Page 47 of Rhys

Except…

He stared down at her. Tracing the line of her jaw, he thought of all the time they’d missed. Of nuclear weapons and the president of a country who’d love nothing more than to be the man who destroyed the most powerful country in the world and everyone in it.

As he looked down at the only woman to ever dig her way into his heart—and the only woman to completely shatter it—Rhys remembered how short life could be.

For two years, he’d lived with regret. For two years, he’d spent his days consumed with work and the need to distance himself from anything even remotely close to love. But that was over, now.

He was done simply existing. It was high time he startedliving. And he knew just how he wanted this new life of his to start.

“I do.” His eyes burned with unshed tears, but he blinked them away. “I love you, Vanessa. I think I always have.”

“Wha—” Vanessa’s eyes grew wide, the greens becoming glossy with moisture.

“I mean it, sweetheart.” He brushed her cheek with his thumb. “I loved you before you left me, and even after…even when I thought I hated you, I…I still loved you.”

He’d done everything in his power to deny it, but it was out there now, and he had no desire to take back the words.

Tears leaked from the corners of Vanessa’s eyes and onto the bedding below. “Oh, Rhys. I love you, too.” She grabbed his face and pulled his mouth to hers. “I’ve always loved you.” Another kiss. “Always.”

It was a pivotal moment for them both. A point of no return.

She was his and only his. And if Rhys had anything to say about it, she’d never leave his side again.

Wild with frantic need, he began to move in hard, fast thrusts. Together, they feasted on each other as if they’d been starving for one another. In truth, they had.

Vanessa’s breathing shallowed, her pants and low moans letting him know she loved what he was doing. Sensing she needed more, he slid his hand back between their bodies, his fingers finding her swollen clit almost immediately.

“Ah!” she cried out, her body jerking beneath his.

Oh, yeah. She’s ready.

Remembering how she liked it, Rhys began moving his fingers in quick, tight circles. At the same time, he continued slamming his hips against hers, filling her body with his rapacious cock.

The sound of their bodies together as one became the soundtrack of their lovemaking. And when Rhys felt the way Vanessa’s body shook and trembled beneath his, he knew she was close.

“God, Rhys!” She wrapped her legs around him, locking her ankles and pressing her heels to his ass. “I’m so...close.”

I know, baby. I’ve got you.

He moved his hand faster. Pressed a little harder. And just when he thought he would lose it too soon, he felt her let go.

“Rhys!”

Vanessa climaxed around him, the hot rush of liquid engulfing his swollen cock as her inner muscles began milking him to the point of ecstasy.

“Ah, fuck.” His movements became jerky. Urgent, even. “Ah, God, baby. I’m going to—”

Rhys came hard, his seed spilling into her in uncontrollable waves. What felt like hours later, after coming down from the greatest high imaginable, he slid himself out of her core and fell to the mattress beside her.

“Holy shit.” His chest heaved with heavy breaths. “That was…”

“You can say that again.” Vanessa stretched lazily beside him.

Turning onto his side, Rhys caught sight of her bandage. A giant fist squeezed his heart when he thought about how close he’d come to losing her.

“Did I hurt you?” He let his fingertip trace an invisible line down her arm.

She turned her head, the look of complete and utter satisfaction spread across her gorgeous, flushed face sending a rush of male pride rolling through him.

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