Page 89 of Faking It

It’s more than lust. More than happiness or satisfaction. It feels like a mix of them all, swirling in my stomach, capturing the breath that tries to emerge. My open mouth releases nothing but silence. My pulse trips. The erratic beat of my heart pounds in my ears. Hell, and it’s only one stroke.

I pull back to the entrance and experience the same sensation when I plunge in again. Slow strokes to the edge, deep plunges inside. Ana bites her lip with sexy whimpers, I sink my fingers into her fleshy ass. We’re both responding differently, but I know we’re feeling the same thing. Ecstasy. Pure, unfiltered ecstasy. Never before have I experienced such pleasure from seeing a woman restrained beneath me.

From the sensation gathering between my legs, I know it won’t be long. I reach under, finding Ana’s clit and giving it a pinch.

“Gideon,” she moans, eyes flying shut.

“Open your eyes, Ana,” I command, my fingertip finding the spot that made her go crazy the last time. “I want to see the look on your eyes when you come.”

Ana shudders when I flick her bean. Her body tightens. She tugs on the restraint. Passion dances in her eyes. Soft gasps fly from her mouth. It’s a beautiful sight. I’ll never get enough of watching Ana come for me.

My cocks rolls through her, and I explode not far behind, emptying myself inside her. I lather kisses on her back as the feeling subsides. My arms wrap around her. The L word lingers on my tongue. I know it’s way too soon, but fuck, it feels real. This isn’t the effects of whatever chemical being released right now.

I’m falling in love with Ana.

Her body sags against the pillow when I untie her. Seeing the red lines on her wrists makes me seize them at once. “I told you to use the safe word,” I grumble. “Your skin is bruised.”

“You told me to use the safe word if I felt unsafe, or if it got too much. None of the above happened. I’m fine.” She reaches up and kisses my frown away. “Lighten up.”

Harrumphing, I drop down beside her. She turns her back to me, and I slip my arm around her, my palm splayed across her belly. As I plant gentle kisses on her shoulder, it occurs to me that I’ve never been this intimate with a woman. Never snuggled after sex, never had the urge for pillow talk. It may be too soon for the L word, but this all confirms that what I feel is not a fluke.

It also occurs to me that Ana has gone silent.

“Talk to me.” I stroke her thigh, my fingers running over the curve of her hip, up to her waist. “Are you really okay?”

“For heaven’s sake, Gideon,” she mutters good-naturedly. “Don’t baby me. It takes more than a restraint to upset me. A consensual restraint, I might add.”

She wiggles against me, getting more comfortable. A flood of contentment overwhelms me, and I pull her closer, so tight, leaving no space for air to pass between us. There’s an overpowering wish that we could stay like this, tucked together so I can keep her safe. It’s not possible, I know that, but I will protect her as much as I can.

It’s been a week since I ran into her mom, and it’s been radio silent. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it would remain like this. More than once, I considered telling Ana, but I didn’t. It’s for her own good. The only way to keep the demons from her past at bay.

I’m only hoping that decision won’t come back to bite me in the ass.

Chapter 32

Ana

“I was literally about to post a missing person’s flyer of you,” I joke as Tori closes her apartment front door. “Where have you been, babe?”

Tori drops her bag on the center table. “Out.” Her tone sounds clipped.

“Okay… is there no reception where you were? I called at least twenty times over the last twenty-four hours. You didn’t answer any of my texts. That’s not like you.”

“You’re not the only one who’s in demand,” she replies in a slightly grumpy tone.

It takes a moment to realize she hasn’t looked at me once since she got here. There’s an emotion on her face, like guilt. She’s fiddling with the buttons on her jacket instead of taking it off.

“Is everything okay, Tori?”

She nods, giving me a quick glance before throwing her gaze against the wall. “Yes, sweetie. Why wouldn’t it be?” Her voice sounds chirpier this time, but I know it’s forced.

“Because you’re acting weird.”

“I’m fine.” She finally shrugs from her jacket. “Just tired.”

Seeing the red spot on her neck makes me scoff with humor. “Yeah, I figure. Twenty-four hours in someone’s bed would wear me out, too.”

She doesn’t laugh back. Not even a smile. This is definitely not like Tori. Again, I glimpse that guilty look. Something dawns on me.

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