But he wasn’t done.
I was still trembling from the aftershocks when he yanked his underwear and stroked his cock once, positioned himself with my entrance and finally entered me. Slow and deep, filling me completely. We both groaned at the sensation.
“I missed this,” he breathed. “Being inside you, feeling you around me.”
“Me too.”
We moved together. Unhurried, savoring. He kept biting me, my shoulder, my neck, my earlobe, and each little sting of pain was followed by pleasure so intense I could barely think.
“I love you,” he said, thrusting deep.
“I love you too.”
“Say it again.”
“I love you.” I pulled his face to mine, kissed him. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
He came with my name on his lips. I followed seconds later, crying out against his shoulder, the second orgasm even more intense than the first.
We stayed tangled together afterward, breathing hard, neither wanting to move.
“Better?” he asked eventually.
“So much better.” I traced patterns on his chest. “I’m sorry I made you sleep on the floor.”
“I would have slept on the floor forever if that’s what you needed.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous for you.”
I fell asleep in his arms. For the first time in days, I felt myself again.
***
Morning came too quickly.
I woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and a very warm body pressed against my back. Caelan’s arm was draped over my waist, his breath warm against my neck, and for a long moment I just lay there, savoring it.
Everything still felt fragile, uncertain. But at least we were facing it together. And at least I wasn’t facing it from opposite sides of a floor-bed barrier like some kind of Victorian couple.
We got up eventually, got dressed, made ourselves presentable. The apartment had a small kitchen stocked with basics, and Caelan insisted on making coffee while I sat at the counter and watched him move.
“We should get back,” I said. “To Lysmont. See if Thessa has found anything.”
“Agreed.” He set a mug in front of me. “But first, we thank our hosts.”
We walked back to Woods & Pages. The morning was crisp and clear, the small town charming in the daylight. I found myself imagining a different life, one where I grew up here, visiting the bookstore, learning the truth about myself from the people who saved me.
But that wasn’t my life. That was never my life.
Wen greeted us at the door with a smile. Behind her, chaos was unfolding. A small boy was running in circles around the bookshelves while Malachar chased after him with exasperated affection.
“Killian, slow down...”
“NO!”
“At least don’t knock over the...” Malachar lunged. “And there goes the display.”
