As I wrapped my legs around Roane’s hips and he pushed inside me, that’s what we did. We stoked the fire with every stroke, every gasp, until I was mindless with how this felt. The entire time he held me in his gaze, keeping us connected. A man had never looked so deep into my eyes during sex, and it was intense.

It was lovemaking.

For the first time in my life, that burning desire exploded inside me at the same time as his. I’d never come at the same time as a partner before, and as Roane buried his head in my throat, groaning and shuddering through his release, and as I shook against him with mine, I realized nothing had ever compared.

He’d ruined me.

Eighteen

There was no breeze coming in through the wood-framed windows Roane had pushed up to allow fresh air in. Yet it gave the illusion of cooling us as we lay sprawled atop his bed, naked, sunlight gleaming off our sweat-slicked skin.

The crisp hairs on his calves tickled me as he curled his left leg around my right. Our heads were turned toward each other on the pillows—we gazed into each other’s eyes while we held hands. Our fingers locked and unlocked as our hands flexed against each other until I smoothed out his palm with mine and began to trace the calluses that had created hard curves at the base of his fingers.

This was thrill and contentment entwined as one, and it made me so hopeful I could almost cry from the sweet ache of it.

“I don’t even care it’s like an oven in here,” I whispered, “I could stay here forever.” It was true. I’d never felt so comfortable being completely naked with a man, but Roane made me feel that way. He made me feel like he truly adored every inch of me.

“Me too.” He sighed. “Although I suppose I should really nip downstairs to check on Shadow and grab us each a glass of water.”

My grip on him tightened even though I knew he should check on Shadow. Roane smiled at my reflexive move, and as he sat up, he brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “I’ll be quick.”

After we’d made love, Roane was ready to go again impressively quickly. The man had the stamina of a twenty-year-old. Not that I was complaining. Especially when he kept his promise and took me less than tenderly the second time. It had been rough, hard, and he talked dirty.

I shivered at the memory as Roane got off the bed and strode out of the room.

God, I had to write an ode to that man’s muscular ass.