The Rebound - Noelle Adams Page 0,19

gone. He took her hard and fast, shaking her body and the bed at the same time. It was exactly what she wanted to feel. She huffed out her pleasure as she took what he gave her, and soon she was clawing at his back again as another orgasm started to rise.

He was grunting as he pumped. Sometimes forming words like “Yes” and “Baby” and “Fuck” and “So good.” His eyes were hot and hungry, moving from her face to her jiggling breasts. And the tension in his face and shoulders and thighs tightened until he was shaking with it.

She knew he was close, but it didn’t matter. Because she was already there. Her body broke with the waves of pleasure. The climax shuddered through her with a series of loud, shameless sobs. Then Ken was coming too. Right after her. Bellowing out his release as his body jerked urgently.

When they’d worked their way through the last of the spasms, Marlowe was howling outside the door, clearly believing that a horrible tragedy was happening on the other side of the door when he was unable to get in and help.

They both laughed as Ken collapsed on top of her. She wrapped her arms around him, and they hugged for a minute, torn between amusement and the delicious aftermath of their release.

Then he pulled off her, took care of the condom, and limped into the bathroom to clean up. She followed him as soon as she could move, peeing and pulling on her T-shirt and panties as Ken went to let Marlowe into the room.

The dog sprinted around, investigating every nook before he’d reassured himself that there wasn’t an emergency.

Ken led her back to the bed, and they climbed in to lie together for a while with Marlowe sprawled out exhausted on the foot of the bed.

It was a few minutes before he seemed able to speak. His voice was hoarse when he said, “That was pretty damn amazing.”

“Yeah,” she admitted. “I didn’t expect it to be that good.”

He stroked her hair. Her cheek was resting on his chest. She could hear his heartbeat. After a pause, he asked in a casual tone, “So maybe you’ll want to do it again?” His voice lifted at the end, making it a question.

“Yes. I’m pretty sure I will.” She lifted her head to smile at him. “It would be pretty stupid to only enjoy sex like that once.”

His smile broadened. She could tell he was happy.

And that made her happy too.

Four

KEN HADN’T HAD SEX since his divorce two years ago. It was a long time to go without.

He wasn’t exactly sure why he’d waited so long. He’d certainly had opportunities. Because of his position as sheriff, women would often make themselves available to him sexually, but it felt rather skeevy to take advantage of that reality.

He also could have gotten himself a girlfriend or another wife, but there hadn’t been anyone who’d really caught his eye.

Until he’d started noticing Madeline last year.

After that, he hadn’t been able to think with real interest about anyone else.

So it had been a long time since he’d gotten release from anything except his own hand, and he could barely speak in the aftermath of the intense rush of pleasure and satisfaction.

He hadn’t been sure what Madeline would do afterward. If she’d want to throw her clothes on and get out of there quick. But she didn’t. When he tugged her back into bed, she’d come with him willingly, and she didn’t pull away when he wrapped an arm around her.

Her body was warm and soft. Her hair spread out over his chest. She wasn’t a particularly small woman, and she felt substantial beside him. Like he could really hold on.

“Are you about to go to sleep?” she asked after a few minutes. Her fingers were idly rubbing against his side.

“Not anytime soon.” He could hear the smile in his voice. Hopefully she wouldn’t read too much into it.

She shifted so she could peer up at him. “So you don’t go to sleep right after sex?”

“Sometimes I do. But it’s the middle of the day, and I don’t feel particularly sleepy at the moment. Why?”

“Nothing. Just...”

She trailed off, but Ken understood what she wasn’t saying. Josh—the selfish asshole—had probably rolled over and gone to sleep after sex all the time instead of holding her, talking to her, making her feel appreciated.

Ken’s former annoyance with the boy had transformed over the past year into an intense dislike he never