Page 53 of Trial Run

He pushed inside her in a slow movement. His eyes slammed shut and he held himself still for a minute above her, bracing his free hand on the bed. He shifted back, a small movement, then pushed in deeper.

“All right?” he ground out.

“Yes. I’m good. It’s good.” The intense feeling of fullness, the heat of his skin against her, all of it was good.

“God, Nell.” He tested a couple of movements, frowning in concentration as he tried one angle, then another, until he found one that forced a startled cry of pleasure from her.

“There.” Satisfaction laced his voice and he started to move in earnest, each stroke building up the hot pressure again inside her.

Her hands roamed up his sides and back, feeling the muscles bunch and shift. She’d cracked open, and all her empty spaces were filled with him, his heat and breath and closeness.

She’d given herself a chance to feel something again, and it was worth it. He was worth falling apart for. A broken moan escaped as the tension shattered her from the inside, and she yanked his torso closer, trying to get him deeper inside her where he’d never leave.

He groaned and came with her, abdomen tensing, arms rigid on either side of her body. As his breathing slowed, his hand came up to cup the side of her face. The gesture was becoming a habit.

“That was …”

“It was perfect,” she told him, even though the word wasn’t right, or enough.

“Good.” He dropped his head into her neck and inhaled. “It was … perfect for me, too. Give me thirty minutes, and I’ll find out what else you like.”

He rolled to his side and pulled her in close to his chest, wrapping an arm around her back as she tucked her head under his chin. He was silent for a few minutes, his hand rubbing up and down her back. She placed her hand in the center of his chest, feeling the slowing heartbeat there, contentment warming her from the inside.

“I’m glad I dropped those flowers on your porch,” she said a minute later, already drifting off. He’d keep her safe while she slept, and then he’d wake her for more.

A soft laugh huffed out of him. “Not as glad as I am.”

Chapter 15

Nell smiled and chatted with all the plants as she loaded the day’s deliveries into the back of the van. She’d smiled a lot the past few days—real smiles, not fake ones. She couldn’t share the reason why with Amy, and definitely not with Marco, but a secret happiness had bloomed in her chest. He was hers, for two more weeks at least.

A lot could happen in two weeks. It would be smarter not to let her heart get too involved yet. And above all, she had to keep Marco out of this. He couldn’t know she was dating Ben.

But still, she had two weeks. She wouldn’t think beyond that, because the future never worked out the way you planned, anyway. She’d enjoy her time with Ben now, while everything felt magical and new. She couldn’t stop herself smiling again, picturing his backyard at night, the fairy lights, and the way he’d made her feel.

It had been two days since she’d seen him, and she missed him more than she’d have thought possible.

She’d gone home that night and paid the babysitter in a haze of happiness. Marco had already been asleep, and Nell had slipped into bed, still feeling the sensation of Ben’s arms around her and smelling his cologne on her skin.

The next morning, she’d applied for the college scholarship. She sat at her laptop for almost two hours, filling out the online form. It had been surprisingly detailed, with multiple questions about her parents and upbringing.

She’d never known her dad. Mom had worked two jobs, one at a dry cleaners, and the other cleaning houses for wealthy folks in her off hours. Nell’s life wasn’t so different now, scrambling to make ends meet.

Mom should have gotten to meet her grandson. And she’d be proud of Nell, trying to finish college now. Filling out this application was the right choice, even though she wasn’t sure how she’d manage her work schedule and classes, if she did get the scholarship.

She also applied for a dozen more part-time jobs while she was at it, still looking for a third job to boost her income. At the last minute, she filled out the job application for the manager position at the plant nursery with Amy’s friend. It was a long shot, but what was one more application added to the pile?

Maybe she was good enough for a better job. Maybe she just hadn’t let herself try, or hadn’t felt like she stood a chance. But she was trying all kinds of things she’d never let herself imagine in the last six years.

At lunchtime, Ben texted her.

Do you want to go for a run after work?

I’m not in as good shape as you are.But if you go slow, sure.

You do realize this run will only be five to seven minutes long.

She smiled down at her phone.

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