Page 144 of Run
Oh, Red. I’m already there.
I rear back and thrust into her with all that I have. She practically screams as she braces herself against the headboard, and I let go with relentless, punishing force and speed. I’m not sure exactly when she comes but I know she does—again and again—because we are both drenched, as are the sheets, and I can feel her body clenching around me, gripping me, pulling me into her.
And somehow, even this isn’t enough.
I sit back on my heels and bring one of her legs up over my shoulder, then the other. I grab her hips again and start to buck into her. “Oh, God! Ethan, it’s so deep—”
“It’s not enough.” I push forward and lay over her, with her legs still over my shoulders, and I slam into her repeatedly.
“Ethan,” she pleads. But I don’t stop.
Then I feel a soft palm on my cheek, and I fling my eyelids open. “Look at me, big guy. Come back to me.” With her eyes locked on mine, our sweaty faces inches apart, oxygen being exchanged between us, Ari pulls me back into this stratosphere and I come with such force it’s almost painful. I have to continue thrusting, albeit slower and softer, as I empty into her completely. And I know she feels it, because I hear her moan as I do so.
I shake and tremble over her folded-up form as my body convulses and shivers and tingles, and I have to lean some of my weight onto her, as I cage her in.
“I’m sorry, Ari,” I breathe. “I just … I just need a second.”
“Shhhh.” She strokes her thumb over my scruff. “It’s OK.” I lean into her touch.
Slowly, Ari starts to slide her legs open, and I pull up just enough to let her slide them down, unfolding herself, but I stay settled between her legs. “I’m sorry.” I snake my arms under her shoulder blades and kiss her throat. “Are you alright?”
She wraps her arms around me. “Mmhmm.”
“No, baby, I need you to say it.” I kiss her jaw, then pull my head back enough to look into her eyes. “Did I hurt you? Was that too rough?”
She lengthens her neck so she can kiss my lips, then winces. “Almost.”
I freeze. “Shit. Ari, I’m so sorry!” I go to pull out of her but she tightens her limbs around me.
“No,” she protests.
“I was so lost in the moment, I couldn’t even—”
“Ethan, stop.” Ari pulls my face to hers. Our noses touch, eyes boring into each other’s. “I said ‘almost.’ If it were too much, I would have bucked you off like a bronco.”
“I’m huge, Ari. I’m not entirely confident you could do that.” I run my nose along hers. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It just felt so fucking good. I was totally lost.”
Ari’s lips brush mine. “But you came back to me. Ethan, I will always help you find your way back to me.”
CHAPTER 46
ARI
“OK, what’s going on?” I grab the remote from the coffee table and turn off the TV, swinging around so I’m sitting cross-legged and facing my best friend.
“What do you mean?” Sophie feigns confusion. We’re sitting on her couch in her apartment above the Millers’ garage.
“Come on. Out with it. You’ve been distracted all day and, come to think of it, you were quiet all week. What gives?”
She sighs and visibly deflates. “Something’s up with Gino.”
“Uphow?”
She turns toward me. “It’s so weird. It’s like someone flipped a switch one day. Last Tuesday, actually. That was exactly the day. We were hot and heavy, and he was calling and texting me all the time, and stopping by just to say goodnight. And thenlast Tuesday he had to cancel dinner plans with me last-minute, which was totally fine.”
Sophie adjusts her glasses. “When he canceled, he was so apologetic, but he also sounded a little off. I asked if he was OK, and he said he was just distracted by a big project at work. The next day, I didn’t get a text from him until late in the day, which is weird because I always wake up to a ‘good morning’ text from him. At least I did. And when I called him later that night he just sounded … sad. And ever since then, he’s been acting differently. He hardly reaches out at all, and when I call or text, he always responds, but it’s short.”
“Shit.” I reach out a hand and place it on her thick forearm.
