Page 27

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER

He drops down beside me, one arm over my shoulders, his legs sprawling out to brush against mine. I can feel the tension in his body, the way it refuses to fully relax even with paradise outside and the whole week stretched ahead of us. My husband is the most laid-back control freak to ever live.

"We should give Dillon and Jules a call, just to check in," he says, fishing his phone out of his pocket with practiced ease. When he first floated the idea of taking a trip for our fifteenth anniversary, I was skeptical; finding someone willing to watch over our five rambunctious children seemed like an insurmountable task. But, as it turns out, my husband had already orchestrated the perfect plan. He had enlisted the help of his friend, Sheriff Dillon Armstrong, and his wife, Jules, to take over babysitting duties for us. I have no idea what form of bribery Gray used, but it worked.

“You literally checked three times between baggage claim and here. If Dillon can keep all the residents of Silver Spoon Falls in line, he can handle our kids.” I pluck the phone from his hand and toss it onto a pile of clean white towels. “Besides, you heard Emilia. She’s already planning a coup. If anything, we should warn Dillon about our daughter.”

He groans, “Fifteen years, Carls. I thought by now she’d stop trying to unseat me as head of household.”

“She’s my girl,” I laugh. “Determination is her middle name.”

“Boy, do I know that.” My husband smiles and wraps his arms around me. “What do we do now?” I ask as I lean back against his warm body.

He leans in so close I can smell the aftershave on his skin. “I have some ideas,” he rumbles, and I forget all about the stunning Hawaiian resort we’re staying at.

His soft, demanding lips graze the tender spot just below my ear, and I fucking melt. His kiss is a freaking declaration of war on my self-control. His hot breath scorches my skin, and I can feel the faintest scrape of his stubble as he nuzzles deeper, his tongue flicking out to tease the sensitive flesh. My knees buckle, but his arm snakes around my waist, pulling me flush against him, and I can feel every inch of his hard, fucking throbbing cock pressing into my hip.

“You like that, don’t you?” he growls, his voice low and rough. His teeth nip at the spot, and I gasp, my nails digging into his shoulders as a shiver races down my spine. His mouth trails down my neck, leaving a wet, burning path that causes my mind to shut down. His hand slides up my side, skimming the curve of my breast before he palms it roughly, his thumb brushing over my nipple through the thin fabric of my shirt and bra. I moan, arching into his touch, and he chuckles darkly, the sound vibrating against my skin.

“Fuck, you’re so goddamn perfect,” he mutters, his lips moving back to that spot under my ear. He closes his lips over the pulse pounding at the base of my throat and sucks hard. I know he’s marking me, claiming me, and the thought sends a jolt of heat straight to my core. My panties are soaked, and I can feel the slickness between my thighs as he pulls me over to straddle his lap. He grinds up against me, his cock straining against the fabric of his jeans.

“Tell me what you want,” he demands, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. But my mushy brain can’t find the words. His hand slips under my shirt, fingers skimming over my stomach before sliding up to cup my breast again. His thumb circles my nipple, teasing it into a hard peak, and I whimper, my hips rocking against his instinctively.

“That’s it,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my ear. “Let me hear you.” His other hand slides down to grip my ass, pulling me even closer, and I can feel the heat of him through our clothes, the way his cock twitches against me. He’s fucking relentless, his mouth and hands everywhere at once, and I’m drowning in the sensations as sheer need builds deep inside me.

“Please,” I finally manage to gasp, and he smirks against my skin, his teeth grazing my neck again.

"Please what?" he taunts, slipping his fingers under the waistband of my pants to tease the edge of my panties. "Use your words, baby."

I’m fucking gone. Completely, utterly lost in the way Gray’s hands are all over me, his fingers digging into my hips like he’s trying to brand me, claim me, make sure I never forget who owns me.

His touch is electric, sending shockwaves through my body that make my clit throb and my pussy ache for him. I’m so wet, so ready, I can feel my juices soaking through my panties, and I know he can sense how crazy he’s making me.

“Take it off,” he growls, his low, rough voice scraping against my skin like gravel. He’s not asking. He’s demanding. And I’m too far gone to do anything but obey.

My hands tremble as I reach for the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head and tossing it aside. His eyes rake over my tits, my nipples hard and begging for his mouth, and I can see the hunger in his gaze.

“All of it,” he says, his voice a command that sends a shiver down my spine. I reach behind me, unhooking my bra and letting it fall to the floor. My tits bounce free, and I can see the way his cock twitches in his pants, straining against the fabric, desperate to be inside me. I tear down my pants and panties and kick them aside.

“Your turn,” I whisper, my voice trembling with need. He doesn’t hesitate. He strips off his shirt, revealing his freaking perfect body. His abs flex as he unbuckles his belt, making my pussy clench in anticipation. He pushes his pants down, and his cock springs free, thick and hard. I can’t help but imagine how it’ll feel stretching me open, filling me up.

“Get on top of me,” he says, his voice rough with need. I climb onto the bed, straddling him. My thighs tremble as I position myself over him. His hands grip my hips, guiding me down, and I can feel the head of his cock pressing against my wet entrance, teasing me, making me whimper with need.

“Ride me,” he growls, and I don’t need to be told twice. I sink down onto him, taking him inch by inch, until he’s buried deep inside me, filling me up in the best freaking way possible. I moan, my head falling back as I start to move, rocking my hips against him, feeling him hit that sweet spot inside me with every thrust. His hands grip my ass, squeezing hard as he helps me move, guiding me, controlling the pace.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” he groans, his voice strained with pleasure. I circle my hips, feeling his cock throb deep inside me, and I know he’s close, but I’m not ready to let him finish yet. I want to make this last. Leaning forward, I press my tits against his chest, and I can feel his heartbeat racing against mine. His hands move up my back, pulling me closer. His hot breath brushes against my neck as he whispers filthy things in my ear.

“You’re so fucking tight,” he growls, his voice rough with need. “And all goddamn mine.” His words send a shiver down my spine and cause my pussy to clench around his cock. I start to move faster, riding him harder, feeling his cock hitting the spot inside me that makes me see stars. My throbbing clit begs for attention, and I reach down, rubbing it in tight little circles as I ride him.

“That’s it,” he groans, his hands gripping my hips tighter as he thrusts up into me, meeting me stroke for stroke. “Fuck yourself on my cock.” His dirty words are like a drug, and I can’t get enough of them. I’m so close I can feel the tension building inside me, coiling tighter and tighter until I can’t take it anymore.

“I’m so close,” I moan, my voice trembling with need. He thrusts up into me harder, faster, and his cock pulses inside me as he gets closer and closer to the edge.

“Come for me,” he growls, his voice rough with need. “Let me feel that tight little pussy squeeze my cock.” His words push me over the edge, and I come hard, my pussy clenching around him as waves of pleasure crash over me.

He groans my name while his cock throbs deep inside me as he comes, filling me up with his hot cum.

I collapse against him, my body trembling with the aftershocks of my orgasm. His arms wrap around me and he holds me close as we both attempt to catch our breaths. His heart races against mine, reminding me how perfect we really are.

A while later, we drag ourselves from the bed and take a shower together, which leads to us getting dirty all over again.

The steamy water cascades down my body, the heat of it making my skin flush as I lean back against the cool tile of the shower wall. Gray’s hands are on me before I can even catch my breath, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of my hips as he drops to his knees in front of me. The water soaks his hair, plastering it to his forehead, but he doesn’t seem to care. His eyes are locked on me, dark and hungry, and I can feel the heat of his gaze like a physical touch.

“Spread for me, Tigress,” he growls, his voice low and rough, and I don’t even consider disobeying. My legs part instinctively, and his hands slide down my thighs, parting them wider until I’m completely open to him. The water runs down my body, pooling between my legs, and I can feel the slickness of my own arousal mixing with the heat of the shower.

Gray’s mouth is on me before I can even process what’s happening. His tongue slides through my folds with a hunger that makes me gasp and hold on to the cool marble wall for balance. He doesn’t waste time teasing, doesn’t bother with gentle licks or soft kisses.

He devours me like a starved man. His tongue flicks into me with a fast rhythm that causes my knees to tremble. The rough scrape of his stubble against my inner thighs sends shivers up my spine.

“Please, Gray,” I moan, my hands tangling in his wet hair as he devours me. His relentless tongue lashes over my clit with a hunger that has me seeing stars. The pressure builds inside me as the coil of pleasure tightens with every stroke of his tongue. After all these years, he knows exactly how to make me come undone, and he’s not holding back.

His hands dig into my ass, pulling me closer to his warm breath, and my eyes cross as the heat of his breath brushes against my pussy. When he sucks my clit into his mouth, the sensation is almost too much. The intense pleasure has me gasping for air. My hips grind against his face, desperate for more, and he gives it to me.

He growls my name and the vibration sends a jolt of electricity straight to my core.

“That’s it,” he murmurs, his voice muffled against my pussy. “Fuck my face. Let me taste you.”

I’m helpless to do anything but obey, my body moving on its own as I buck against his mouth. His tongue is everywhere, licking and sucking and fucking me until I’m on the edge of coming apart. Tension builds inside me as the pressure coils tighter and tighter until I know I’m going to explode.

“Gray—” I start to say, but he rubs his thumb over my clit, sending me over the edge. My orgasm crashes over me like a wave. My body convulses as I come hard against his mouth. He doesn’t let up. His tongue works me through it until I’m trembling and gasping for air.

When he finally pulls away, I’m a mess, my legs shaking so badly that I have to lean against the wall for support. Gray looks up at me, his lips swollen and glistening with my arousal, and the look in his eyes is enough to make me want him all over again.

“You taste so fucking good,” he says, his voice rough with desire. “I could eat you out all day.”

I can’t even form a coherent response with my mind still reeling from the intensity of my orgasm. All I can do is nod weakly as he stands up and pins me to the wall. The water is still running, hot and steamy, but it’s nothing compared to the heat between us.

Gray’s hands are on me again, sliding over my wet skin as he kisses me deeply. I taste myself on his tongue and the mix of our flavors makes me moan into his mouth. His hard cock brushes against my stomach.

“I’m not done with you yet,” he growls, his voice low and dangerous. “Not even close.”

And I know he's right. This is just the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. Over the next week, we barely manage to leave our cozy hotel room, venturing out only for a couple of exquisite meals at fancy restaurants. The ocean breezes and tropical sunsets are merely a backdrop to our secluded bliss.

Eventually, we return home, and life resumes its usual rhythm, until I notice a change. Every morning, I find myself rushing to the bathroom, unable to keep my breakfast down. It seems we brought back a special souvenir from our anniversary trip to Hawaii—a little bundle of joy on the way.

News of the upcoming addition spreads quickly, filling our home with excitement and congratulations from family and friends. Everyone is thrilled, except for our oldest, Emilia.

Emilia, overwhelmed by teenage angst, feels humiliated at the idea of having a sibling who is sixteen years younger than her. She worries about how her friends might react until she finally holds her baby brother and realizes he's actually the coolest thing.