The Private Serials Box Set(80)

When he finally moved away, he kissed my temple as he pulled out.

“Stay there, sweetheart.”

He came back a minute later with a warm washcloth and ever so gently ran the cloth between my legs. I was moved by his tenderness, but still squirmed at the intimacy of the act. When he finished, rather than walk back to the bathroom, he bundled up the cloth and threw it in the general direction of the door, then joined me under the covers, pulling my back to his front. He splayed kisses along my shoulder blade, and twined his fingers with mine, pressing our hands against my belly.

“I can’t imagine it gets any better than that,” I said quietly.

“Hmmm,” was his response and my eyebrows rose.

“Hmmm? You’ve had better than that?” I was a little embarrassed, immediately thinking the most intense sexual experience of my life had only been mediocre in his eyes.

“God, Lena, no.” He was laughing. “You just immediately got me thinking of all the chances we’ll have to top it.” His free hand pulled my dark hair off my neck so he could kiss me there. “That was, by far, the best I’ve ever had. Making love with you, well,” he sighed. “It defies words.”

I couldn’t help the blush that spread into my cheeks. Then I giggled. I giggled, and then I snapped my mouth shut, or tried to. My mouth wouldn’t close all the way for the huge smile on my face.

I was happy. Ridiculously, gloriously, exceedingly happy. I hadn’t been happy like that in years.

“Thank you for coming for me,” I rasped, the laughter suddenly gone from my voice. I brushed my thumb across the skin of his hand, using the motion to distract myself from all the post-coital emotions that were surfacing. “I don’t think I would have ever gone back for you. I didn’t think there was anything left for me there.”

“Shh. Let’s not think about what could have been. I want to focus on what is. And we’re here together, right now. I’d like nothing more than to sleep with you in my arms and wake up to your beautiful face, because honestly, up until a few hours ago, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to do that again.” He kissed my shoulder blade again. “And I’m very much looking forward to it.”

“Okay,” I whispered, turning my face into the pillow, smiling as Preston’s arm pulled me even closer to him.





Chapter Eight


The next morning was like a dream. I woke to his warm hand resting possessively over my belly, immediately smiling, liking the way he wanted to claim me even while sleeping. I turned my head toward him, sneaking a peek at him while he was unaware, and was treated to the view of his body, face down, and sprawled out on the bed naked from the waist up. The one hand that wasn’t on me was laying right underneath his cheek, resting between his face and his pillow.

He was beautiful. And mine.

I rolled toward him then, pressing my lips to the shoulder nearest me, and then his arm tightened around me, pulling me in, urging me closer.

“Good morning,” he garbled through his sleepy fog.

“Morning,” I whispered against the skin of his bicep.

His hand wandered over my bare skin, coming to rest just above my ass, where he trailed light fingers in the curve of my back. Then, slowly, he rolled over, his hand remaining on me as if he were afraid to lose contact, but coming to rest on his back. “You feel perfect here, in my arms, in the morning. You’re soft and warm.”

I moved so my hands were resting on top of one another on his chest, my chin propped up on them, looking him in the eye.

“You look pretty good too,” I said, smiling. He leaned forward and pressed a small kiss to my lips.

“I think,” he said as he rolled his massive body over mine, giving me no choice but to roll to my back and look up at him, “we should take a shower.” He placed a kiss on the hollow of my neck. “Then we should get dressed.” His mouth moved down my chest, pausing to kiss me between my breasts, stopping my breath, speeding up my heart. “Eat breakfast,” he said with a smirk as his mouth moved even lower to my belly, making me squirm. “Then, we should probably go check in with everyone else.” His mouth moved even lower still, making me gasp when his breath feathered over the sensitive skin between my legs.

My hips tilted up toward him, wanting the contact, needing his touch.

“Sound good, sweetheart?”

Panting, I looked down to him, meeting his gaze over the rising of my breasts with each breath.

“I’m not going anywhere with you until I feel your mouth on me.”

His eyebrows shot up, obviously surprised by my demand.

“You’re the boss,” he said with a grin. Then his mouth disappeared entirely.



An hour later, we walked into my apartment to find Sam, Piper, and Parker all sitting around the kitchen table.

“Well, look who’s decided to come up for air,” Parker said before we even got the door closed. I immediately blushed, but Preston’s hand at my back urged me forward. Suddenly, Piper jumped up from her chair and darted toward Preston. I moved to the side, trying to not get run over, and watched as Piper launched herself into her brother’s arms.

He took her in, wrapped her up, and the two of them swayed back and forth in their embrace.

“I’ve missed you,” I heard Piper mutter into his neck.