He hesitates before his arms reach behind his head and his thumbs hook his shirt to pull it over. I fold my knees to my chest and hug them as he stands and removes his jeans. I scoot forward once he is naked, and he lowers himself in behind me, his thick, long legs cocooning me.
“How was it?” I ask quietly as he pulls me back against him.
Christian buries his face into my neck, peppering kisses down its curve and across my shoulder. One strong arm wraps entirely around my waist and he rests his forehead on my head. I sink into him, allowing both of us this quiet moment to be without anyone or anything else—just this.
My eyes close and my entire life narrows down to this—us.
“How come you didn’t tell me about the check?” he asks suddenly, his voice quiet and soft. Pained, almost.
“I was scared,” I whisper. “I didn’t know… When you first came back, I was scared that once she figured out you were with me again, she’d raise hell and I’d lose everything. I was a coward, Christian. I accepted the money and paid for my schooling. I bought my house, my car, and I built my business. I never thought you’d come back to me—I had hope, but I couldn’t trust that hope. So I made my life. As much as I hate her, I wouldn’t have anything without that money.”
“Didn’t mean she could treat you the way she did.”
“I know. But…a part of me is grateful for her giving me that check. I was so hurt, I accepted the money and gave myself everything I’d always wanted. It was a way to help me get over you. Obviously, nothing ever worked but…”
“I bought her out.”
“You did?”
I feel Christian nod and he presses a kiss to my shoulder. “I bought out her shares and gave her an extra two million to pay her back.”
“Christian,” I breathe, craning my neck to look at him over my shoulder.
“I want her gone, Lana,” Christian croaks. “I don’t want to see her or be around her. I don’t want to have to work and have her there. I’m done with it. I can’t do it. It isn’t healthy, it isn’t good for me?—”
“I know, baby,” I whisper, my hand reaching up to palm his cheek. “I know.”
“What she said to you isn’t right, Lana,” Christian says, his jaw tense and brows pinched.
“I know,” I breathe. “But that’s been my life, you know. There are people who look at me and immediately don’t like me. It happens, it’s reality. There are certain privileges I’ll never know, Christian, and… I’ve accepted it.”
“No,” he says. “Don’t accept it. I— It just?—”
“I know.” I put my hand over his around my ribs. “It makesme angry too, baby. But let’s try to fix the system another day. Just be with me right now.” I sit up and turn around, the water sloshing around us as I move to straddle his thighs. “Be with me.”
His hands wrap around my hips, his fingers burrowing deep enough to bruise their prints in my skin as reminders. Christian nods and kisses the corner of my lips.
“I love you,” he says. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”
“I know.”
I lower my lips to his, letting them skim across until I press softly. That is all it is at first until it turns into something deeper. My tongue doesn’t need to part his lips because the moment mine part, his do too—perfectly in tune.
Soon, I feel him hard against me with each grind of my hips and then he’s lifting us out of the tub. Giggling, he dries me off, and I giggle as I do the same to him. Then my limbs are around his body as he carries me to the ginormous bed.
“I missed you,” Christian breathes, lowering us onto bed.
I smile and my legs wrap around his waist. “You’re too attached.”
Christian nips at my collarbone, leaving a trail of wet kisses. “I love you,” he says. “I can’t go that long without holding you or touching you.”
His stubble tickles my neck and I chortle. “You’re so needy.”
“I need you,” Christian moans, rocking his hips into mine. “I’m going to make love to you, Lana,” he breathes, scattering kisses across my chest.
“Please,” I whimper, undulating my hips in search of relief.
“Then I’m going to hold you.” Christian kisses my pulseand lifts my leg high against his waist. He rocks his hips, his cock rubbing against my pussy and brushing over my clit, making me shudder. “And I’m going to kiss you.”
