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He groans as I settle against his thick cock, our bodies aligned, heat building like a storm between us. I feel his heartbeat racing beneath my fingertips, matching the rhythm of my own pulse, fierce and relentless.
My lips slide from his mouth to his ear and down his neck. My tongue traces the tattoos that stretch up toward the base of his neck.
“Fuck,” he growls as I pull away.
I’m breathless and slightly dizzy as he rests his forehead against mine, eyes closed as he fights for control. I trace my fingers along the rugged line of his jaw, marveling at the strength and vulnerability etched into every feature.
“This feels right,” I whisper, my voice trembling as my heart hammers in my chest. “Like it was meant to be.”
His eyes open, filled with emotions he usually keeps locked away. “You’re inescapable.” His voice is rough, raw, stripped bare.
I shake my head, cupping his face between my palms. “All I want is you, exactly as you are right now.”
He exhales heavily, his voice dropping lower, full of emotion, as he says, “I haven’t let anyone get close to me in a long time. I don’t know if I’m capable?—”
“You are,” I interrupt firmly, pressing a lingering kiss to the corner of his mouth, then another along his jaw, feeling him tremble beneath my lips.
His fingers grip my hips, pulling me closer, his breathing uneven as he fights his internal war. “If you need me to stop, just?—”
“I need this. I need you,” I whisper firmly, lifting my gaze to meet his.
Slowly, his resistance crumbles, replaced by a burning resolve that sends delicious heat racing over every nerve in my body. He reaches up, carefully threading his fingers through my hair, tilting my face toward his. “I want you, Harper. Completely. But only if you’re ready.”
“I’m more than ready,” I breathe out.
Brody kisses me again, deeper this time, hungrier, and every last wall between us falls away.
His strong hands slide beneath my thighs, lifting me effortlessly. The world spins around me as he lays me down on the plush rug. My pulse pounds so hard that I can feel it in my throat, racing with anticipation and nerves. I’ve imagined being with him just like this countless times, always believing it wasn’t possible. I was so fucking wrong.
But now he’s here, his weight pressed above me, blue eyes dark with desire and longing. My breath trembles as I reach up, tracing the line of his jaw, memorizing every rugged contour, every tattoo. The flickering firelight paints him gold, and I’m suddenly overcome by the reality of this moment.
I’m about to be with Brody Calloway, the man I’ve wanted since before I fully understood what that even meant. The boy I stared at as a teenager, sneaking glances at gatherings, my pulse racing every time he smiled or laughed or brushed past me. I tucked those feelings deep inside, carefully guarding secrets beneath casual smiles and lighthearted teasing.
But right now, with his gaze locked on to mine and heat radiating from his skin, I no longer have to hide. This dream is real.
Brody lowers his mouth, feathering gentle kisses along the hollow of my throat, trailing warmth that makes me shiver beneath him. My fingers tighten in his hair, holding him close, afraid if I let go even for a second, I’ll wake up. Afraid this perfect fantasy will slip through my fingers like water.
“Little Miss Disaster,” he whispers against my skin, as though he fears shattering me with the slightest pressure.
I burst into laughter as his words send warmth flooding through me, filling every lonely, uncertain place inside my chest. All those years spent imagining what it might be like to belong to him, to be seen by him—it’s nothing compared to this reality. Nothing prepared me for the intensity in his eyes or the tenderness in his touch.
“I’ve dreamed about this,” I admit, my heart fluttering nervously at my own vulnerability. “About you.”
His breath catches, eyes darkening with an emotion I’ve never seen before. He looks at me like I’m precious, like I’m something he never dared hope for either.
“You deserve better than dreams, Harper,” he mutters, pressing his lips to my collarbone with care. “You deserve it all.”
My eyes sting, emotion thick in my throat, but before I can reply, his hands glide beneath my bra, removing it, his touch igniting sparks that scatter like a kaleidoscope. The heat of his fingertips along my ribs sends shivers of longing cascading through me, awakening desires deeper and more powerful than I’ve ever experienced.
My breath quickens, anticipation merging into a dizzying rush. His eyes drift slowly down my body, filled with admiration. Under his gaze, my skin tingles, flushed and alive, because he makes me feel like treasure. Every brush of his fingertips feels like a promise—one I never imagined Brody could offer to me.
With gentle urgency, he eases my panties down my hips, his hands trembling slightly, betraying his careful control. I watch him closely, feeling empowered and desired beneath his gaze, suddenly realizing how deeply he’s affected too. This moment is just as significant for him as it is for me.
He moves lower, trailing kisses down my stomach. But as he goes further down, anxiety stirs in my chest. My pulse quickens, uncertainty gripping me.
“Wait,” I breathe, my voice shaking as his lips brush along my hip bone, teasing dangerously close. “No one’s ever … I’ve never had someone …”
He pauses immediately, lifting his gaze to mine, understanding softening his eyes as he senses my hesitation. His palm settles against my inner thigh, warm and reassuring, grounding me instantly. “Do you want me to stop?”