I realize I don’t even mind it. Because the smell of her, the taste, is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. She’s all woman. And right now—she’s fucking mine. As if there’s any chance I’d stop. Every other time I’ve done this, it was for my pleasure, not theirs. Her mouth is open, and her eyes are closed. I’ve never given two shits how I made a woman feel. I’d give anything to make her feel like this every second of every day.
I push two fingers inside her and find the spot that drives her wild. She says my name again. I suck on her clit, lashing it with my tongue, grazing it with my stubble. She bucks into my face and tenses every muscle, then has the most spectacular orgasm.
Her pussy is pink and swollen. I get hard again looking at it. I want to be inside her so bad. I want it more than a gold record. More than any amount of money.
I pull her closer to the edge of the couch. She knows what I’m doing. She reaches between us and runs her hand along my erection. This time I don’t flinch. I don’t tense. I don’t do anything but enjoy the feel of her hand on me. I inch closer and she guides me inside her.
She’s warm and slick and tight. “God, Ella.”
A tear rolls from her eye. I wipe it away. I kiss her as I make love to her. Hell, I almost cry myself. I’m making love to a woman. Not fucking, making love. It’s the most intimate thing that’s ever happened to me. And suddenly I feel free.
I pull away from her lips, needing to see her face as I pump in and out of her. “Liam, I …” She pauses, and I panic. Maybe she doesn’t want this after all. But she grabs my ass and holds me inside. “I love you.”
Something inside me shifts. Nobody has said those words to me since I was little. Even my mother rarely said them. This woman—this angel—loves me? How can that be?
I realize she’s holding my ass. And I’m letting her. I’ve never allowed anyone to touch me there, but she is. And I’m not stopping or running away. I’m not even moving her hands.
And she loves me.
I start to move in her again. I frame her face with my hands and kiss her. I can’t say the words. I’m not sure I even know what love is. But I can kiss her. Will she know there are things I want to say but can’t?
She wraps her legs around me. The noises coming from her throat make my balls tighten. I thrust one last time and shout as I come inside her.
I collapse on her. “Shit, I couldn’t wait for you. I’m sorry.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered,” she says into my hair. “I’ve never come twice.”
I sit up and look at her, surprised. “Never?”
She shakes her head.
“You realize you’ve issued a challenge, right?”
She gazes at me sweetly. “So you’re not running away?”
“After that? Are you kidding? El, I never thought … I just … No, I’m not running away.”
I sit on the couch next to her and cross my feet on the coffee table, going over in my mind what just happened. It’s unbelievable.
“I’m on the pill, in case you were wondering.”
“I know. I’ve seen them in your bathroom. I’ve never gone without a condom. At least I don’t think I have. There may have been one or two drunken nights where I blacked out and didn’t know what happened. Shit, we should have used one. I’ll get tested.”
“We’ll both get tested. I’ve gone without them myself.” She thumbs to her bedroom. “Do you want to stay over?”
“If I do, I can’t promise I won’t take you up on your challenge.”
The edges of her mouth turn up. “I was kind of counting on it.”
I stand, pick her up, and carry her to the bathroom.
While she turns on the shower, I see her toothbrush on the counter and remember something Crew said to me not long ago. I pick it up and squirt toothpaste on it before sticking it in my mouth.
Ella sees me. “I can get you your own if you want.”
I smile because, like Crew, I don’t want my own. If she only knew what a monumental moment this was. If only I could find the words to tell her.
Thirty minutes later, the lights are off, and we’re doing one of my favorite things—lying in