pocket, pulled out a condom and sheathed himself in record time. His hands on Maddie’s waist, he lifted her, bracing her against the house as he reached beneath her thighs, wrapped her legs around his waist. Leaned back to look at her, pliant and open for him. Beams of moonlight broke through the clouds, casting her body in an unearthly glow, gold touching her face, the slope of her full breasts, the curve of her stomach. Lust, primitive and animalistic, roared through him, drowning out every thought except being inside Maddie.
He stepped forward, his arousal rubbing against her slick folds. Something, some latent sense of reason, had him pausing. Just for a moment. Long enough to meet her eyes. To make sure she wanted this, too.
Setting her hands on his shoulders, she tightened her legs and tilted her pelvis forward so that he was at her entrance. He slid into her, gritted his teeth against the urge to plunge into her. But she felt so freaking incredible, her body tight and wet surrounding him, her eyes dark with passion, her mouth red and swollen from his kisses. As always, she stole his breath, but for the first time he didn’t resent her for it. For the first time he let himself wish that things could have been different between them. Let himself wonder, just for a second, if he’d made the wrong choice all those years ago.
Then she rolled her hips, taking him in even deeper, and held him there, buried to the hilt. And she smiled at him, a small, feminine smile that told him she knew exactly the power she held over him.
His heart slammed against his ribs. The nape of his neck prickled with apprehension. Denial rushed through him. He cupped her butt, pressed his face against the curve of her neck and drove into her. She made this completely sexy sound, as though it was the best thing she’d ever felt. Her fingers clenched, her nails dug into his upper arms as she met him thrust for thrust. He pounded into her again and again and again until his skin was coated with sweat, his muscles trembling with fatigue. Until Maddie tightened around him, her body shuddering with her release. Until his own orgasm swept over him and he emptied himself inside of her.
But with his body satiated, his blood cooling and his head clearing, he couldn’t pretend, could no longer hide from his thoughts. And the truth that at this moment, here with Maddie, for the first time since he’d left Shady Grove, he’d finally, truly come home.
* * *
THE BREEZE PICKED UP and gooseflesh rose on Maddie’s arms. She shivered. Her body was pleasantly sore, her back rubbing against something cool and rough. She inhaled deeply—and breathed in the familiar scent of Neil’s skin, his sweat. And sex.
She slowly raised her head. Her stomach turned and she swallowed down the beer rising in her throat.
Oh, God.
She was clinging to Neil, her legs wrapped around him, her ankles pressing into his lower back. He held her under her thighs, his breathing ragged, his whiskers tickling the side of her neck. He was still inside of her.
Ohgodohgodohgod.
Rearing up, she shoved at his arms and chest, kicked her legs. Her toe connected with his shin and pain shot up her leg. He grunted softly then shifted back and slid his hands to her waist. He lifted her, setting her on the floor as if she weighed next to nothing.
And though he more than likely saved her from falling on her naked ass, she hated him in that moment for his athlete’s strength and grace.
She turned her back on him and hooked her bra then tugged her shirt down. But she was shaking so hard, it took her three tries to shimmy back into her underwear and pants. Once dressed, she tipped her head back and gulped in air. Well, it was official. She’d lost her ever-loving mind. That was the only answer for why she’d had sex—quick, hard, semirough sex—on her porch with the one man she’d sworn she’d never let lay so much as a finger on her again.
Remembering exactly where his fingers had been, what they’d done to her, she covered her face with her hands.
“Don’t.”
She slowly lowered her arms and turned. He stood in just his jeans, the button undone, his hair mussed, his eyes heavy-lidded. He was a walking, talking sex dream come to life. Damn him.