Page 101 of Out of the Shadow

His lips crash down on mine, sucking in all my air and breathing new life into me. I still have one more confession, so I break away. “King, I lied when I broke up with you. It had nothing to do with the bullshit excuses I gave you. Although those photos were pretty damning.”

He glances away from me. “They were taken out of context. Poppy kissedme, but I didn’t reciprocate. And the Toalle twins tried to rekindle our hook-up, but I told them I was off the market. Because I am.”

I swallow. “I know.” His unnecessary confession drives me to complete my very necessary one. “The real reason I ended things was because I realized what you meant to me. I’m not built for casual sex. I couldn’t square my feelings for you with my vow to Dante, despite what he wrote at the end of our Bucket List. But I realized something…loving you doesn’t mean I don’t also care about Dante. What I had with Dante was young and pure and forever. What we have is vibrant and alive and forever.” I suck in my breath as I realize what I said. “I mean—”

King’s lips cover mine in a voracious kiss. “I know exactly what you meant, Angie, because I feel the same way. I lived my life in the shadow until you came into it and filled it with color. And family. You were never a casual hook-up to me. Ever. And I never want to let you go.”

He kisses my ear. “I’m grateful to Dante. He made you the woman you are today. With the biggest heart I’ve ever known. He gave you your first taste of love, and together you made the plans you’re still working on today. I’m going to take over where he left off. I want to show you the world, Angie Russo. Because I love you.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and bring his head down to mine. Gazing into his hooded hazel eyes, I say the three words I swore I’d never speak to another man. “I love you.”

His lips and tongue meet mine while his hands skim down my back. Before we can take this to another level, I break away from his kisses and ask, “Are you up for this?”

King’s smile is wolfish. “Doc Collins said I could do whatever activity I felt like. And I certainly feel like.” He unzips my dress and unclasps my bra, but the cold air only urges me to get closer to his delicious heat. He pulls the straps down my arms so I’m naked from the waist up, kissing a trail down my neck as he goes.

I reach over to his shirt and pull it up and over his head. Chest to chest, I rub against him, savoring his hardness against my softness. I know where he’ll be harder. My hands slide down his torso, stopping to finger each line of muscle. When I reach the zipper, his stomach jumps.

“Angie. You’ve made me happier than I ever thought possible. I’ve never just had sex with you—ever—but this time… This time, we’rebothgoing to be making love. Are you okay with that?”

My fingers undo the top button of his fly. “I’m more than all right with that. I want to make love with you, sleep together all night, and wake up in the morning to do it all over again.”

He ducks his head to my breast. “With a few other times thrown in during the night.”

His words land in my core and radiate outward. How have I gotten so lucky? Without pondering this question too hard, I unzip his shorts while he bites my nipple.

King stands and his shorts fall to the floor. His underwear and shoes follow. Naked, he looks at me, letting his eyes linger, and offers his hand. I slip off my sandals and get to my feet, allowing my dress to join his clothes. My hands reach for my pink panties.

“No. Leave them.”

My arms drop to my sides, while my eyes remain glued to his massive erection. Because of our height difference, I’m so close to it. Just one step forward and I’ll—

“Ahh!”

King’s reaction to my oral skills cause me to hum and his hips to buck. Snaking my hand around his back, I squeeze his tight ass muscles while my other hand slides up and down his shaft. My tongue rolls over his tip and I savor his pre-cum.

“Not like this. Not this time.” He pulls his hips backward, causing me to lose my momentum.

Standing, I kiss the left side of his chest, over his heart. Marking my territory. In that commanding tone of his, he says, “Come with me.”

Gladly.

We head toward the bedroom, our hands linked.

When we step inside, he grabs me by the waist and physically turns me around. His finger dips under the waistband of my panties. “I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

“You’ve got that backward.”

His finger, joined with the rest of his palm, drops lower and squeezes my butt. “Let’s just be happy together.” With his other hand, he cups my cheek. “I’m yours, Angie.”

He backs me up so my knees hit the bed. Standing above me, he wraps his hand around his cock and strokes. The sight of this man handling himself almost makes me come on the spot. I reach out. “Let me.”

Never losing a beat, he shakes his head. “No. Let me see you.”

Following his lead, I take off my panties, drop to the bed, and open my legs wide. I catch his eyes while my fingers find my clit and rub. Our breaths come in pants as we stroke ourselves while watching each other.

King releases his cock. He takes three steps and towers above me. “I have to be inside you.”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

---