His hands tighten on my hips. He plants his feet on the bed and thrusts up, matching my rhythm. The position drives him deeper, hits something inside me that makes me cry out.
"There," I gasp. "Right there."
He does it again. And again. Finding that spot and hitting it with precision until I'm shaking, barely holding myself up.
"I can't—" I start.
"Yes, you can. Let go. I've got you."
When I come, it's different than before—deeper, more intense, lasting longer. My whole body clenches around him, pleasure rolling through me in waves that leave me gasping his name.
Zane flips us mid-climax—careful but urgent—pins my wrists above my head and drives into me with the controlled desperation of someone who's been holding back. His forehead pressed to mine, breath hot against my mouth.
"I love you," he grits out. "Love you so fucking much."
"Show me," I whisper. "Come inside me. Show me I'm still yours."
Three more deep thrusts and he's there—face buried in my neck, my name a prayer on his lips, body shaking as he empties himself inside me.
After, we lie tangled together in the quiet dark. Santiago's baby monitor sits on the nightstand, his small breathing sounds a steady rhythm. The Phoenix night is cooling through the open window. Our bodies are slick with sweat and satisfaction and the evidence of reconnection.
"That was—" I start.
"Awkward but perfect?"
"I was going to say emotional but yeah, also awkward." I laugh softly. "We'll get better with practice."
"Planning on a lot of practice?"
"If Izzy keeps offering to babysit? Absolutely."
He's quiet for a moment, hand tracing lazy patterns on my back. Then: "Marry me."
I go completely still. "What?"
"Not right now. Not tomorrow. But soon. Marry me, Lena. Make this official. Make it forever."
"You're proposing? Right now? Naked in bed after slightly awkward reconnection sex?"
"Is this a bad time?"
"It's possibly the worst proposal timing in history."
"So that's a no?"
I turn to look at him in the darkness. His face is serious, vulnerable, hopeful. "That's a 'ask me again when you have an actual plan and we're wearing clothes, and I can think clearly.'"
"But not a no."
"Definitely not a no."
"Good." He kisses me, soft and sweet. "Because I'm going to ask you properly. Soon. With planning and everything. Just wanted you to know it's coming."
"You're giving me advance warning of your proposal?"
"Strategic advantage. Now you can't say you weren't prepared."
"That's not how romance works."
