Page 73

He loved her surrender, and how much it spoke to her trust of him. This was a woman who had learned not to trust men, and yet she completely trusted him, a man born from a life filled with terrible things.

He shifted her hips, and she met his gaze as she settled on him, taking him into her body. He groaned as she began to move. "You're going to kill me if you keep doing that."

"Am I?" She grinned. "You said I wasn't too much for you."

He loved her sass so damn much. "You're not. It was metaphorical."

"Was it?" She cocked her head. "I don't know if I believe you. I think you're scared of what I do to you."

"Scared shitless, yeah," he agreed, and he moved one hand between her legs. "But willing to go there."

She let out a low moan and closed her eyes as she continued to move. "Wow, just wow. Okay, you win."

"We all win. That's what love is."

Her body began to shudder, and she leaned forward, her hands digging into his chest. "God, Jacob—"

"Surrender, Phoebe. I've got you."

"Jacob." His name tore from her throat, and she fully surrendered to the orgasm. His body responded, tearing out of his control, and he gave himself fully over to the connection, the electricity, the culmination into a glorious finish.

When the final shudders finally faded, Phoebe collapsed onto his chest with a groan. "I have nothing left," she said. "You literally took every last bit of my soul with that."

He laughed softly and wrapped his arms around her, holding her on his chest as he kissed her hair. "You have my soul as well, so we're even."

She sighed and rested her chest above his heart. "I want to stay here forever."

"I agree." He closed his eyes and breathed in the moment, trying to imprint her being in his arms, the sound of her breathing, the faint scent of flowers that seemed to follow her everywhere, the way his body and soul felt complete peace and contentment.

"Jacob."

"Mmm."

"Can you have Bella and Lucas spend the day with us tomorrow? And maybe your other brothers? I'd like to take Annie riding, but I'm scared to go out there now."

"If you're scared to go outside, then we're definitely going. They'll be there."

"Great. Thanks." She yawned and snuggled more deeply against his chest.

"Before we fall asleep, we need to put clothes on, in case Annie comes in."

She groaned. "I'm too tired."

He laughed and slid out from under her. He gathered her clothes, and helped her pull them on, chuckling. "You're dead-weighting it, babe. A little help?"

She didn't open her eyes. "You're a big, strong man. Do your thing."

"You're a strong, capable woman," he pointed out as he lifted her limp leg to pull her sweatpants over her foot.

"I know. I have to be strong and capable every minute of every day." She flung her arms above her head and rested them on the pillow. "I don't want to be strong and capable right now. I want to be a mushy pile of nothing but happiness right now."

He laughed. "You got it, babe. I'm on it." They were both laughing the whole time he got her dressed, battling her absolute deadweight, but it was awesome. He loved that he could do that for her, give her the chance to turn off everything but receiving help.

When they finally collapsed together on the bed, both of them dressed, and the door unlocked and ajar, he knew that he had to find a way to make this happen between them. A way to have it all.

Because now that he'd gotten a taste, he knew he could never go back to what he'd been, or what his life had looked like before Annie and Phoebe.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX