Page 73 of All Along The Watchtower

I looked down at this man who’d been my rock, my comfort, my everything. The man who’d hurt me, yes, but who’d also loved me. Who’d never actually stopped loving me, despite all the years I’d pushed him away. I could feel it in his touch, hear it in his voice. And I knew I was done fighting. Done being afraid.

“This is exactly what I need. You’re exactly what I need. Please, Ford.”

CHAPTER 34

FORD

I wanted her. God, how I wanted her. Always had. The chemistry between us had only grown stronger over the years apart. But I hadn’t expected this response when I’d crawled into bed beside her. Hell, I hadn’t expected any of this. I’d assumed we’d clean up, rack out for a few hours, then head back to the hospital. But with Bree straddling me, rocking against my aching cock through our clothes, my brain was shorting out all my good intentions.

I had to be sure this wasn’t grief or exhaustion or desperation talking.

Trying to hang on to some shred of control, I trailed kisses along her jaw. “Are you sure about this?”

“Don’t be an idiot.” She captured my mouth again, swiveling her hips against mine as she plunged her tongue into my mouth, and whatever resistance I’d been clinging to crumbled.

My hands slid higher beneath her top, seeking the soft curves I remembered so well. “I don’t want you to regret this.” The words came out rough as I traced the underside of her breast with my thumb.

She pulled back just enough to meet my eyes in the darkness. “I only regretted last time because you left. You’ve just said you’re not leaving again.”

It was the absolute truth. I’d made my choice. I was staying on Hatterwick. For Peyton. And for Bree. And if she was finally ready to believe it, then I could finally,finallymake love to her the way I’d wanted to all these years.

I tugged the ridiculous unicorn pajama top up and off. The dim glow of moonlight painted her bare breasts in silver. She was fuller now than she had been at twenty. Giving in to the urge to touch, I found each breast a perfect warm weight in my palms. Bree moaned, covering my hands with hers and pressing them tighter to her chest. I circled each nipple with my thumbs and watched them draw tight, begging for my mouth. I pulled her into reach, loving how her hips bucked to the rhythm of my suckling.

I wanted to taste every inch of her. Trailing kisses down the valley between her breasts, I savored the softness of her skin. Her breath hitched as I shifted to lavish attention on the other breast. The rhythm of her hips grew more frantic, and if I didn’t want this over in the next thirty seconds, I needed her off my aching cock.

Rolling us both, I hooked my thumbs into the waistband of her pajama shorts and began to ease them down. Bree lifted her hips to speed along the process, no doubt expecting me to fast forward to the main event. But I had so much more I wanted to give her first.

I tossed the shorts aside and skimmed my hands down her thighs, feeling the soft skin and subtle tremble of her muscles. “You’re beautiful.”

“And you’re overdressed.” She managed to get ahold of my t-shirt and tugged it over my head.

The hungry look on her face as she took in my chest and arms in all their tattooed glory was beyond gratifying. But I had more satisfying pursuits in mind.

Leaning in, I pressed slow, nibbling kisses along her inner thigh, smiling as she shuddered. I could smell her arousal, and it was all I could do not to dive in like a starving man. But I wanted to savor every moment of this. Of her.

Her muscles tensed in anticipation, until she was all but vibrating with need by the time I reached her center. I paused, teasing her with my breath for a moment.

“Ford, for the love of God…”

“No, for the love of you.” I leaned in to taste her with a long, slow lick.

Bree’s hips bucked, and she swore a blue streak that had me grinning as I settled between her thighs to do it again and again, loving her feverish response and how her hands dove into my hair, holding me to her as I worshipped her, searching out each spot that made her gasp and moan. She was getting closer, her breaths coming in short pants, her hips rocking against my mouth. I slid one finger inside her, then another, feeling her body clench around me. I imagined that clench around my cock and almost lost my rhythm.

“Ford! I’m almost… I’m going to…”

I doubled down, sucking her clit into my mouth as I pumped my fingers. Her hips jerked. She was right on the edge as I curled my fingers just so, finding the spot that sent her over the edge with a cry. Her body convulsed around my fingers, her hips bucking relentlessly against my mouth as I slowly eased her down until she lay panting, a trembling, beautiful mess beneath me.

But I wasn’t done with her yet. Not by a long shot.

I crawled off her.

“What? No. Still… need… you.”

From where I dug through my bag, I chuckled. “Oh, I’m not going anywhere, sweet girl. Just grabbing a condom.”

“Boy Scout. Thank God.” She dropped her head back against the pillow.

I quickly shucked my sweatpants and rolled on the condom. Bree watched me with hungry eyes, and I couldn’t resist stroking myself. My cock swelled in my hand. I’d waited so damned long for this. For her. It wouldn’t be our last time, but I was determined to infuse every moment with pleasure for her. It wouldn’t make up for the pain I’d caused her, but it damned well couldn’t hurt.

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