to Protect

To the way he dominates my body into submission.

To the overwhelming sense of making me feel like a woman.

This man is everything I’ve ever wanted and so much more.

He shifts his leg, and, oh God, he’s so deep. No one has ever reached this depth. Jesus. My core clenches around him as he continues to drive into me.

“Too damn perfect.” He reaches around to rub my clit as he fucks me, and it’s too much—too much sensation, too much pleasure.

I come again with a cry, my body clenching around him as he fucks me through it. He doesn’t last much longer, pounding into me with a final, brutal thrust as he spills inside me with a groan.

We collapse onto the bed together, sweaty and breathless and completely wrecked. Nate pulls me into his arms, and for the first time in forever, I feel … whole.

“You’re fucking incredible.”

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I say through a yawn. I’m not sure where we go from here. Is this a one-and-done sort of thing? Something we got out of our system? The smart thing to do is end this before things get more complicated.

But who the fuck am I kidding? This is just the beginning.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

NATE

“My feet hurt.”

Mackenzie looks down at Nick and shakes her head in that disapproving way moms have perfected. “I told you those sandals weren’t for running.”

“But they’re my favorites.”

“They won’t be if they give you blisters.” Mackenzie tries to reason with Nick, but the battle is lost before it even begins. He’s in love with his new Aquaman flip-flops, and nothing will convince him otherwise, not when Aquaman reminds him of his dad.

I brace for the familiar guilt that usually follows any thought of Ethan, but it doesn’t come. The weight of remorse lingers, but not for the reason it used to. His marriage had been over before the papers waited for his signature. Ethan sent me here for a reason. I have to believe that.

“My toe hurts.”

Uh-oh. “Let me see.” I crouch down and take a quick glance. Just as I suspected, a blister had formed where the divider had rubbed his skin raw. “Alright, big guy.” I scoop him up onto my shoulders and grab the lawn chairs. “I’m onto you. This was a ploy for a free ride, wasn’t it?”

Nick giggles, gripping my hair. “Nooo.”

I glance over at Mackenzie, about to ask if she’s ready to go, but her expression stops me cold. She’s watching me. There’s a deep appreciation to her stare as her lips curve into a smile different from the one she wore last night. It’s more tender, more … sure.

She was breathtakingly sexy beneath me, but this is something else entirely. A quiet, effortless beauty that settles in my chest. For the first time in a long time, I wonder if more is possible.

Liam’s voice shatters the moment.

“I can’t wait until our soccer tournaments!” His enthusiasm is infectious. “You’re still coming, right?”

“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” His tournaments run through November, which is longer than I originally planned on staying. But I made a promise. I intend to keep it.

Mackenzie walks beside me, her head lowered, biting her lip. Is she thinking about last night? I hope so. I don’t want her second-guessing it.

“Yes! We’re going to kick butt. Did you see my goal? It was a beauty.”

“I did. You played awesomely.”

“Oh, Mom, I need to tell Toby something about school next week. I’ll be right back.” Liam dashes off as we congregate underneath a large oak tree.

“He’s excited about school starting.”

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