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MICHAEL

Our lips hovered so close, the warmth of Mia’s breath teased my skin. The air between us immediately became charged with that familiar, palpable tension. My entire body hummed with the anticipation of getting closer to her. I only ever felt this phenomenon with her. I’d been trying to wrap my head around it, trying to figure out why I felt the things I did with Mia, but I stopped overthinking it and embraced it.

I slid a finger across her lush bottom lip. “Are we going to do this, Mia? Be together ? ”

Her lips parted slightly as she inhaled deeply. Our gazes were locked, so I could see the desire in her eyes before she whispered, “Yes.”

Satisfaction and a wave of relief surged through me. I felt free in a way, not having to “play it cool” and hide what I wanted with her. I captured her lips. Everything else disappeared, leaving me to focus on the taste of her and the way her body pressed against mine. I broke away so we could catch our breaths. “Now that you’re not avoiding me, we have a lot to make up for.” Being deprived of her for days was sheer torture.

Her little giggle made me smile. Her hands moved up my shoulders to tangle in my hair, and she pulled me down for another kiss. Her tongue swept against mine and every muscle in my body tightened with need. I wanted to devour her and then start all over again.

“I’ll start making it up to you right now,” she murmured against my lips.

“How?” My palms slid over her ass. I wanted to rip the damn dress off her and claim her as mine, officially .

She disentangled herself from me, and I frowned. However, my disappointment didn’t last long. Her hands trailed down my torso to unbuckle my belt and undo my zipper. My breath caught in my throat as she sank to her knees. A low groan escaped me when she freed my erection. All the while, her eyes stayed locked with mine.

Mia had gotten bolder with each of our sexual encounters. While I liked the sweet innocence she exuded, I loved it when she took what she wanted like this. I gritted my teeth to keep myself in check as she slowly stroked my cock, teasing me like only she could. My breath escaped in a hiss as she took me into her mouth.

Her lips and tongue were like magic, transporting me to a world of pure pleasure. I gazed down at her, feeling that familiar surge of possessiveness that I had only ever experienced with her. She was beautiful... A goddess. This image of her on her knees with my cock in her mouth would forever be in my mind. She used her hand to stroke the parts her mouth couldn’t reach. My hands fisted in her hair as I tried to hold on to my control, but it was no use. Her sweet mouth wreaked too much havoc.

My hips moved involuntarily to meet her mouth, and that domineering part of me that I usually tried to keep in check surfaced. “Take me deeper, Mia,” I ordered.

She looked up at me with those gorgeous, lustful eyes and obeyed, taking me deeper into her mouth as much as she could. Grazing my fingers tenderly over her cheek, I whispered, “Good girl.”

Her eyes darkened with excitement, her nostrils flared, and she clutched my thighs tighter and moved faster. I loved that she got turned on by a little dominance. The way she obeyed and wanted to please me was intensely satisfying. I could tell her reactions were genuine, not forced because she had something to gain from me. I’d experience too much of that with other women. Being with Mia was refreshing... and I needed to be inside her right the fuck now.

I smirked at her groaned protest when I pulled away from her. As gently as I could in my aroused haze, I yanked her to her feet and spun her around. “Bend over,” I said roughly.

She didn’t seem to mind the mild aggression. Her breathing quickened as she obeyed, planting her hands on the window. With jerky movements, I lifted her dress and grabbed her hips to pull her back against me. I entered her with one swift, deep thrust, and we moaned in unison. I moved, slowly at first to give her time to adjust until she pushed back, demanding more.

I picked up the pace, fueled by that primal need to claim and possess, which I was sure most men felt at some point. She matched my frantic movements and kept whimpering my name in that tone that was like music to my ears.

“Michael…” The urgent, pleading note in her voice urged me on.

I leaned over her, my mouth hovering near her ear. “Yes, Mia?”

She let out another whimper in response.

“Do you want to come?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

I slid my hand up her body to wrap my fingers around her delicate neck as I pounded into her. My hold was gentle but firm enough to get her excited, because I’d discovered that my woman liked it a little rough. “I’ll give you anything you want, baby.” Those words were true. She’d had me wrapped around her finger since our first date, but I wasn’t willing to admit it before now.

My grip on her neck tightened just a bit, and her walls clenched around me. I wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. She was driving me wild, but there was no way I’d leave her behind. My fingers slid between her thighs to work on her clit. With a few more hard thrusts, she shattered. Mia coming undone in my arms was something I’d never tire of.

Her walls pulsating around me triggered my orgasm. Once again, I’d lost my head and I spilled myself inside her. The moment I did, that sliver of panic I couldn’t help feeling slithered in. Recklessly losing myself in the moment was how I’d become a single parent. When my lips left her so we could catch our breaths, something else hit when the mild panic disappeared. It occurred to me that I wouldn’t mind another child with her . For six years I told myself that one was enough, but now…

Shit . I didn’t just want to explore a serious relationship with Mia… I was in love with her. I’d wondered if I was a few times, but the certainty of it hit me hard just now. I gazed down at her, reeling from my emotions. I couldn’t say how I felt out loud yet. That deep-rooted skeptical and fearful part of me demanded that I wait to see how things between us progressed.

Her eyes fluttered open to meet mine. I almost drowned in the golden pools that were cloudy with satisfaction. She looked a little dazed and wore a little smile. My lips lifted in a smile to match hers. I liked seeing her in her just-fucked-and-blissful state. I lifted my hand to caress her cheek.

“That was a little more frantic than I intended,” I whispered.

“I’m not complaining.”

I leaned in to press my lips to her temple, and she sighed softly. Pulling out of her, I frowned at the sight of her crumpled dress. “Looks like I’ll have to get you another dress. You looked fantastic in this one today. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”

She grinned, and her cheeks glowed pink. “Thanks. I’ve been wanting to hear you say that.”

I’d been wanting all day to tell her. It felt good not having to hold back. Taking her hand, I led her to the bedroom where I’d take my time indulging in her.

Hours later, we lounged in bed, still wrapped up in each other. Mia’s head rested on my chest and she traced little circles on my arms. Her soft, innocent touch was comforting. I lazily ran my fingers through her hair as I stared out the window. After a few energetic and steamy moments, I thought we’d both be asleep.

Strangely, I wasn’t tired. This new chapter between us had me brimming with a kind of anticipation I hadn’t felt in a long time. I was in a relationship—a serious, romantic one. I still felt a sliver of surprise when I thought about it, but in a good way. If I could lower my emotional barriers and leave myself open like this, maybe I wasn’t as flawed as I’d always thought. It was something I’d kept to myself, but a part of me alway feared that I was incapable of love—the romantic kind of love, specifically.

Mia’s fingers paused and she shifted to look up at me. “You look so lost in thought. What are you thinking?”

I’d opened up to her plenty, but I was a little embarrassed to admit what I was really thinking. “The summer,” I said, to change my own train of thought.

Her eyebrows elevated. “What about it?”

“I have a lot of traveling to do for business. I’ll be away for a while.”

“So it will be just Poppy and me for a while?”

“Actually, for the past few years, she spends the beginning of the summer with Aunt Neddy and my parents.” Which was why I started arranging the majority of my travel for that time of year.

Disappointment flickered in Mia’s eyes, but it disappeared fast. “I’ll miss the two of you.”

I gazed down at her, considering the wistful note in her voice. We just established that we’d give the idea of us together a real chance, only for us to be apart for weeks. It reminded me of one of the reasons for staying away from relationships. I didn't want to ruin this between us before it properly started because of work.

“Come with me,” I said.

Mia blinked. “You mean…?”

“I’ll have business to take care of but not every day. We could have some fun…” The word fun sounded strange coming from my lips. It wasn’t something I used to think about.

Mia’s face lit up. “Michael, are you asking me to jet-set around the world with you?”

“Yes. Only if you want to. It’s okay if you have other plans.”

“I don’t. I’d love to go with you. Spending time together sounds wonderful.”

She smiled at me and I returned it. In my mind, I was already working out how to balance work and give her a romantic getaway.

I glanced at Mia as we walked into the bar. That familiar sense of comfort that always came with this place washed over me. It was filled with memories of fun times with my college buddies, who turned out to be lifelong friends.

I surveyed the place just as she did. The guys and I always came here whenever we met up in Boston, but tonight was different. This time it wouldn’t be just us guys because our circle had gotten a little bigger.

My attention shifted back to Mia. She was nervous—I could feel it in the way her hand gripped mine and her eyes darted around the room. This was the first time we were making our relationship public.

When I spotted the gang at a table at the back, I said, “Come on. Everyone is already here.”

I could practically feel the reluctance in her steps, and I squeezed her hand gently. “Relax. I’ve got you.”

She blew out a breath, smiled, and nodded. I pulled her closer and rested my hand possessively on her lower back as we approached the table where Jamie, Charlotte, Spencer and Lincoln sat. When we reached the table, all eyes flicked between me and Mia with curiosity.

Jamie broke the silence. “Hey, Mike. Mia, great to see you again.”

“Hi, Mia!” Charlotte beamed. Her shit-eating grin said she approved of my plus-one.

Lincoln wore a look similar to Charlotte’s. Of course, he knew all along that Mia and I were sleeping together.

I ignored his knowing smirk and pulled out a chair for Mia.

“Hi, guys,” she said as she sat. I could hear the anxiety ringing in her voice.

Spencer, who sat across the table, said, “It's good to see you, Mia. You look lovely.”

The sharp look I gave him could have cut glass, and he grinned in response. I’d apologized for my behavior at the reception, and we’d talked things out, so we were good.

“Mia,” Lincoln smiled at her. “How have you enjoyed your trip to Boston?”

“It’s been great.” She looked around the table. “Thanks for inviting me tonight.”

“Of course.” Charlotte beamed. “Any friend of Michael’s is a friend of ours.”

“Actually, Mia and I are more than friends,” I announced. “We’re… together.”

There were hums of approval. Mia who had tensed—I felt it because she was so close—relaxed as conversation started. It was like she thought they’d disapprove, which was crazy. If only she could see how amazing and absolutely lovable she was.

“I’m going to order another round,” Jamie said, getting up. “Michael, Mia, what are you guys having?”

Mia glanced at the beer bottles sitting on the table. “I’ll have what you guys are having.”

“Nice,” Lincoln said. “She’s a keeper, Mike.”

That made Mia blush profusely.

“And here I thought you were a fruity cocktail kind of girl,” Spencer teased.

Mia snorted. “Go hard or go home, am I right?”

Lincoln and Spencer gazed at her with wide grins.

“You’re going to fit right in,” Jamie said. Before he left for the bar, he added, “And Alex is going to love you.”

The vibrant, funny, confident woman I’d met on a blind date, the one who had captured and held my attention long after we parted ways, was back. Mia spent the next thirty minutes charming the hell out of my friends as she had me. When Mia and Charlotte went to the ladies room, which I was sure was code for let’s get away from the boys for some girl chat, the guys stared at me with silly smirks.

“What?” I growled. “It’s impolite to stare.”

“And the grumpster is back.” Spencer laughed. “It seems only Mia has a gift for calming the beast. You’re all smiles and googly eyes when she’s around.”

Lincoln laughed. “The googly eyes are very accurate.”

I gave him a seething look.

Jamie watched me with a smirk. “You haven’t dated seriously in… ever , Mike. This is a surprise.”

“Yeah… Mia is…” I took a gulp of my beer. “She’s something special.”

The guys exchanged smiles. Me being in a relationship was huge because I’d always been the most skeptical of the group, and I’d fallen pretty hard and fast.