She shimmied in his grasp and hooked an arm behind his neck, pulling his head down.
His lips landed in the crook of her neck. “Don’t think I can hang on much longer. Gonna explode.”
“Then what are you waiting for, Professor?”
“Hands back on the headboard, Goldilocks.” She complied, and his fingers feathered over the small of her back, her hips, her ass.
Goose bumps peppered her flesh. She’d never been more aroused. A drawn-out sigh escaped her lungs as she readied to take him inside. It might have been a whimper.
One of his hands still palmed her breast while the other glided between her legs. His fingers slipped back inside, and he let out a hiss. “Jesus, you’re so fucking tight.”
Fingers glided out, replaced with his cock. Teasing her entrance, dipping in her wetness, he pushed inside, tunneling in on one long stroke. A groan ripped from his lungs as he filled her, stretched her.
Buried to the root, he stopped and wrapped his hand in her hair once more, tugging her head back. His other hand dropped between them and began stroking her. She clenched around him. He pulled out and drove into her. A pitched moan flew from her. He did it again. And again. His breathing grew labored.
He yanked her head back a little harder. “I’m going to fuck you over and over,” he growled, “so every man smells me on you and knows you’re mine.”
Slam.
“Oh God,” she yelped with pleasure.
Slam.
“What am I going to do to you, beautiful?”
Slam.
She gasped. “You’re going to … to …” Her words dissolved into moans.
Slam.
“Fuck you until what, Lily? Say it.”
Slam. Slam. Slam.
The hand that had been toying with her splayed across her abdomen, holding her tight, and his thrusts came harder, faster, deeper.
“Every man … smells you … on me,” she panted.
He released her hair and grabbed on to her hips, digging his fingers in. “Yesssss,” he gritted out.
Spiraling ever upward in a state of rapture, she gripped the headboard while he pounded her over and over and over, his grunts growing louder, more primal. Powerful, fast, frantic. A groan tore from her throat, and her body shuddered and seized around him.
He pitched a second later, following her over the edge. “Fuuuuuuuuuck!”
She collapsed, and he landed on her back, his heavy breaths falling on her neck, his hand trapped beneath them. Her chest heaved erratically and not at all in time with his.
When their pumping hearts finally slowed, he slid off her back and pulled her into his arms, covering her face and neck with tender kisses. “Love waking you up that way.” His voice was a low, breathless rasp. “Wanna do that again and again. Forever.”
She nestled her head against his chest before floating away in a sex-inebriated cloud, faintly aware she’d never been more content.
Chapter 29
Deep Into That Darkness Peering
Lily roused to the sound of desperate cries, but she couldn’t move. Her feet were concrete blocks. Someone grabbed her shoulder. Panic swelling, she tried to scream, but no sound came out. Her body quaked as she fought her attacker.
“Lily? Lily!” a strong voice pierced the fog.
That strong voice belonged to Gage, and he was shaking her. “Lily! Sweetheart, wake up!”
She bolted upright, her heart slamming against her ribcage, whimpers still keening in her chest. With a series of gasps, she ran her hands over her body. It was a nightmare. It wasn’t real.
A warm hand grasped her chin and turned her head. Her eyes met Gage’s. A bedside lamp was on. “You were having a nightmare.” He pulled her into his arms, his voice soothing. “It’s okay, Goldilocks. You’re safe with me in our bed.”
Panic rose inside her again. Our bed? No! Wisps of thoughts chased each other in her head. She shouldn’t be here! She began struggling, pushing at his chest.
He tightened his hold, apparently not understanding. “Shh. I’ve got you.”
His embrace felt so good that she finally melted into it. He kissed the top of her head and laid his cheek on it.
Fragments streaked through her mind: shadowed people judging her, Derek accusing her of being a bad mother, carrying off a screaming Daisy. Jack had been there too, his face ashen against a white pillow, begging, “Don’t leave me!”
Burning bile rose in her throat; it tasted like guilt.
Chest heaving, tears wetting her cheeks, she forced words out of her mouth. “I need to … to go.”
A warm chuckle rumbled through Gage. “No, you don’t. It’s three o’clock in the morning. I’ll get you some water, then you can tell me about the dream?”
“Bathroom.” The word came out strangled.
He relaxed his hold, and she untangled herself from the covers, from him.
Concern etched his face. “Do you need help?”
Her voice shook. “N-no.”
Dragging in ragged breaths, she staggered into the bathroom and flipped a switch. Light glared down at her, putting her on full display in an endless mirror. She swallowed hard at her reflection. Naked, hair disheveled, eyes wild, her body trembled. Only hours ago, she’d been in the throes of carnal euphoria, but now shame crept inside her, leaving her chilled.
Her hand went to her neck, and she slumped in relief when her fingers closed around her ring. She ran it along the length of the chain.
A robe hung from a hook on the back of Gage’s bathroom door, and she yanked it down. Wrapped it around herself. Cinched the belt tight.
A light knock made her jump.
“Everything all right, beautiful?”
I’m not beautiful! She gulped air. “I-I’m fine.”
Squaring herself up in the mirror, she ran her quivering hands over her body, telling herself she’d had a bad dream, that this was solid, this was real. Her heartbeat decelerated.
But a storm continued raging in her soul.
Later that morning, Lily awoke in an empty bed, still covered with Gage’s robe. Shivers raced along her spine as shards of the same vivid images came roaring
