Page 44 of Never Going to Care

The way he powers into me is restrained and unleashed passion at the same time. I can feel his need for me and the rising way he cares for me. I should block out the feeling, the realization, but I can’t. It seeps into me with every stroke of his finger against my clit and every flex of his fingers on my hip.

“You’re mine, Starlight,” Hale growls.

The possession in his simple words, the way it washes over me, sends me flying over the edge as my body goes numb and my vision blanks for a moment. I can feel the way my pussy grips him and after only a few more thrusts, Hale is planting deep and filling me with his cum.

I slump against the bed, barely able to catch my breath while knowing I’m never going to be the same again.

Do I want to be?

No. I don’t think I do.

It’s the last thought I have as Hale moves me up the bed and cradles me against his chest, protecting me, cherishing me.

CHAPTER 15

HALE

I wake up with the feeling of my woman pressed against me. For someone so fierce, she is a damn fine cuddler. I didn’t even know I would like the feeling of it because I thought it would make me feel trapped. I should have known that when it comes to Celeste, all my preconceived notions fly out the window.

She makes the world feel different around me than it did before. She makes me want to smile instead of scowl. She makes me want to find the joy in the little moments instead of the threats and the dangers.

I don’t mind the changes she brings out in me.

It’s only been a few days since she lost to me and has been staying at my place, but I already know I won’t be able to let her go after the two weeks is up. It’s just not going to be possible. Not in this lifetime and probably not the next one either.

As she snuggles against me, I find myself smiling. She’s damn adorable when she’s like this. Her forehead smooths out and it’s as if all the worries she has melt away. It does something to my heart to know she feels safe and protected, even in her dreams.

I’ve had so many beautiful little snapshots of moments just like this one from the moment I met her, but they’ve gotten even better since she’s been staying with me. I can almost imagine how good it’ll be when we’re talking about a lifetime of memories instead of a few days.

The morning after our date and she fell asleep for the second time, I was so damn thankful when I woke up with her still in my arms. It was my turn to slip from the bed without her knowing. I hoped I was going to be fast enough to get back before she woke up, but I needed to do something quickly.

It only took a few minutes for me to run my errand, but when I got back, I found Celeste in the kitchen looking a little lost. It gutted me. I didn’t waste any time and strode right to her before tugging her against my chest.

Her body stiffened at the contact, and I wanted to destroy whatever had made her feel that way, but I had a sinking suspicion it was me.

I muttered against the crown of her head, “What’s wrong, Starlight?”

“Um,” she cleared her throat, her voice sounding detached, “nothing.”

I grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away from me enough so I could stare down into her eyes. “Don’t lie to me,” I demanded.

I watched as she swallowed hard, her mouth opening and closing a few times before she got herself under control and was able to answer my question. Her voice was so damn small, nothing like the woman I met the first day in the conference room, “I thought you had left. I didn’t like it. I know it makes no sense because this is your place.” She peered up at me, guilt swirling in the depths of her brown eyes. “Is that how you felt when I bolted the morning after the wedding?”

I nodded slowly. “I didn’t like it at all, but I expected it.” I pressed my forehead against hers. “You were expecting me to be here this morning. I shouldn’t have slipped out without letting you know or leaving you a note, but I was hoping to be back before you woke up.”

“Where did you go?”

I smiled down at her and before I answered her, I kissed her slowly, trying to pour how sorry I was into it so she would believe me, rely on me, trust in me. The way she melted against me told me I was succeeding, at least a little bit.

When I pulled back from her, her brown eyes were glazed over with lust. It took everything in me not to throw her over my shoulder and take her back upstairs but staying in bed all day wasn’t going to be an option. I knew it and hated it.

I don’t think I ever wanted to skip work more than I did that morning.

I held my hand out for her and showed her the key resting there. Her eyes widened and rounded as she looked between it and me. When her eyebrows pulled together like she was confused, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

So damn adorable.

“What’s this?”

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