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I make my way up Ava’s body, kissing her belly, and the valley between her breasts until I’m hovering over her with my face inches from hers. I brush a lock of hair from her damp forehead, and she opens her eyes. A satisfied smile greets me.

She cups my face and traces my mouth with her thumb. “That was . . . I have no words for it.”

I nibble her thumb and smile. “I thought I was going to have to call an exorcist.”

She covers her face with both hands and dissolves into laughter. “No priest needed. Maybe a little holy water.”

“Hydration is important.” I love this. Love how her body responds to me. How she laughs in the middle of sex and plays along.

She runs a hand through my hair. “Please tell me you have protection.”

I take her hand and kiss it. “I do. Are you still sure you—”

“Jake, if you don’t put a condom on and get inside of me right now, I’m—”

I shut her up with a kiss, then reach over to the nightstand and remove a condom from the box I bought a couple of days ago. She watches me as I slide it on. I move over her, and we kiss again. I lower myself on top of her, skin to skin. She tilts her hips up, and I slide in, slowly, inch by inch.

She gasps.

“You okay? Did I hurt you?”

“No, it feels so good.”

That’s all the incentive I need. I slide in all the way—her heat all around me, her scent in my nostrils, her taste on my tongue. I’m surrounded by her, and it feels like coming home.

I hold still, savoring the moment, committing it to memory. I want to come back to this moment when she’s no longer here. I open my eyes and meet her gaze, see the wonder in her eyes, and something else, too. Something I dare not name for fear of jinxing this. Whatever it is, I’ll take it.

She squeezes around me, and I groan. Her legs come up and lock around my hips, and I slide in deeper still. “I could stay here forever.”

She nibbles at her lower lip and tilts her hips again in a silent invitation. I move then. Slowly at first, relishing the feel of her. She moves too and matches me stroke for stroke. But the urge to go faster takes over, and I let go of the reins.

Ava rises to the challenge and keeps up with me. Our breathing comes faster, shallower, and the sounds we make are more animal than human.

I’m so close. “Ava?” My voice is rough with lust.

“Jake . . . don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop.”

And then she’s coming, contracting around me, squeezing so tight, I let go and follow her, slowing down until I can’t move another inch. I nearly collapse on top of her but hold myself off to the side.

Our breathing slows after a while. I slide off of Ava, walk to the bathroom, get rid of the condom, and wash my hands. When I come back, Ava is in the same spot, eyes closed and unmoving. I lie next to her, tug her close, and pull the covers over us. She turns on her side and molds her body to mine. Her breathing evens out.

Outside, the storm rages on. And inside, a storm of a different kind takes place in my heart.

Chapter48

Avalon

My eyes flutter.The steady drum of rain is a lullaby, and I have to fight to keep from falling asleep again. I try to stretch, but something at my back restrains my movements. I freeze. Open my eyes, and at first, I don’t recognize my surroundings. It’s dark but not yet night.

A muscular arm wraps around my waist and tugs me closer. Warm lips touch my bare shoulder with a gentle kiss. Jake. All at once, my mind is filled with images. Of him and me and all we did. How completely overtaken by lust I was. My face burns with the memories. Gosh. How am I going to look him in the eyes after all that? I was like a cat in heat.

He nuzzles into my hair and inhales. Then, pulls me closer still. The hair on his legs and chest tickles my bare skin. Naked. I’m naked in Jake’s bed. And Jake is naked, too.

Did I fall asleep immediately after we . . .

He kisses me on the shoulder again. “Are you okay?” His voice is soft.

I force myself to relax and nod. “Yeah.”