Page 72 of This Spells Love

He picks up his speed, and the intensity builds between my legs. I don’t remember the last time I orgasmed twice in one night. I don’t know if I’ve ever orgasmed twice in one night. But just as I think I’m going to set a Gemma Wilde record, Dax stops, hovering mid-stroke above me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask and attempt to move my hips.

He holds my hip firmly with one hand. “Hold on, I just need a second. I got a little carried away there.”

I pause underneath him, my breath held and ready to burst from my chest before he lets out a long breath of his own.

“All good, but we might need a change in position. I’m not ready for this to be over yet.” With that, he rolls onto his back,pulling me with him, reversing our positions so I’m now straddling him on top.

I start to move my hips ever so slightly, enjoying the way he fills me in a new way. His thumb finds my clit, and he matches my rhythm, stroking me as I ride him. Fuck, this feels so good. I throw my head back and get lost in the movement.

“You look so damn sexy when you do that.”

I lean down to kiss him again, using the new angle to grind myself into him. When I lift my head, he catches one of my breasts in his mouth and sucks. And the sensation drives me over the cliff. I close my eyes, arch my back, and get lost in the tidal wave ripping over my body. Somewhere far off, I swear I hear Dax cry out too, but I’m too lost in the moment to be sure. When I finally come down, he’s looking at me with the same satisfied smile I imagine is on my face.

“We’re pretty good at that.” I kiss him once more before rolling off to lie next to him. Dax gets up to dispose of the condom, then climbs back in bed beside me, pulling the sheet up and over us both.

He holds his arms open, and I tuck myself into the little nook between his neck and chest. I think I love this part too. Just lying here breathing, listening to the late-night street sounds of the city below.

I look up at Dax. His eyes are closed, but he has the sweetest smile on his face. It makes my chest swell. “Tell me something else,” I whisper to him. “Something you’ve never told anyone. Even your best friends.”

Dax peels one eye open, then the other, and brushes my hair from my neck, letting his fingers linger on my back.

“My deepest, darkest secret is that I love using Q-tips in my ears,” he finally says. “I know they’re supposed to be terrible for you, but I don’t care. I do it at least twice a week. What aboutyou?” He adjusts his arm, pressing me even closer. “What secrets have you been hiding?”

I don’t need to think too hard about my answer. It’s the one thing I’ve wanted to tell him since I figured everything out. “I’m from a parallel universe.”

Dax kisses the top of my head. “Well, that explains a lot. What is your universe like? Do you eat pot roast for breakfast?”

I know he thinks I’m joking. I never intended for him to think otherwise, but it feels like a small weight has been lifted from my chest.

“My universe is the same as this one, except in mine, we’re just best friends.”

Dax lets out a long yawn. “Well, I think I like this universe better then. Don’t you?”

If I had any reservations about staying here, they’re gone. This place, with Dax, is so much better than I ever imagined. There’s no reason why I have to leave. I’m happy here, I have my family, and I have Dax. My mind is made up.

“I do,” I finally answer, but Dax doesn’t hear. He’s already fallen asleep.

Chapter 20

“Seriously, Gems, whatthe fuck?”

Kiersten is waiting on the stoop of my store, glaring at me and my morning latte.

“What?” I reach past her to fit my key into the front door. She steps aside to let me flip my sign toopen and awesome, though I secretly hope that no one shows up for at least ten minutes or until I’ve had the chance to make a good dent in my coffee.

Kiersten follows me inside, still giving me laser-beam eyes that I swear I can feel boring into the back of my head.

“Where were you last night?” she asks. “I called you, like, ten times.”

She is not exaggerating. I accidentally left my phone at home yesterday, and when I finally found it this morning, there were eleven missed calls and a long string of progressively angry text messages.

“I temporarily lost my phone,” I explain. “What’s the problem?”

Kierst folds her arms across her chest and glares at me. “Hello. You didn’t show last night?”

I rack my brain for the significance. “Was I supposed to?”

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