I’ve lost all ability to talk, sure if I utter a word, I’m going to burst out crying. I swallow to clear my throat. “Oh God, that’s so…”—sweet, amazing, thoughtful—“perfect.”
“Make a wish.”
I take the donut and close my eyes, shooting a wish toward heaven. Please let this be real. Then blow it out and laugh at the pure sweetness of the gesture.
Xavier brushes my hair over my shoulder and slides his thumb across my cheek. “Did you wish for what I hoped you wished for?”
When I look at him, his eyes are dark and soft, which means he hoped I wished for sex, and I guess I sort of did. The look in his eyes takes me back to last night and fills me with desire. Only, I just had a very real and painful glimpse of how I will feel if this doesn’t work out, and I scared the bejesus out of myself.
I need to pull my feelings off my sleeve and shove them back into the vault. I slide the candle from the donut and take a bite. Sugary goodness floods my taste buds, followed by the tang of jelly. I sweep my finger through the pink-and-yellow filling and offer it to Xavier. He takes my wrist and guides my hand to his mouth, locking eyes with me as he sucks the filling off my fingers.
I finish my bite right before he kisses me, deep and sensual, and we immediately burst into flame. We should be exhausted after last night, but evidently, our bodies haven’t gotten enough of each other. I wonder if mine will ever get enough of his.
He moans and rolls me to my back, pulls off my shorts and bra like he can’t get me naked fast enough, and drags his tee over his head before abandoning the idea of getting completely undressed. He shoves his pants out of the way, rolls on a condom, and grips the backs of my thighs. He thrusts at the same time he pulls me onto him. The joint movements drive him deep, make me arch, and steals my breath.
Pleasure streaks through me, edged with a dull ache. After not having sex for so long, last night left me sore, with muscles aching I didn’t even know I had. Still, his desire thrills me. Like I’ve become a need, not just a want.
Once inside me, he stills and meets my gaze. The passion there burns a path straight to my heart, but it’s guarded now. And that’s a good thing, because the way he holds my gaze as he moves could very easily embed him in my heart. His strokes are long, deep, and slow. He braces one hand overhead against the wall, the other is in my hair or stroking my face.
Our well-conditioned bodies immediately start to sweat, making the sex even more sultry and sensual.
“Fuck, you feel so good. I’ll never get enough of you.” His eyes close on a look of bliss, and he presses his forehead to mine. “I knew you’d be worth the wait.”
My heart fights to open, and even though I know better, keeping myself safe is the hardest thing in the world to do right now while he brings me to the edge of climax, until my nails sink into his rock-hard glutes, until I shatter in a stunning orgasm that creates a kaleidoscope of color in my brain, quickly followed by Xavier’s own climax.
He rolls us to our sides because he knows his body is too heavy on mine, and he trails kisses across my forehead, cheek, and neck as we catch our breath.
“Damn, we’re explosive,” he murmurs, still breathless.
After a few quiet moments, he says, “Dinner tonight with the crew for your birthdays, okay? Reservations at eight, after your classes.” He tilts his head to look into my eyes. “And then another night of this, yeah?”
I smile. “Hell, yeah.”
12
Xavier
I park my truck at the marina and slide out, smiling.
Chloe blew me away last night—and this morning too. Completely and totally rocked my ever-loving world down to the core. Being with her feels like all the missing puzzle pieces of my life have fallen into place, finally creating a full picture. It also made me realize that I’ve been in love with her for months. Maybe even all year.
I have a few minutes to spare, so I veer toward the market to check in with Piper. It’s fairly busy, and I find Piper behind the deli counter making sandwiches. I wait for her to turn around and hand a sandwich to one of the women in line.
She smiles at me. “Hey.”
“Hey. Just checking in. That rifle you tried out had some pretty good kickback. Is your shoulder sore?”
“A little, but it was so fun.” Her eyes dance, and her voice pitches with excitement. “When can we do it again?”
“My next day off. You’re getting really good. If it holds your interest, we could start thinking about entering you in some shooting contests.”
“Oh, wow. I’d love that.”
It feels so good to find level ground with her. I glance around. “How’s the job?”
“I like it here.” She looks at my clothes. “Are you and Chloe going out?”
I nod. “Dinner with the others. It’s their birthdays.”