Page 33 of Heartbeat Harmony (Hearts in Hawthorne #2)
“You’re going to enter me now,” she told him, their gazes locked. “I’ll help you find your way.”
He hovered over her, his hands on either side of her head, as she brought him to what she now thought of as home.
“Here. Push. You won’t hurt me. I promise.”
“Okay.”
Suddenly, he filled her with one thrust. Really filled her. In a way she’d never experienced before. It excited her. She moved against him, seeing his eyes widen.
“It’s almost like dancing,” she said. “We’ll find a rhythm together and go with it.”
They experimented a little, the heat and hunger building between them.
Then she forgot all about instructing him and simply went with the flow again, their bodies responding to one another, knowing what to do.
Her hands gripped his shoulders, his thrusts hard and demanding now, and she felt the climax about to happen just as he tensed.
They reached their release together, with Eli pumping enthusiastically into her, joy on his face.
When he finished, he collapsed atop her. She inhaled deeply, smelling clean man and the shower gel they’d used.
“I need to get off you,” he murmured into her ear.
“Just roll to your side,” she said. “Don’t leave me yet.”
He moved, bringing her with him. His roll caused him to turn onto his back, however, and Autumn found herself sprawled atop him.
Eli wrapped his arms about her, one hand softly stroking her lower back. “I could get used to this.”
“Me, too,” she said happily.
They lay together in contented silence, her ear next to his beating heart, their fingers entwined. She’d never cuddled like this. Flint had always gotten up the minute he was done, heading to the bathroom to take a quick shower, as if he wanted to wash all traces of Autumn away.
With his free hand, Eli began finger combing her damp hair absently. His touch was gentle. He was everything she had always dreamed of. Hoped for.
“I don’t think I deserve you,” he told her.
Her head snapped up. “Why would you say that?”
He sighed. “I think a part of me will always be that lonely foster kid. The one no one wanted. It’s like I wore some invisible sign, telling everyone how inadequate I was.”
A fierce wave of love for him washed over her. “You never have to think that again, Eli. You have me. You’ll always have me.”
His brows arched. “What are you saying?”
Autumn swallowed, knowing she couldn’t hold back. “I’m breaking every rule I’ve ever had for myself, but sometimes, rules have to be tossed out.” She smiled tenderly at him. “I love you, Eli Carson.”
His eyes widened. “You do? Oh, I’ve loved you and was afraid to tell you, Autumn. Afraid you would turn and run the other direction as fast as you could.”
“We’re both damaged souls,” she admitted.
“But we’ve found one another. We’ve been helping each other to heal, even as we fell in love.
I feel stronger and more confident than I ever have in my life, and it’s because of you, Eli.
You believe in me. That’s caused me to believe in myself.
Not just professionally. Personally, too.
I wasn’t sure if I could ever trust my gut again when it came to a man because it had led me so far astray with Flint.
But Flint is a distant memory. All I see is you. All I want is you.”
He cradled her cheek. “You have given me a purpose I never knew existed within me. I want to be the best doctor I can be. The best medical director I can be. The best man I can be. It’s all due to you, Autumn.
I want to continue growing and becoming a better man, and I want you by my side.
I feel I can achieve anything with you in my corner. ”
Eli kissed her tenderly. “Let’s take the next step. Move in with me.”
Could she even contemplate something like that? They hadn’t known one another for that long. And yet it was as if they had always known one another, even before time began.
“Yes,” Autumn said. “I want to take things to the next level.”
Suddenly, Atticus leaped onto the bed and began licking her and then Eli.
“I think he’s showing his approval,” Eli told her.
“Or else he’s hungry,” she teased.
The minute she said that, both their stomachs growled noisily, causing them to laugh.
“I think we’re going to laugh together a lot, Autumn,” Eli said. “And they say laughter is the best medicine.”
“Right now, food is what we need,” she replied. “Let’s throw on some clothes, and I’ll walk you through how to make spaghetti.”
He cocked his head. “Do we have to get dressed?”
“Nakedness and cooking do not go together,” she declared. “You better get dressed before I’m all over you again, devouring you and not the pasta.”
Eli climbed from the bed and reached out a hand, pulling her to her feet and into his arms. He kissed her first and then said, “Food first. Then dessert later.” He waggled his eyebrows, causing her to laugh.
“Well, I did buy some whipped cream,” she said flirtatiously. “It was meant for strawberry shortcake, but ...” Her voice trailed off.
The heat in his eyes took her by surprise. “I’ll empty the can on your body and lick every inch off you.”
Autumn roared with laughter. “The man’s had sex one time, and already he’s addicted. I feel a bit like Dr. Frankenstein. What creature have I created?”
Eli gazed at her longingly. “One which will never get enough of you.” He nuzzled her neck a moment and then released her. “Let’s go get dinner out of the way so I can concentrate on dessert.”