He smirked, reaching behind us. “Have you forgotten how many times we’ve done it in the last twenty-four hours?”
“Nope.” I smiled slyly, accepting the beer he offered me. In fact, Iwassore, but pleasantly so. “I suppose I could use the break. You’ve practically taken up residence in there.”
His lips kicked up in a grin so dazzling, it stole my breath. “Like you didn’t have a hand in things.”
“I was totally the innocent party,” I joked, knowing I was just as ravenous for it as he had been, if not more. His arm snaked around my waist, fingers splaying across my belly as he tugged me against him.
“That so?”
I sighed dramatically. “All right, fine. I played a small part, after all.”
He grunted, his lips still pulled up in a smile that made warmth burst in the center of my heart. He took a long swig of his beer with his gaze fixed on the horizon and his other hand still resting against my belly. Tingles of awareness flooded my body as his fingers curled momentarily before relaxing. I leaned against his chest and watched the rest of the sun disappear.
“Want to watch a movie?” Alaric asked, turning his face to grin at me.
Alaric
I’d never been the kind of person to believe in fate. Life was made up of choices. Every choice had a reaction, a consequence. A course of action to take.
When Cheryl told me she was pregnant, my course of action was to give that baby a stable home. I had never faltered there, although my decision to try and make things work with Cheryl had been a disservice to us both. I saw that more clearly than ever now. It led her on and created a hole in her heart. Not that I’d treated her cruelly; I was affectionate with her, and I’d been faithful, but it hadn’t been enough. I hadn’t been in love with her, and she’d known it.
That spark had been missing from the start with Cheryl, but it was there with Gwen. Infused into every moment spent, every gaze, every touch, every word spoken and every word left unsaid.
So, I supposed it wasn’t absurd that a single weekend with Gwen would solidify just how badly I needed her in my life. She was colour, and she was vibrant. I’d woken in the middle of the night, holding her soft, naked body against mine, and I’d felt overcome with possibility.
Placing the last of the pancakes on the tray, I slid it into the oven to keep it warm. Two mugs of coffee steamed on the countertop, and I picked them up as I passed, heading for the stairs to wake her.
Gwen’s leg was over the top of the white sheet, and she slept curled toward the space that I’d vacated forty-five minutes ago, her hand stretched out on my pillow.
I set the mugs on the end table, pausing by the bed to run my hand slowly up her bare leg, slipping beneath the sheet and along the curve of her round ass. She stirred at my touch, her back arching and toes stretching.
Gwen turned onto her back and sighed, her lids fluttering open, her gray eyes still hazy with sleep. “Morning.” She smiled, her sleep-laden voice making my cock stiffen with arousal.
“Good morning,” I said, voice thick with lust. She sat up, the blanket falling around her lap and her nipples hardening as she stretched, purposely teasing me. My willpower was called into question, and I fought the urge to climb into bed and slip inside her again.
She sniffed, a slow smile lifting the corner of her lips as she reached for her glasses on the nightstand. “Coffee in bed?” she said, picking up the mug gratefully. Taking a deep sip, she let out a soft moan, her lids fluttering shut.
I adjusted myself, my lounge pants doing nothing to hide how hard this woman made me. “I made pancakes and bacon, too.” Her eyes popped open, and I waggled my brows at her.
She bit back a grin, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ears. “Do you mind if I grab a shower first?”
“Be my guest.” I cleared my throat, my cock impossibly hard now. Gwen’s gaze dropped to my waistband, and she arched a delicate brow.
“Care to join me?” She leaned, setting the mug down on the nightstand, her eyes raking across my bare chest with appreciation. I flexed beneath her perusal, my nostrils flaring with arousal.
I bent over the mattress, my fingers tangling in her hair as I drew her close to me. My lips pressed against hers, and I kissed her deeply for a few tantalizing moments before drawing back.
“I already showered,” I admitted, running the pad of my thumb along her lips before straightening. I’d grabbed a quick one in the downstairs bathroom. My hair was still damp, pulled back into a bun. A man bun. I hated that term, but it came with the territory.
“All right, I’ll join you in ten minutes or so.”
“Take your time,” I told her. “It’ll be warm.”
I left, heading back downstairs to disperse some energy. I was wiping down the counter when my cell phone rang. Swiping it up, I froze when I saw Russell’s name on the display.
“Hello?” I said.
“Sorry to trouble you on the weekend, Alaric, but I’m calling to see if you’re interested in a little overtime. I need someone in the shop for five tomorrow.”
