He pulled away just enough to set our foreheads together. “I once thought my heart was broken years ago. That was a sliver compared to what I felt every time I worried about you. Even when I barely knew you and found you on that kitchen floor.” I felt a tremor run through him at the memory.
Daniel’s eyes were burning. “You’re my guts, Bailey. I need you to live. That scares the royal shit out of me, but I’ll never stop. Can you understand that?”
I nodded, our kiss immediately soft, dreamy. Finally, breathlessly, I said, “You’re the only man in my entire life who has ever put me first. Listened to me. Respected me. Taken care of me, without wanting to control me. I–”
“Love you,” he breathed. “I love you, Bailey.”
“I love you,” I murmured into our kiss, our bodies taking over for what we couldn’t articulate through the fog of relief and revelation.
“I’m going to be overprotective with you,” he murmured. “I can feel it already. But you’re strong enough to tell me to back off when you need space, aren’t you, baby?”
“I don’t think I’ll want you to.” His deep chuckle shook us both a little.
I floated as he carried me to the bedroom. I dissolved under his hands as he undressed me, slipping naked with me under the sheet.
The deep need to have his skin completely against mine was almost an ache. As much as I needed to give him every drop of pleasure possible, I also needed to be connected with him. I wanted to be part of his breath. I wanted his energy to control my heartbeat.
After being so tightly controlled by others for so long, this time I was giving myself to another freely. It was a beautiful feeling that I didn’t know I needed, like discovering a brand new flavor.
His teeth slid gently up with the side of my throat until I gasped. Even though he was touching me everywhere, I needed more.
I looked up to see his pupils dilate, stretching that strange rippling orange ring through his irises. His huge hand ran down my body, teasing my breast for just a moment before sliding down my stomach and cupping my sex. His thick fingers were so gentle as he stroked my softest skin.
As his fingertip swirled inside me, I felt a shudder run through both of us. “I love how wet you are for me.”
“You make me feel…” I was almost delirious with lust and didn’t even know what I was trying to say.
“Sexy. I hope I make you feel sexy, baby. I’ve never met anyone with your luscious fire before.” His finger entered me slowly, teasingly, as my hips began to writhe under him.
“I’ve never felt sexy before you,” I moaned. “I’d never truly craved… this. Oh!” A second finger slid inside me and my palms dug into his shoulders.
I loved how he pulled back to rake his eyes up and down my body. I was openly staring at him as well, as a positively devastating grin curled across his lips. The anticipation was making me crazy, then his lips molded against mine, our mouths opening as his tongue gently played with mine.
His finger stroked deeper, his other hand cupping my breasts, pinching my nipples slowly until I squealed into his breath.
My blood felt strange at this warmer temperature, so used to being a bit cooler. Now his heat enveloped me, and my head fell back as my hips squirmed up against his.
I still couldn’t believe how gentle his huge, strong body was, and I lowered my hand to his shaft, stroking gently. I could feel his reaction in our kiss, and the way his hips began moving restlessly.
Pulling him gently, I spread my legs, tipping my knees up as he removed his fingers, taking his cock from my hand. He entered me so softly, slowly, as he never stopped kissing me.
When my body opened for him, he began taking deep, seductive strokes, as if he were claiming me.
As he moved inside my body, I realized how profound that was. I’d let him in completely, in every aspect of my life. And he didn’t run. Didn’t judge me. Just loved me.
His motions were rhythmic, hypnotic. The indescribable perfect pressure deep within sending sparkles through every vein. Tilting my hips a bit more, he was grinding against me perfectly.
The entire universe was reduced to this bed, our breath. Every firm thrust felt like he was bonding me to him, making me his. My body softened under his touch, pulling him deeper. I clung to him, moaning too loudly as he filled me over and over.
“Daniel,” I panted into his mouth, “I…”
His hand gripped my ass hard, rocking against me as he plunged faster, as lost in this blissful moment as I was. “Come for me, baby. I love you so much.”
My entire body twitched and shattered as I screamed, crying out wordlessly as I stared up at him through streaks of falling light.
“Love you… Oh, Daniel –” then I shrieked again as he gripped me harder, his throbbing cock jerking deep as he exploded.
Our tight grip on each other didn’t let go for several moments, as we breathed against each other, eyes and mouths still wide in shock.