man without a condom, and I was grateful for that. Because with Jake, it felt … like he was meant to be the first.
I helped him along, riding him right there on the couch. I twined my fingers in the hair at his nape and stared back at him, our eyes locked. It was far more intense than I’d expected, but I couldn’t look away.
Right then and there, I allowed myself to get carried away, living in the moment, giving my heart to this man. I wouldn’t tell him that, though. That was far too risky, but I did allow myself a few minutes to pretend, wishing this single, perfect moment could’ve lasted forever.
“What’re you thinking about?” Jake asked, leaning forward, his mouth sliding over my cheek.
“You,” I told him. “Me. This.”
“Ah, Presley.” He sounded so sweet when he said my name.
Not wanting to let him see the emotion swamping me, I pulled myself together and let the sensations overwhelm me. I lifted my hips, lowered them. Riding him, taking him deep into my body while I clung to him, my breasts crushed to his chest.
“You feel so good. Too good, Pres. God, baby.”
I wanted to make him come, to send him as high as he was sending me. I let go of him, arching my back and planting my hands on his knees, giving him an unobstructed view of where our bodies joined. And while he watched us, I watched him until I couldn’t take any more.
He held my hips still, thrusting up into me while I balanced over him, taking him deep, my body gripping him.
“Jake,” I said, a tremor racing through me. “Gonna … come.”
And I did. My orgasm slammed into me, making me cry out his name. Jake’s fingers tightened on my hips, holding me in place as he continued to fuck me, my inner muscles still locked around him.
A dull roar sounded when he came, his body shuddering as he yanked me close and held me tightly. For another moment, I closed my eyes and blocked everything else out.
Everything except this truly perfect moment.
The moment I knew, no matter how much I wanted it, wouldn’t last forever.
Because nothing this perfect ever could.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Jake
One more chapter.
I wanted to get in one more before we set out for home. Kora and Donovan were hanging there, and I needed to get them to a stopping point until I could pick it up again. Since I didn’t know how things would play out once I got back home—would the inspiration disappear like it had before we got here?—I knew I had to keep pushing while I still could.
After taking a quick detour to clean up, I grabbed my notebook and pen, made my way back to the couch while Presley went upstairs to take a shower, and I reread the last chapter before I started writing once more.
Kora wasn’t sure what to think about Donovan.
His arrogance pissed her off but also turned her on.
The way he seemed to know what she was thinking made her want to smack him, but it also made her feel safe. Even though that made absolutely no sense.
But he was right about one thing. She wouldn’t have given him her address or even opened the door for him if she didn’t want him there. Maybe she was using him as a distraction, or maybe she was crazy. Either way, he was there and she’d already set the dominos in motion.
The best outcome for her would be to give in, because that seemed like the fastest route to getting him out of her house. Since she definitely couldn’t complain about another orgasm, she didn’t figure it could hurt.
Not unless she fell for him. I couldn’t help but think of Presley. Was she thinking the same thing Kora was? Was she ready to move on, or was there a chance that things between them could continue? I knew what I wanted, but I couldn’t read her mind.
“Not happening, Kora,” Donovan whispered, his hands stilling on her shoulders. “I can see your mind’s working, and I know what you’re thinking.”
“You don’t know shit,” she retorted, jerking away from him.
She did not need Donovan Brashwood reading her thoughts.
Donovan caught her before she could leave the kitchen, his arm banding around her waist, pulling her against him once again. She planted her hands on the wall when he did, refusing to turn around and look at him.
“I’m all for giving you what you need,” he said, his words a