VICTORIOUS (A Quantum Novel)(82)

Though I never take my eyes off her face, I nearly lose all sense of time and place as I hammer into her, taking as much as giving.

She clings to me, crying out as the release overtakes us both.

Gripping the condom, I withdraw from her as slowly as I went in, watching her the entire time. I use a tissue to dispose of the condom so I don’t have to leave her for even a second.

“Sweetheart…”

“Hmmm.”

“Can you open your eyes?”

It takes a minute, but they flutter open, glassy and moist and full of love that fills me with relief.

“Good?”

“Mmmm.”

“I need the words.”

She licks her lips. “Good. Different but good.”

“Hurt?”

“Yeah, but not as bad as I expected.”

“Would you do it again?”

“Now?” she asks, seeming alarmed.

Laughing, I say, “No, not now.”

“I’d do it again. You were right about the orgasm… Phew… It was so powerful.”

I’m so glad to hear her say that. It’s not for everyone, but I love it, so I’m glad to know she wasn’t so put off by our first time that she wouldn’t be willing to do it again.

“Thank you for trusting me enough to do that with me.”

“Thank you for being so gentle with me.”

“I’ll always be gentle with you.” I kiss her and hold her close. “Let me clean you up, and then we’ll get some sleep.” I release her only long enough to retrieve a warm washcloth from the bathroom that I use to clean us both.

She releases a satisfied-sounding sigh as the rough terrycloth rubs her sensitive flesh.

I look up to find her watching me tend to her, a small smile on her lips.

“What?”

“Just looking at what’s mine.”

I love that she’s possessive of me when that quality has driven me insane with other women. This woman is welcome to be as possessive of me as she’d like to be. “So am I.”

She holds out her arms to me.

I toss the washcloth on the floor and go to her, dragging the covers up and over us. We come together, arms and legs wrapped around each other, bodies pressed tightly. It’s the only way I can sleep now, with her warm, sweet softness snug against me.

“Are you hurting, sweetheart?”

“No, not really. I’m still throbbing.”

“And throbbing is a good thing?”

“In this case, yes.”

“I want you to know that I wish I’d told you the truth about myself from the beginning, that I’d had the faith I should’ve had in you and that core of inner strength that is so much a part of who you are.”

“While I wish I’d heard it from you rather than your ex-wife, you were probably wise to hold it back from me. I wouldn’t have been able to handle it at the beginning, and I might’ve done something stupid like run away from you.”

“I would’ve run after you.” I stroke my hand over her hair. “Go to sleep, sweetheart. We have a very special day ahead tomorrow.”

“Can’t wait to marry you all over again.”

“Me, too.” Long after she’s asleep, I remain awake, enjoying the simple pleasure of holding her while she sleeps.





Chapter 16





My entire body is sore from what we did last night. I can’t seem to move as I force my eyes to open on a new day, one in which we will celebrate our marriage with Flynn’s family. I’m disappointed that neither of my sisters could get the time off from school and work, and that Leah couldn’t get anyone to cover her shift at the bar. Aileen had another round of chemo on Friday, so she can’t come either.

I tell myself I’m okay with none of my people being here, but I can’t deny I’m disappointed that none of them could make it work, even after Flynn offered to fly them out for it.

I need to get up. I need to take a shower and wash my hair so I’m ready when the hair and makeup people get here to help me get ready. I told Flynn and Addie I didn’t want all that, but he insisted on full pampering today.

“Hey, you’re awake,” he says when he and Fluff come into the room. Wearing only a pair of basketball shorts, Flynn is carrying a tray, and the scent of coffee has my full attention. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”