Page 101 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

“Kira!” he shouts, his thrustsfrenzied and deep and hard in a way that shatters my control, splinters mycomposure. I scream into the mattress, my mouth full of sheets and bliss. Myvoice cracks, raw and hoarse as he breaks over me, loses himself inside me. Sodominant and strong and hard, but with me, inside of me—vulnerable and undonewhen he comes.

“Baby,” he chokes out, his hands tight at my hips. “I loveyou, Kira. I love you. God, I love you.”

My body is wracked with sobs, not just of pleasure but ofgratitude. How did this happen? How did we find this? Find each other for thefirst time and again? That person whose heart carries the key to yours—thatsoul that is a mirror reflecting yours. It’s a connection not apparent to thenaked eye, but unearthed, discovered in whispered conversations, in stolenkisses and urgent touches. Burrowing through layers of skin and bone and muscleuntil it strikes soul.

We hold each other in the wake of aviolent storm, one that tossed us to and fro, brokeus. He wraps himself around me from behind, and I’m limp and listless in hisarms. Pushing the braids away from my neck, he leaves tender kisses there andover the curve of my shoulders.

“Did it hurt?” he rasps. “Are you okay?”

“It did hurt.” I laugh, pressing my ass and back deeper intothe granite line of his body. “A little at first, like it always does, butJesus. It felt… I love it when you fuck me like that.”

“I know.” He reaches around and cups my breast, splays hishand possessively over my belly. I’m always amazed how hands so big can be sogentle.

“That vibrator.” I turn my head to snare his eyes. “You doing that, controlling that is…” My breath stutters withthe memory. “You always know.”

“I’m always learning.” He laughs. “Your responses tell mewhat to do, what feels good.”

I clasp his arm curled around my waist, lifting his hand tokiss his palm. “I love you so much, Naz.” A grin overtakes my face. “Eventhough you seem to prefer my brother’s company to mine.”

He flips me to my back and settles between my thighs,smiling down at me. “Your brother can still outshoot me, and you know howcompetitive I am. That shit is driving me crazy.”

“So every night the two of you are down on that courtplaying for hours.” I rub my foot along the hairs on his calf. “I’ll be gladwhen he goes back to Texas.”

He laughs, knowing I don’t mean it. “He may be moving here.If he gets that job, your brother could be here in LA.”

“Thank you for that.” I reach up to trace his eyebrow, thefine rise of cheekbone. “For getting him that interview.”

“I just cracked the door open.” Naz shrugs powerful, nakedshoulders. “His knowledge of the game and skill are what’s pushing himthrough.”

“You give me so much.” I look up at him, pouring myadoration and respect and love into my eyes, praying he sees.

“You give me more just by breathing.” He drops his headuntil our temples kiss. “By being with me. That’s all I need.”

I hold my hand up, studying the radiant cut pink diamond heplaced there two months ago.

“You like it?” he asks unnecessarily because I just aboutfainted when he proposed. It’s the most gorgeous ring I’ve ever seen.

“It could be made of coal and I’d love it because it means Iget to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“It could have been coal?” He reaches for my hand and slidesthe ring halfway up my finger. “Well, lemme get mymoney back.”

I snatch my hand away and gently smack his shoulder,laughing.

“You ain’t ever getting this ringoff my finger. I’ll wear it for the rest of my life. You spoil me, ya know?”

He looks at me, his smile dimming, his gaze brightening,intensifies like bright stars under the quarter moon.

“You deserve it,” he says. “And I’m just getting started.”

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