my newly lightened hair falling around my shoulders, covering my breasts as he stared at me.
"What?" he asked.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him to me, smiling when our bodies became a tangled web of limbs on the soft mattress. I kicked aside the blankets and mess of torn clothes, pushing him onto his back before straddling his hips. He looked so good beneath me, his flaring nostrils ignited me from within. It was always Maverick. The sweet healer. The tortured scientist. The sacrificial friend. He'd held me while I cried. Saved my life. Cherished me.
"I've been thinking about this moment," I whispered before looking into his eyes. If he wanted me to stop, now was the time. I leaned forward to kiss him, pressing my soft lips to his with a moan. I took my time, trailing my tongue along his jaw, sucking on his collarbone, nipping at his abs.
I placed my lips on his thigh, smiling to myself when his cock, proud and assuming, brushed against my cheek. Slowly, I traveled back up and settled right above him, teasing him as I rubbed our bodies against one another. “I want you, Maverick Black. I want all of you. Forever. No matter the cost, no matter the dangers. I want you.” When he didn't move, I lowered, making sure to stare into his deep eyes as I slid down and hissed in pain when he stretched past my barrier of innocence. Maverick grabbed my shoulders, guiding and squeezing as he tried not to buck beneath me. I needed him to be still as I broke apart. It hurt, but it was a good hurt. An earned hurt, amplified by my control and the five months we spent apart. "I'm glad you've finally stopped pretending to have everything together," I gritted out as he stretched me. His head rocked back against the pillow, the first moan escaping his lips. Watching him let go of his burdens was my focal point. I didn't feel pain or anger. I saw each emotion as it crossed his face and stored it in my memory, savoring the look of his joy.
"But you're gonna save me, Maverick. You're gonna save everyone." Once I was sure I could handle it, I began slowly moving up and down, feeling each painful pulse disappear and turn into a throbbing need. I needed Maverick to take control. I needed Maverick and Cyler to succeed. I needed my guys all back together.
Maverick bucked forward, and I fell upon his chest, laying there for a moment and enjoying how he felt inside of me. I pulled off of him and rolled over on my back, urging him with a whimper to take over. "I love you, Maverick," I whispered.
He rolled on top of me and positioned himself at my entrance. I bit my lip as he slowly slid inside once more. Every pretense fell away at that moment. I had no expectations of Maverick, no expectations of what would happen next. He moved with deliberate intention, our skin softly rubbed against one another like silk. My moans were in time with his thrusts, and he kept his steady gaze on me, drinking in my blissful expression.
I wanted to absorb each sensation, each glance, each touch and cling to it, knowing that I'd only have a memory to hold onto once I left here. There were no guarantees. "You're so beautiful. So strong, Ash. I carry the world on my shoulders, and you carry me." His voice was dark, but he tenderly stroked my cheek, pushing my hair behind my ear as he thrust once more. His steady movements pressed against that sweet spot deep within me, and it was so hard to hold back and make this moment last.
It seemed like hours that we moved, slowly rocking to the beat of our hearts. Each loving thrust was slow and intentional. I wrapped my legs around his back, arching up and claiming the intense, electric zap of pleasure each time he moved within me. “I love you so much,” he murmured into my hair over and over and over. Each whispered affectionate declaration like a war cry. I whimpered my replies while clenching tightly around him. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
The slow building orgasm tore through us. I let it wash over me in waves and crawl through my veins. I clung to my intoxicating climax, begging it not to end. Begging this moment not