Page 31 of The One

“Do you want me to stop?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?—”

“Keep going.” She gripped my wrist a bit harder. “Please.”

I was using all the control I had to not just slide my way in, and I had to up my restraint even more during my next shift because I was nearing the halfway point and I could really feel her, especially without wearing a condom. I’d never realized how much that layer blocked, but since there wasn’t anything separating us, I felt everything.

And, fuck, it felt so good.

But I suspected the latest shift had felt even worse for her.

That killed me. I would do anything to hear her moaning again.

If I couldn’t get her body in a place of comfort—at least not yet—then I could attempt to take care of her heart and mind, so I said, “I love you.”

There was a change in her eyes. A hint of the smallest smile while she forced herself to breathe. “I love you.”

Even if it was tiny, I believed that made a difference.

So, I used that momentum to plow my way in a bit more. That was when her chest froze, her eyes squinted shut, her nails stabbed my skin.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

But she didn’t complain. She didn’t call this off. She didn’t even groan.

I attempted to distract her again and whispered, “I love you.”

Her eyes opened, her lips slowly parting. “I love you too.”

“Say it again, Lainey.”

She swallowed and dragged her bottom lip into her mouth, biting it while the tension in her legs increased, her knees shaking. “I love you too.”

Since she’d had such a strong reaction to my face between her legs, I set my thumb on her clit, giving it soft strokes. Within a few swipes, there was another change in her breathing.

It sounded deeper.

Less tense.

“Lainey …”

“Mmhmm.”

“I love you.” I did everything I could to shut off the sensations building inside me and concentrate on anything other than how amazing this felt. But the farther I went in, the more intense it got. My balls were aching for a release. “I fucking love you so much.”

“I love you.”

“I need you to keep breathing for me.”

She didn’t respond.

“Take a big breath right now.”

As I watched her lungs fill, I arched my hips and gave her the final push. “There. You have all of me.”

“Rhett …” Her eyes widened, hands clutching the blanket she was now holding.