He tore his lips from mine, thrusting into me again.

“Oh my god,” I moaned. The peak went on and on, seemingly endless, as I pulled him tighter against me until it finally receded.

“Fuck,” he groaned, increasing his pace. “You’re so fucking hot.”

He dragged his other hand from my hip to grab my ass, pulling me against him roughly and pumping into me harder. Then he slammed into me one last time with a growl, muscles straining.

Chase stilled, dropping his head to my shoulder, his heart pounding in his chest against mine.

Drawing in a shaky breath, he lifted his head to look at me with a tired grin.

“You’re amazing. And so sexy when you’re moaning beneath me.”

Still recovering, I gave him a tiny smile. I was so high I might not ever come down.

He leaned in, kissing me softly before he pulled out of me. Then he stood and turned away, throwing the condom in the trash. I waited as he pulled back the covers and climbed in beside me, hauling me closer in his arms.

We snuggled as he ran a hand through my hair over and over again until my body was so relaxed that my muscles felt like Jell-O. I nestled against his chest, lost in a warm, fuzzy trance. Like I’d expected, taking this step had shifted things between us. A new kind of intimacy had formed, like being truly seen for the first time.

And my heart was full in a way it had never been.

He traced a fingertip along the logo of the T-shirt I was wearing. “See? Told you my shirts look better on you.”

“I’m partial to this one myself.”

“That’s my favorite on you too.” He sighed, falling quiet for a beat. “It’s weird.”

“What’s weird?” I asked, glancing up at him.

He rested his cheek against the top of my head. “I didn’t know what I was missing until I found it.”

My breath caught. I almost wanted to cry at the way the words made my chest go tight. It was like an overwhelming rush of affection mixed with an emotion I couldn’t identify. Maybe it was vulnerability.

“You’re pretty sweet when you want to be,” I told him.

“I mean it, though.” He ran his fingers down my arm, to the ends of my fingers, and back again.

“I’m glad I have you too.”

“That’s good, because I’m all in on this. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I can be pretty stubborn.”

We lay still for another moment, tired and contented. Then his stomach growled insistently, breaking the silence.

He flashed me a sheepish grin. “I’m starving. Didn’t eat after the game, then I worked up an appetite with you. What are you in the mood for?”