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Blue knew he should stop it. He knew he could have kept her from pulling him anywhere he didn’t want to go. He should set boundaries, not break them—he knew that.
But all the things he should have done got lost somewhere in the delirious slickness of her mouth on his. He tugged on her towel, revealing her breasts, tilted and tipped with those rose-colored nipples that tasted better than anyone should. He started there.
He tasted her, he worshipped her, and while he indulged himself, Everly was exploring him. Her mouth was everywhere. Tasting, teasing. It was almost as if they were fighting each other to get to the same fire, rolling this way and that.
Panting, raw.
Perfect.
Until finally, Blue stripped out of his clothes and stretched out beside her, rolling on protection while she settled herself astride him.
And then he lay back, gripped her hips, and let her ride.
He would remember this—her—forever. The way she arched back as she moved against him, breathing hard. Her soft body, freckled and pale and made to fit him like the finest, sweetest glove.
She was burning herself into him. She was making herself a part of him with every delicious roll of her hips.
He had to fight to hold himself back when she started to shudder, that red flush working its way down her whole body. She lit up like a firecracker, bright and hot, and she called out his name when she ignited.
And as she shook and sobbed all around him, Blue flipped her over. He rolled her beneath him and pulled her knees up higher, so he could go deeper. Harder.
So he could make this last even longer.
He tossed her from one peak straight into another climb, and waited for her to break apart all over again.
He loved when she flushed, hot and unmistakable. He loved the way she writhed beneath him, as if every deep thrust might well be the end of her. He loved her, he realized.
He loved her. He was in love with her.
And Blue told her the only way he could.
The only way he’d allow it.
His hands, desperate to touch more of her, all of her. His mouth against her skin.
He threw her into the fire again, then again.
And it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.
But it was the only thing Blue had to give.
And when he finally let himself go, the only word in his mouth was her name.
Everly.
He didn’t know how long he lay there with her when it was over. He knew only that he left part of himself behind when he rolled out of the bed and left her there, curled up and fast asleep.
And he wasn’t the man he’d been when he’d walked into this house. He wasn’t the man he’d always believed he was, period. This place had taken that from him—or, worse, shown him hard truths in a mirror he’d very much like to shatter with his fists.
Blue felt... diminished.
Lucky for him, he’d spent years in the navy learning how to suck it up and work with what he had.
He just had to hope it was enough.
It would have to be enough.
Twenty-two