Throne of Truth (Truth and Lies Duet #2)(89)

And Elle matched me.

The bed shifted, moving away from the wall with every thrust.

We had an agenda. An end goal. I arched my back, slamming into her soaked pussy, my muscles rigid with detonation.

She gasped, her fingernails scratching my spine. I loved the pinpricks of pain. The way her breath spurted in my ears, the seamless way my cock plunged into her body.

I fucked her with everything I had.

And when my release found me, it didn’t fucking stop.

My thighs, ass, heart, every inch contracted with an all-consuming spurt. I sank deep, growling as euphoria shot from me and into this girl who’d given me my life back.

Elle let go too, her body quaking under mine, her pussy fisting me from root to tip as I filled her.

I chased the climax for as long as I could; shattering into tremors as the waves slowly grew weaker. I ceased holding my weight off Elle, slamming on top of her in a full-body embrace.

Her body was so hot. Radiating like an inferno.

Her pussy still rippled around me, sending delayed ricochets of bliss down my cock and into my legs.

“Damn, that felt good.”

She giggled, kissing my cheek. “I agree.”

She went to move away, but I grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head. “Ah ah, you’re not leaving.”

“I’m not?” Her cute button nose wrinkled.

“Nope.”

“Why?” Her gaze flickered to the bathroom. “A shower together would be nice...oh, we could take a bath. Spend hours relaxing.”

Images of sliding my hands over Elle’s nakedness definitely sounded like a great plan. But I couldn’t admit I wasn’t ready to let her go yet. I wasn’t ready to withdraw and no longer feel her wet heat.

This wasn't about coming.

This was about connection, and hell, I needed it.

Her hips rolled in perfect circles, pressing her clit against me. “If you’re going to restrain me, I might have to come again.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Could you?”

“Not sure. Never gone for three before.” Her smirk was the devil herself. “But I’m open to trying.”

I nuzzled her hair, pumping slowly into her, already feeling myself grow hard again. “In that case, let’s see what you’re capable of. And then I’m washing you for hours, feeding you, and then we’re taking a walk around Central Park.”

“We are?”

“We are.”

“But why Central Park? That’s where you were stolen from me the first time.”

“Because from now on, you’re going to explore every inch of this city with me. I’m going to show you were I slept; I’ll reveal my bolt holes, my food stashes, my emergency funds buried in people’s gardens. This city has not been kind to me, Elle, and the itch to leave is building. Last time Larry freed me, I moved to LA to get away. It helped.”

I kissed her nose as stress etched her eyes. “But—you can’t leave. My work...it’s here.” Tears sparkled.

“I’m not leaving. That’s why I need you to replace bad memories with good. With you, I can learn to love this city again, but only with you by my side.”

A tear rolled down her cheek. “I’ll go to every street corner, every park, every bench. I’ll go wherever you want me to, Penn. You’ll never be alone again.”





Chapter Forty-Two


Elle


WE DID ALL those things.

After a second round when Penn flipped me onto my hands and knees, and a quickie turned into kinky playtime, we soaked in his bath before catching a taxi to Central Park and walking the same path we’d sprinted from the security guards.

We followed the chain link fence of the baseball field where we’d shared our first kiss and watched an evening game where men trampled the home diamond where Penn shared his chocolate bar.

We kissed in the same bushes where we were arrested and bought cinnamon-sugared churros from a street van as we strolled a few blocks of New York.

Penn didn’t say much. His eyes turned more active, his entire body on high alert. The ruthless businessman I’d given my virginity to faded into the wild creature I’d met in the alley.

He sniffed the air as if he could smell a threat. He narrowed his gaze at a group of men coming toward us. He moved as a predator and prey all at once.

I took his hand.

He froze then relaxed. His eyes met mine. His lips turned from scowl to smile. And we made our way back to his apartment in harmony.

When we got back, I expected to climb into bed and either repeat what we’d done before or sleep. It’d been a long day and an even longer five months, but Penn ordered takeout from a local Thai place, and we snuggled on his couch while watching TV.

We laughed and snickered at jokes on the screen.

We licked our fingers free from curry puffs and slurped Pad Thai.

We shared normalcy and made it magic.

Like any normal couple.

Like a boy and girl in love.

It was the best day of my life.





Chapter Forty-Three


Penn


DEAR PENN, I love many things in this world.

I love my company, my cat, my father, my financial security.

But I have to say, I love you more.

Watching you sleep this morning—you were soft for the first time. Your forehead wasn’t creased; your eyes weren’t narrowed in suspicion waiting for the next catastrophe. You trusted me to keep you safe while you dreamed.