He drives into me harder, and I feel it building — that tight coil of heat low in my belly pulling tighter and tighter until it finally breaks.
I come with his name on my lips, my body clenching around him, and I feel him follow half a second later, his entire body going rigid as he buries himself deep and lets go.
Afterward, I look at him.
His breathing is still uneven. His hand is in my hair, his forehead pressed against mine. We're both slick with sweat, both still trembling slightly.
I look at him in the dark and I see the undone quality of a man whose composure went somewhere it hasn't been before.
I did that.
He looks back at me, and for the first time since I've known him, there's nothing calculated in his expression. Nothing three steps ahead.
Just him looking at me like I'm the only thing in the room.
"Was that proof enough?" he asks quietly.
I don't answer immediately as I reach up and touch his face — his jaw, the sharp line of his cheekbone, the place where his hair falls across his forehead.
"Yes," I finally say.
He exhales long and steady, like he's been holding his breath for longer than he realized.
Then he pulls me closer, tucking me against his chest, his arms wrapping around me in a way that feels protective and possessive and entirely clear of choice.
And I lie there in the dark, feeling his heartbeat slow against mine, knowing that something fundamental just shifted between us.
Then I remember that Beckett is awake.
I look over at the light in the kitchen, and his eyes are already on mine.
He brings his hands up and gestures for me to come over.
I look at Theo and then point at myself. "Me?" I whisper.
He nods, gesturing again.
I attempt to leave, but Theo pulls me back.
"Where do you think you're going?" he whispers.
"I'll be right back," I murmur and then sit up, but before I can get away, Cody's hand locks around my arm.
"You're not going anywhere," Cody says in a sleepy voice. "Not after the show you just gave me."
My heart stops.
He was awake.
He pulls me down to him, and I go—not fighting it, just letting him guide me until I'm against his chest. He kisses me differently than last night. Last night he was aggressive, claiming, almost punishing. Right now he's delicate. Soft. Like I'm something precious he's afraid of breaking.
"I've thought about this a lot," he murmurs against my lips. "And I had no idea you were such a bad girl."
The words make something hot and shameful coil in my stomach. I feel naughty. Alive.
I kiss him harder, my teeth catching his bottom lip.
"Are you going to stop sleeping around?" I bite down just enough to make him groan. "That's the only reason I'm kissing you right now."
