Page 28 of Forever After All (Pine Harbour #2)

Carter

All damn night, I watched Alice sleep. Listened to her dream, snore and mumble in her sleep.

Watched her hands and feet twitch as she jumped from dream to dream.

Watched as she laced her arm around my thigh, pulling it in and resting her head on it.

Watched as I cupped her head in my hand and stroked her hair.

I held her all night because I was worried that if I didn't, I'd eventually forget what it feels like.

Alice told me that she’s a mess, and I should have listened.

I should have taken the warning. Watching the look of unease on her face when I told her I love her said everything I needed to know.

She's not ready to be loved by me—or by anyone—and she might never be.

I should have stopped, but I'd give this woman anything she wanted to make her happy .

Which, apparently, includes mild degradation.

Not a kink I thought I had until last night.

Seeing the bruising on her skin and the distinct marks my fingers left on her scared me a little, but seeing the ecstasy on her face as I took her so relentlessly made me feel things I never have.

A woman giving herself to you so completely is a privilege I would never take for granted.

I stroke Alice's back as she sleeps next to me, her long legs tangled with my own. She looks so peaceful and so consumed by sleep. She stirs a little, and I pull the blanket up over her shoulders, not wanting to cover her deity like body, but wanting to keep her in sleep for as long as possible.

"Shh, it's still early, princess. Go back to sleep."

Friends with benefits fucking sucks. Zero out of ten. Do not fucking recommend. At all.