Wave after wave crashes through me. My body ripples around him, and he swells inside me, stretching me even more.
I choke out a sob as my body spasms, wringing out his pleasure with it.
The way he curses my name as he comes inside me, filling me with surge after surge of blazing heat, is a sound I’ll never forget. It imprints itself, burning into my memory as he thrusts hard.
He comes so deep inside me that the sensation of him burying himself, mixed with his guttural growl, makes my orgasm stretch on and on until I screw my eyes shut, unsure how much more I can handle.
“God!” I shriek.
“Hallie.”
His voice anchors me to him as my chest begins to shake uncontrollably. The warmth of his mouth meets my quivering throat, and I suck in trembling breaths. He slows down his movements until he’s still, nestled inside me, my body pulsing in aftershocks around him.
“I-I feel funny.”
Emotion bubbles in my chest. But I can’t control it. I feel happy and sad and vulnerable all at once.
Strong hands cradle my face, and I manage to open my eyes. His understanding gaze blurs as I realize my eyes are full of tears.
“S-Sterling.”
“It’s okay, Baby girl.” He thumbs away my rapidly falling tears. “You’re coming down, that’s all. Don’t be scared, I’ve got you.”
My breath splinters, and I sink into his arms, sobbing.
I cry, soaking up every reassuring sound he makes, every gentle way he touches me.
All bringing me back to myself with tenderness and care.
Bringing me back to him.
I stay like that, safe and protected in his arms, letting him take care of me until my tears stop and my heart rate slows.
He’s waiting for me when I’m fully present, his eyes latching on to mine as I lift my head from the crook of his neck and refocus on him.
He takes one of my hands and places it over his chest, over his scars.
“You’re okay, Hallie,” he breathes.
My heart feels like it could burst inside my chest. I lunge forward and crush my mouth to his in a desperate kiss.
“I love you.”
His breath leaves him in a rush like he’s waited his whole life to hear someone say that and really mean it.
He takes my face between his palms and holds it still.
“I love you too, Hallie. I love you in a way I never thought I’d ever be able to say. In a way I gave up believing in. You’ve brought magic into my life when I started to think it didn’t exist.”
I sob and press my lips to his again, losing myself in him, soaking up every spark of magic as they fire through my body.
And they keep firing over and over as he kisses me, holding me in his arms, taking care of me.
And I let him.
For the first time in my life, I hand over all responsibility to someone else.
This time, I’m not scared.
