Page 131 of Every Chance After

“Oh, Grady, this is…” She rushes to the sliding glass doors of the upper deck overlooking the backyard and lake. Moonlight highlights her as it does the water below. Even at night, it is a gorgeous view, but my eyes are fixed on her. She lingers at the doors, taking it all in, still wearing her dress, open like a robe.

She’s the first woman I’ve had here. I already know she’ll be the last, too. My last love. I move behind her, easing the dress off her shoulders and unclasping her bra. Everything falls to the floor. She twists in my arms but does nothing to shield herself from me.

Open. Lovely. Mine. All fucking mine. A truth I’ll honor and take joy in every day for the rest of our lives. She smiles like she reads my mind and concurs with every thought. I want to explore her breasts with my mouth, play dot to dot on every freckle, and memorize every curve. But there’s time, and tonight, I want to give her something I doubt she’s had before.

I corner her against the glass, my hand perched over her shoulder and lean in. “How do you want me? What would you like?”

Surprise alights on her face, but then her brow pinches like she doesn’t know how to answer. “Um, downstairs was nice.”

“Thatwas me saying thank you.Thisis the start of us.” I edge closer and run my finger down her bare breast. “How do you want to play, Marina?”

Her mouth falls open in a giddy smile, blushing. “Truth?”

“Truth.”

Her lips curl, matching my gaze like a predator ready to pounce. She presses her naked body into my clothed one, busily undoing me. My shirt lands in the clothes heap, followed quickly by my jeans and socks. Her eyes wander over my chest, her fingers drifting like feathers across my skin.

Then, she drops to her knees, bathed in moonlight and smirking like she’s already won. She maneuvers me out of my underwear like she means to…

“Fucking hell, Marina,” I sigh as my boxer briefs fall to the floor.

“Just a taste.”

She kisses the head, sliding her tongue over it, and then slips me into her mouth, soft and slow, taking enough of me to make me groan, almost destroyed by it, especially when she reaches for my hand and gently places it against her cheek. She wants me to guide her, feel her doing this, to enjoy her fully, and to know I have her trust. In all my years, I’ve never felt anything more intimate. Or been so turned on with each tongue stroke.

I can’t take it long, and I don’t want our game to hit pause over this. Not tonight. I bring her back up to me, stroking her cheeks and pushing her hair away from her shoulders.

She smiles. “I like this game. Your turn.”

“You’re going to come again before you’re ready for me. Get on the bed.”

She obeys, shifting further onto the bed on her back. “Oh, Grady, I don’t think you could possibly make me come again,” she jokes, with a coy smirk that assures me she wants me to try.

She laughs when I crawl after her, stopping to kiss her feet, her legs, and her thighs. Then, I climb between her legs to continue my kisses up her stomach, her breasts, and the crook of her neck. I intend to kiss every inch of her, to worship her, tonight and every night after.

It doesn’t take long until she’s writhing with release again.

Whimpering, she tugs on my shoulders. “My turn. I need you in me.”

I obey, positioning myself just right so that she feels me inside and against her at the same time. She moans at my sudden thrust. I groan over how damn wet and warm and tight she is. Just like with her mouth, I won’t last long.

“My turn,” I say, nearly fucking breathless. I shift her into my lap so she’s straddling me and curse at how deep I get this way. Her back arches as she grinds against me. She drapes her arms across my shoulders, bringing me closer. We kiss as she rides me. I stroke her hair, and she rests her forehead on mine. Her soft smile captivates me, assuring me that this is as unbelievably good for her as it is for me. My hand drifts to her clit, bringing her with me as the beautiful pressure nears its end. Tangled like this, two feathers caught in the wind, we build and come together. Music. Magic. Pain. Sadness. True love. This is it. Always.

She stills, resting against me with my head on her chest, heartbeat racing underneath. “Three to one, I win,” she chuckles lightly.

I laugh. “You have a distinct advantage, but I’ll let you have it. The next round? We’ll see.”

Her giggle is infectious, and, damn, I don’t giggle. But here I am, unraveling with her once again.

“I love you.” The words jump from her like she can’t contain them. Her brow pinches uncertainly as they escape. She shuts down her unease with, “I’m sure.”

My mouth quirks into a smile, taking her in, kissing her lips, and squeezing her closer. “Then, I get the prize, after all.” Her coy grin fills me with immense satisfaction. “I love you, too.”

Her eyes dance over my face, flecked with moonlight and dilated with delight. My fingertips skip slowly down her back.

“I want to stay the night, sleep with you, wake up next to you,” she whispers, nuzzling me. “Be here, like this, for as long as we can.”

Her voice catches with sadness, creating the list like she thinks our time will run out.

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