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She moaned softly.

“No one can hear you but me,” I said against her lips, thrusting harder. “If you want to shout, do it.”

She grinned, the smile instantly fading with the next thrust, pleasure overtaking her features. That expression was going to be tattooed on the inside of my eyelids for a long time. “You trying to get me to scream your name, Noah?”

“If I’m only trying, then it’s not good enough.”

Changing the angle of my hips, I felt her. Kate went rigid, eyes flaring wide, and I smiled. Right there.

Right. Fucking. There.

Her body clenched around mine, and I swore. Every word she tried to say melted into one delicious sound, and we were there. Kate’s hips jerked, the shout I’d wanted to hear muffled by my kiss as I slammed my mouth down on hers and let it all go.

Lightning blazed down my spine, all the way through my cock. Pleasure flashed behind my eyes, ripping its way through me like a storm. No control. I was powerless as it gripped me and held me, and finally let me go.

We were panting together, both trying to catch our breath. But I didn’t care about air. All I cared about was kissing her. Kate.

Her gaze was warm. Glazed and sleepy now that everything was relaxing. No more tension in her body. Just relaxation that made her fit against me that much more perfectly.

“You were right,” I said. “We both needed that.”

“No.” She shook her head, still smiling. “I just needed you. That was so much more than what I needed.”

She didn’t have to say it was absolutely everything. I already knew.

I kissed her again, drawing it out, tangling our tongues together in that slow dance of two people who finally know each other. Truly know.

“I’ll be right back.”

It was sweet torture to pull out of her body when it felt so right. But I wanted to hold her while she slept, and once she was asleep, there was no way in hell I was disturbing her.

I ditched the condom and grabbed a washcloth, soaking it with warm water before returning it.

“I—” Kate stopped and blinked like it didn’t compute that I was going to help her.

“I told you I would take care of you.” I let a smile break through. “Full service.”

She laughed once, though she was blushing, her hands gripping my arm in embarrassment as I helped her clean up. There was nothing to be embarrassed about. But words wouldn’t be the thing that made her believe that. Only actions.

I tossed the washcloth in the sink before wrapping us up together in the blankets. My hands still moved across her skin like they had a mind of their own. I wouldn’t be able to get enough of her. Enough of this.

Kate curled toward me, tucking her face into my neck. “Thank you.”

“I think I should be the one saying that.” She’d brought me out of my memories. Shared her body with me. Looked at me like I was more than what I’d done and what had happened to me. That was worth far more than a couple of orgasms.

Her words were quiet and mumbled. She was falling asleep and still trying to talk. Did she even know what she was saying? “No, it’s all me. For the couch and the money and getting me out and just... everything.”

I ran a hand down her spine and felt her breathe. Drew her a little closer as that breath evened out and she eased down into sleep.

“I’m still the one that needs to say it.” I said it so quietly she would never hear it.

It took some time, but I didn’t stare at the ceiling. I didn’t collapse back into the memories she’d pulled me out of. With Kate in my arms, I slept.

And it was easy.

Chapter 19

Kate