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“More lube.”

She gave as much as she took, stroking me mercilessly, bringing me to the edge.

“Now, Ty. I need you.”

Her breathy demand nearly undid me. I surged into her, enjoying the warm clasp of her body, the heat of the friction we generated with every stroke. I pushed, working myself in her, angling to hit her clit and using my fingers when she directed. Rocking into her, thrusting, she grasped my shoulders on a groan and I saw stars, exploding deep inside her.

We flopped down side by side, breathing hard. Our race to completion had ended in the best possible way: with both of us winning. I couldn’t help my goofy grin. Winning with Andi was almost as much fun as competing against her.

I could show her my hidden pieces, and she wouldn’t turn away. Confidence in our connection blazed through me. We’d come together as friends, now lovers. And I’d never felt that word more.Lovers.I’d had plenty of sex. But this felt like more. Like everything. Not one night or one relationship, but like the rest of my life. Someone I could laugh with. Love with. Live with.

“I think I love you.”

The admission burst from my lips as I stared up at the ceiling, still breathing hard.

Too soon. And yet, years too late. We’d wasted so much time.

“Ah, Ty.” Her breath came in pants, and I held back the urge to high five myself. “If you’re stillthinking, we didn’t do it right. And I refuse to accept that, because we wereon fire. I might need to ice my vagina to recover. Don’t tell me what youthink, tell me when youknow.”

Uncertainty washed through me. On one hand: we were on fire. She didn’t deny it. But her admonishment to speak only when I knew, jarred me. Did she doubt my feelings? I cast a quick glance at her next to me, taking in the mussed sheets, the corner of one soft blue edge almost covering the tip of her rosy nipple. She looked sated. Satisfied. I’d done that. No,we’ddone that.

Searching her expression, I saw only lazy contentment. I had time to prove myself to her. Prove my words were more than a spur-of-the-moment confession. Time to share my last secret.

Before any doubts could trickle in about how she’d react to Rosie, I pushed to my elbows, slipping from our bed.

“Where are you going?”

I gestured to the condom I still needed to take care of.

“I have to reload for round two and get you an ice pack.”

Her satisfied chuckle followed me to the bathroom. I used the moment alone to collect myself. Andi might not be ready for me to love her. But we’d get there. Neither of us were willing to lose. And after experiencing what we could be, I was only willing to win together.

Chapter 15 – Andi

I groaned, snuggling into Ty’s shoulder, as his phone buzzed, ungodly early.

“Who’s texting you so early,” I grumbled.

We’d been up late, and every muscle ached from overexertion. If it was Jimmy texting to suggest a workout, I think Ty could safely decline. I smirked. We’d more than burned a few calories over the course of the night before falling into an exhausted slumber. We’d come so far from challenging each other not to touch in a single hotel bed, to being able to touch as much as we wanted, reveling in each stroke and feather-light caress.

“Jimmy,” Ty yawned. “He’s confirming that I’m going to meet him at the gym this morning. Should I send him a selfie of the two of us along with my regrets?”

I smacked his shoulder gently, trying not to get distracted by the tiny, inked frog I’d discovered there.

“That’s my brother, so gross. The only one you should be sharing sexy photos with is me.”

“Sunshine, I promise—it wouldn’t be a sexy photo. We look like we’ve survived a tsunami.”

“A sex tsunami?”

He backtracked at my arched brow. “Scratch that—you’re gorgeous as always, but exhausted.”

“No, no. I like the metaphor. Does this mean you’re overwhelmed by me and my bodacious waves?”

He nodded sagely. “And never inclined to recover.”

“Hmm. Should I be getting you an ice pack?”