“I’m not going anywhere,” she whispers, and I ease. She threads her leg through mine, and I hold her close, breathing in her sweet shampoo as I fall asleep, feeling happier than I’ve ever been.
I wake in the middle of the night, hard and hot as hell.
I turn to see Nora sleeping soundly in my arms, and my heart skips a beat. I take in the sight of her like this. Naked—save for her bra—and in my bed.
I never thought I’d see this. Ever. A beautiful woman in my bed.
Certainly not the woman of my dreams.
I thrust myself against her absent-mindedly as I pull her closer.
Wrapping myself around her, I close my eyes and embrace the feel of our bodies pressed together. She stirs, and when she opens her eyes, she looks right at me, those warm blue eyes full of wonder and love.
“You look so beautiful right now,” I whisper.
“You don’t look too bad yourself,” she says with a sweetness that makes my heart flutter. She reaches out and brushes some hair out of my face, tucking it behind my ear. There’s an unspoken truth between us when she looks at me. An energy that can be felt like a living, breathing thing.
I thrust myself against her, pulling her hips to meet mine, my body asking the question my mouth can’t seem to form. I roll our bodies until I’m on top of her, relishing in the feel of her body underneath mine. I reach down to push some bright hair away from her temple.
“I never thought I’d see you like this,” I breathe, because it’s the truth. “I never thought I’d see anyone like this.”
Nora reaches up, her thumb grazing my jaw. “Tommy, I?—”
Whatever it was she was going to say, it dies on her tongue because I kiss her until words disappear. She wraps her arms around my neck, bringing me closer, and I kiss her slowly as Igrind softly against her, my cock aching for release. But this isn’t about coming.
It’s about the overwhelming love I feel with her, here. Like this.
Just the two of us.
The acceptance, the understanding. The warmth.
My cock settles at her entrance as she brings up her legs, the motion driving me against her.
I pull away, looking down at her. “I don’t have any condoms,” I say nervously. “But…I need you to know I’m prepared if you know…something happens.”
Her eyebrows furrow, and I feel the words tumble out without warning.
“I told myself I wouldn’t do it until I was ready to take that kind of responsibility.” I slide my hands through her hair, beckoning her gaze. “Until I found someone I loved enough towantthose things with.”
“Tommy…” she breathes softly. Like a damn prayer.
“If you don’t want to, it’s okay. But I just…need you to know, I do. Want those things. With you.”
Her eyes glisten, and I think she’s going to cry. I tense, worried I’ve fucked up.
“I’m sorry,” I say hurriedly. “I didn’t mean…”
“It’s okay,” she says as she kisses me, thrusting up to meet my cock. “I just…no one has ever said that to me before. Like that. And Brett…” She lets out a heavy sigh. “He didn’t want those things with me, and all I wanted was?—”
I kiss her with all I am and whisper, “Because he didn’t love you like I love you.”
The words are heavy, terrifying. But truer than any others I’ve spoken.
“You love me?” she asks, her voice full of sadness and affection.
I nod, knowing there’s no hiding the truth now.
“Yes,” I say. “I do. I love you, Nora.”