I lean in and growl against her ear. “Do you still sound the same when you come, Sunshine? I’ve been losing sleep wondering.” And it’s true, for she always used to hold her breath at the peak of her release only to devolve into gasping, whining noises that were so unbridled, so … so unencumbered—so goddamnsensual, they never failed to push me right over the edge with her.
“I wanna know, baby. Let me hear it. Come for me,” I command.
And that’s all it takes.
She always did love my bossy side and my filthy mouth in bed.
Steph’s lids flutter closed, her mouth opening in a silent scream as she detonates around me. The feeling that rises in my chest as I watch her fall apart beneath me for the first time in years is indescribable.Ineffable.
She lets out a choked breath. Sharp gasps quickly morph into familiar, low, keening noises that are instantly carried off on the wind, and I revel in the fact I’m the one to wring them out of her while she continues to contract around my cock.
It’s more than I can stand.
I bury my head in her neck just as I bury my cock to the hilt, inhaling her sweet citrusy scent as I pulse, spilling inside the condom and chanting her name while white flashes behind my eyes.
I collapse on top of her, Steph’s arms instantly coming up to wrap around my shoulders, holding me to her chest while her breaths continue to heave. Thunder booms overhead, shaking the truck in conjunction with the mini aftershocks still quaking Steph’s body. It’s only a moment before I realize I’m crushing her. I prop myself up on my elbows and reluctantly pull out. She lets out a breathy little whine, and I lean up to give her an apologetic kiss. As I do, a fat, wet raindrop lands on the back of my head. It’s followed quickly by another, and then another.
Steph squeals, and the skies open up. We scramble, cold and naked, from the bed of the truck, slipping in the mud before Imanage to get the door to the cab open. I shove the damp sleeping bag in behind Steph, then spin back to attempt to retrieve our clothes from around the dark lot, regretting my haste and carelessness in discarding them.
Welaytogetherawhile later, still naked but wrapped in a second sleeping bag I’d managed to retrieve from my bin without getting it too wet. Rivulets run down the glass, rain sluicing my truck. Steph rests on her side, partly sprawled against my chest, legs intertwined with mine, as we listen to the staccato sounds of the water pinging against the roof of my truck. I’m propped up and leaning awkwardly with my back against the door, too tall for the length of my bench seat. The armrest digs uncomfortably into my spine, but I couldn’t be more elated. I’m flying so high right now, nothing can touch me. Steph is intoxicating—better than any drug, and I’m a fool for not appreciating her enough before it was too late. Before I blew up my life and hers.
No more, though.
I press my face against the crown of her head and just … breathe her in. Steph.MySteph once more.
Belatedly, I realize she’s been quiet since we got ourselves situated, and I start to worry that I’ve fucked something up. That she’s having regrets about what we just did.
Clearing my throat, I ask quietly, “Is everything okay?”
She’s still for a moment, but then nods against my chest. I hear the smile in her voice when she says, “More than okay.” Relief floods me, and I tilt her face to look at me, not wanting to miss this one.
Twenty-two.
And as I tighten my arms around her, as she continues to smile softly up at me, a truth reveals itself in this moment. One I feel certain of deep in my bones. Just as plants need sunshine, Steph—my sunshine— is vital. To me. To my life. And I don’t know how I ever survived without her.
29
Steph
Riley
Are you up?
Steph
Yes, barely
Riley
I’m outside
Steph
What?
Steph
Riley … WHAT?!!
