Page 50 of Cruel Love

“What’s this?” I scooted closer. I had an insatiable need to have some part of our bodies touching whenever we were near. He never complained and initiated it by lifting my legs into his lap or pulling me tightly against him. I guess it went both ways.

“This is our first date as a married couple.”

I laughed. I couldn’t have been happier or more content.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

PHOENIX

The alarm jolted me out of sleep, and I stretched my arm to hit snooze so it wouldn’t wake Aspen. She slept hard most nights and struggled to wake unless I eased her into the morning. It was my favorite thing to do and also why I set my alarm thirty minutes earlier than I needed to get up to work out with the team. My body was finally back to normal, and though I’d had to take it easy for a while, I was glad to be back in the weight room and running drills.

She used my arm as a pillow, resting a hand over my heart as if she already knew she held it in her palm. I traced the soft curve of her cheek before brushing her hair back from her forehead. I couldn’t get enough of her. Aspen was heaven, and I would do anything to stay by her.

I had never felt so lucky, not even when I started my first college game as a freshman. Even football didn’t compare to Aspen. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and that beauty shone from both inside and out. No one could ever come close.

Our daughter kicked against my side, where Aspen was tucked against me. I flattened my palm against her belly and whispered, “Good morning,” to our baby. I still couldn’t get over how awesome it was to feel her moving around in there. After another kick, she settled, and I brushed my hand over Aspen’s smooth skin, loving every moment of the morning. I couldn’t wait for our daughter to be born, but I also took advantage of every second we had alone before I had to share her. I wanted her all to myself and to start her day by feeling loved and cherished.

Aspen shifted, turning so her back was to me, and I chuckled because she was only making it easier, and I knew she loved it when I woke her up this way. I moved to my side so my chest was to her back then slowly slid her panties down, using my foot to hook them when they were at her knees and push them the rest of the way off. I didn’t want to disturb her more until I had her right where I wanted her.

Easing her top leg over mine, I slid my hand around her hip and then between her legs. She was so warm and soft. My fingers grazed the apex of her thighs, and my hard cock pushed against her perfect ass. I brushed her hair out of the way then pressed open-mouth kisses along her neck, teasing her closer to waking. I breathed her in, running my nose along her neck, inhaling her scent. A gentle bite over her pulse elicited a sensual moan.

“What are you doing?” She turned her head, and sleepy, hooded blue eyes met mine.

I chuckled, eager to slide into her. “You know what I want.”

Her lips parted, and I curled my arm, pulling her head closer, then slanted my mouth over hers, teasing and tasting while my fingers continued to circle and caress all around where she wanted me most. Her hips bucked when I came close to pushing inside, and she released a small growl of frustration into my mouth.

On a good day, Aspen didn’t have much patience for games. The pregnancy hormones surging through her body made her horny and impatient. I took it easy on her and traced along her wet, silky slit.

She moaned, and I ground against her, my control perilously close to slipping. “God, I love your ass.”

Her heated eyes met mine, and her lips parted. I took advantage and kissed her deeply. The friction increased as she moved against my hand. I tore my lips from her, trailing hungry kisses down her neck and shoulder, then positioned myself to slide inside.

She pushed back, urging me to enter. I slid my fingers along her slit again, circling the tiny nub as I moved deep inside her wet heat. “Christ, Aspen.”

Her breath came in short pants as I increased our rhythm. I nipped at her skin, teasing and toying with her clit, building her pleasure until she cried out. Her nails dug into my arm as she gasped then tightened all around me, and I thrust faster, chasing her climax as she writhed in ecstasy.

When a scream tore from her throat, I pumped into her silken heat two more times then followed her, every nerve ending in my body hypersensitive and in tune with the woman I loved. I was addicted—she could bring me to my knees with one look, one touch. Every time with her was incredible. And as we lay together in each other’s arms, our breathing slowly regulating, I felt in my whole body how lucky I was to have her in my life. I never wanted to let her go.

And even though it was time for me to get up, I was reluctant to let her out of bed at all, but she slipped from my arms, if only temporarily, to clean up.

She came back to bed, looking like a goddess. Her skin glowed, and her body was toned but soft in all the right places. I loved seeing the swell of our baby.

“I have a few more minutes until I have to get up, so come here.”

She grinned then crawled back into bed and my arms, tangling her legs with mine. “I hope it’s always like this.” Her smile slipped a little, and worry clouded her blue eyes. “I just worry. We both come from pretty fucked-up relationship examples.”

I tipped her chin higher so our eyes met and held because that was some serious shit. I needed to make sure she understood… I thought about making a fucking plaque and putting it over our bed. “We aren’t our parents.”

She nodded and snuggled against me.

“Aspen, look at me.” I waited for her gaze to meet mine again. “We need to make a pact always to encourage each other to achieve our goals through support and friendship. I love you, and I want to give you the world.”

She cupped the side of my jaw, her lower lip quivering slightly, her eyes bright with determination. Her spirit matched mine, and together, we would make the whole fucking world our playground.

“I love you too, Phoenix.”

We held each other for a few more minutes until my second alarm went off. “Are you going back to sleep?”

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