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I wrapped my legs around his waist and dragged him toward me.

He jerked back and his entire body went rigid before he closed his eyes. “Wait.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t have any protection. I never thought this could happen between us. And you’re not on the pill. Shit.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “It’s all good, I’m covered.”

He tilted his head in question.

“I swear, you won’t knock me up.”

“You’re sure?”

Shep must be clueless about all the methods of female contraception available, and I wasn’t about to enlighten him right now. “Yes! Don’t stop!” I didn’t mean to snap at him, but there was only so much this girl could take.

He came back to me, his lips finding a new, less hurried pace against mine. Then he pushed inside me, inch by glorious inch, giving my body the chance to adjust to his size. My jaw dropped at the ecstasy consuming me. I kept my eyes open and held his gaze.

He stilled above me once he was all the way in. “You okay?” he asked.

Perhaps he mistook my silence for discomfort, but the reality was, I struggled to grasp how much Shep meant to me after such a short time. Those emotions were genuine and not misplaced. I couldn’t use the L-word, because it would be crazy to speak of so soon, wouldn’t it? Whatever this was, it was real, and it was precious, and I wanted it more than anything.

I smiled and told him the truth. “Never better.”

I’d been waiting my entire life for something as powerful as this, never believing I’d ever find it, and certainly not with a hitman. With my shitty family dramas and proven track record of terrible boyfriends, I’d given up hope of meeting someone like Shep.

If only I could keep him.

No, I wouldn’t dwell on that. Not when the man I hungered for was in bed with me and rocking my world.

I moved my hips to meet his, to draw him even nearer, and so he understood I was one hundred percent ready.

“Gonna move now, darlin’. You feel so fucking good I can’t hold back any longer.” He whispered the words against my lips before kissing them gently.

It was the last gentle thing he did.

Shep hitched one of my thighs higher and made good on his words. I tossed my head back on the pillow and gasped because, damn, that was curl-your-toes good.

His lids closed for a moment as though needing to compose himself, and when he opened them, there was enough intensity there to intimidate someone who didn’t know and trust him the way I did. His expression was one of a man trying to hold himself back, but desperate to give in to his desires. I wished he would, even if I had agreed to his earlier request to take things slow. Seeing Shep come undone above me was something I ached to witness.

“Fucking hell, Cam.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe how good this was.

Sex had never been this way for me before. I didn’t know it could be so… emotionally charged. Was it because we’d argued earlier, and this was makeup sex? I didn’t think so. This was more than fucking. It was meaningful, beautiful. And Shep had opened my eyes to how unbelievable it could be.

With each commanding stroke, a slow heat built inside me. I ran my hands over the expanse of Shep’s chest, marveling at how darn sexy he was with his flexing muscles, disheveled hair and a light sheen of sweat glistening on his skin. I decided I very much liked this wild, unkempt version of my well-ordered man. I liked it even more that I was responsible for transforming him into this incredible beast.

And yet I sensed he still held something back. That wouldn’t do. I had to have more. “I need you, Shep. All of you.Everything.”

His mouth met mine. “You have me. I’m yours.”

And then he gave in and let himself lose control. His movements became more frantic, his breathing rapid. Each of us clung to the other with firm hands, our bodies coming together in a way that made my belly tighten and my heartbeat skyrocket.

He was close now, as was I. His pace took on a new urgency, working me in just the right way. That was all I needed to tip me over the edge. Wave after blissful wave crashed through me as I tightened around him. Moments later, I watched in awe as he found his own release. He held himself above me, chest heaving and a reverent look in his eyes.

Sheer sublime perfection.

He collapsed over me, but took most of his weight on his elbows. I brushed aside the hair sticking to his brow and planted a firm kiss on his mouth. I was lucky to have Shep, for however long that may be.

My troubles hadn’t gone away, but I set them aside to enjoy this moment with the man I adored.