Page 110 of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

He swallowed. She watched his throat work, listened to his jagged breath. A muscle ticked in his jaw. She’d never seen him so still, so quiet, like he was pulling himself together before he spoke, before he moved.

Hazel waited, not embarrassed about her request, knowing Noah would take it and keep her safe. She didn’t want him to be gentle with her right now, she didn’t want sweet. She wanted Noah to anchor her in this moment. She wanted this time to feel as raw as she felt right now, like all her emotions were on the outside of her body, exposed nerves that didn’t need gentle touches.

These past four months had been the most incredible foreplay, but now she needed Noah to press her into this mattress and make her believe him. This was real. She was his. He was hers. She needed him to convince her once and for all.

And she only hoped he understood as she held his gaze, love and want and still that little bit of fear that this would all go away, lodged in her throat.

‘You need to tell me to stop. Okay? If you need me to stop, tell me.’ His voice was rough, waves over the rocks.

Hazel nodded.

‘Words, Hazel.’

‘Okay. I’ll tell you. I promise.’

He was already unbuttoning his pants, sliding them over his hips.

‘Pants,’ he said, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. Hazel quickly followed his order, shucking her pants as she watched Noah’s boxers follow the path of his jeans. She pulled down her underwear, a plain white pair, as Noah watched, a hungry stare on his face.

This man wanted her.

A thrill she hoped never went away raced through her at the thought.

‘Roll over,’ he rasped.

She did as she was told, savoring the sound of Noah’s soft groan as she did. He ran a hand down her hip. He gave her a little squeeze.

‘Okay?’

‘Yes.’

She heard the tear of the condom wrapper, waited as he rolled it on, and then his hands were on her hips, angling her up for him.

She’d never felt so exposed, so vulnerable.

She’d never trusted another human so completely.

Noah’s hand came between her legs, opening her even more. He teased her a little where she was already so wet and aching.

‘Noah, please.’ She couldn’t take any more, her legs had already started to tremble.

His hand was gone, back on her hip, and he slid into her in one smooth thrust.

The angle was so ... deep.

Hazel’s breath caught. Her heart caught. Her brain caught.

And then Noah was everywhere. His arms around her, his legs surrounding hers, and his body so deep within hers she couldn’t breathe.

‘You okay?’ he whispered, his lips on her shoulder, his words in her ear.

‘Yes,’ she gasped. ‘More.’

‘Hazel.’ His voice sounded as wrecked as she felt.

‘More.’

He twined his fingers with hers, their hands pressed into the mattress. The other hand was back on her hip, holding her steady as he pulled out part way and thrust back in. Hazel’s forehead was pressed into a pillow and Noah’s breath was hot on her neck.