Page 164 of Even Ground

“Fuck me, my beautiful girl.”

His hips rise as I rock mine, every stroke in sync. Reece cups my breasts with his hands, his fingers making gentle movements over my skin.

I love him more than I can bear.

He moves his fingers to my back, dancing them down my spine and pulling me down for a kiss.

“I want to spend my life doing this with you. Only ever you,” he whispers.

I push up on his chest, his lips placing gentle kisses on each nipple before he suckles on them.

He lets me go, leaning back and looking into my eyes with so much love. His body tenses underneath mine, and I throw my head back, crying out his name as he thrusts harder.

“Pania. Oh God! Pania.”

Reece lets out a loud groan and slows as we both come down to earth.

He’s panting underneath me, but I’m still floating from being back together with him. For good. There are still logistics to work out, but nothing is going to keep us apart now.

I lean over and kiss him, and he rubs his nose against mine.

“I don’t even have the words to tell you how I feel right now,” he whispers.

Tears well in my eyes. “I know. I feel the same way”

I lift myself off him before rolling onto my back. “If you were trying to wear me out, you did it.”

“I feel as if I just flew across the world.” He laughs.

I kiss his chest. “I’m just going to the bathroom. Be back in a minute. And then we’re going to sleep.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

As I walk to the en suite, he wolf whistles.

“Stop it.” I laugh.

He’s still lying on his back when I return and climb into bed with him. I rest my head on his chest and listen to his heart beating. It’s constant, reassuring, and everything I could ever need. His hand caresses my spine, and I let out a contented sigh, being right where I need to be.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Yes and no.”

Reece reaches for my chin and pulls my head up, studying my expression. “What’s wrong?”

I pull back. “I know I’ve made the right decision coming here, but …” I frown. “I feel like I failed. Studying under Judith was all I wanted.”

Reece shakes his head. “You didn’t fail. Sometimes our heroes just turn out to be pretty shitty after all. I’m just really happy you’re here now.”

“Me too.”

“Stay with me,” he whispers.

I nod. “That’s the plan if you’ll have me.”

His grin’s so wide it’s a miracle it doesn’t split his face in half. “Oh, I’ll have you.”

“I love you.”