Page 89 of The Downside of Love
His large calloused hands wrap under my ass, gripping my flesh tightly as he pushes harder and harder into me, my body inching toward the headboard, my stomach starting to flutter with the apex of my pleasure approaching.
“I love you so fucking much, Rory,” he groans, his chest muscles rippling, straining as his hips move faster.
With each thrust, he goes deeper and deeper, angling my hips up until he hits me in just the right spot.
My eyes fly open, my back arches even more, and I let out a long, surprised moan as he continues to pulse into me.How is he doing this to me? So intense. So exceptional.
“Oh Stryder, yes. Oh my God, yes, right there.”
I push against the headboard, hands trying to keep my head from hitting the wood. Our lovemaking was slow at first, steady and sensual, but now it’s ravenous, greedy. With each thrust he brings us both closer and closer to the brink until finally he grunts and stills inside of me. Eyes squeezed tight, the sexiest expression I’ve ever seen on a man crosses his features, while his groans toss me over the edge as well.
I come all over his cock, pulsing and vibrating around him, my walls clenching, spurring on his orgasm even further until we’re both breathing erratically, our skin molding together, our hearts beating as one.
We catch our breaths, our foreheads connected, our noses kissing. I sigh, still trying to gain feeling back into my limbs, but enjoying the weight of his hot and heavy body on top of mine. When he tries to move away I stop him.
“Stay,” I whisper. “I want to feel you, every part of you, right now.”
He sighs into me and presses a kiss across my forehead. “I won’t move all night if you don’t want me to.”
Just then the oven beeps, indicating the meatloaf is done. He chuckles and looks over his shoulder. “Uh, maybe I have to move for a second. Don’t want to burn down the apartment.”
Knowing he’s right, I release my tight grip and say, “Can you take the meatloaf out but come right back here?”
He kisses my nose and nods. Stripping the blanket from his backside, he hops out of bed and walks toward the kitchen, and I enjoy watching his pure male form retreating. His backside is sculpted and molded like a Greek god, carved in all the right places.
His broad shoulders taper to his waist and his high, tight ass. Propping myself up on the bed with my elbows, I watch intently as he takes the meatloaf out of the oven, turns it off, and then goes to the bathroom where he brings a wet washcloth to me. When he sees my eyes focused on his every movement, a lopsided grin pulls at the corners of his mouth. He stands in front of the bed and tilts his head to the side.
“Are you checking me out?”
“Yup.” My teeth rake over my bottom lip. I have no shame.It feels like I’ve been waiting forever to see him like this.Not just naked physically, but emotionally too.
“Like what you see?”
“Love what I see.” I sit up and pull on his arm so he’s sitting on the bed. Growing serious, I drag the tip of my finger over his stubble and ask, “Are you fully and truly with me now?”
His brow pinches together. “What do you mean?”
I scoot even closer, wanting him to feel the love and need I have for him. “No more roadblocks stopping us from moving forward. This is it; you and me, right?”
“It’s always been you, Rory,” he answers, placing his hand on my thigh and leaning in toward me.
“But nothing is standing in our way anymore, right?” I grip his cheeks so he is forced to look at me. “Because I love you, Stryder.” Emphasizing each word, I repeat. “I. Love. You.”
He squeezes his eyes shut briefly and nods. “I love you, Rory.”
“That’s all we need.” I link one of my hands with his. “You’re who I want, no one else. You’re it for me.”
He lets out a heavy, relieved sigh and leans me back on the bed, his body hovering over mine. “I want you to know one thing.” He kisses my lips, nipping at them. “This connection between us, it’s so goddamn real to me, and I will never take it for granted. I realize the gift you’ve given me, I realize how fucking lucky I am, and I will never take that for granted. I’ve never been in a relationship before or been showered with love like the way you love me. But I can guarantee you this. I won’t ever say I don’t know what love is.” He kisses me again. “Because I do know what love is, Rory. You showed me over time that the empty shell inside me, the black heart I possess, is capable of the most important human emotion. Without even knowing it, you showed me the kind of man I can be, the kind of man I want to be.” He tangles his fingers through my hair, gripping me tightly. “I want to be your everything, your rock, your protector, your lover, your best friend. I want all the titles.”
I stroke his cheek, my fingers grazing over his bottom pouty and swollen lip. Smiling at him, I say, “Don’t worry, Stryder, you already own all of those titles and so much more.”
Bringing his head to mine, I show him how much he is the keeper of those titles. And I can't ever see that changing. Life will throw us curveballs; he might be reassigned, yet I don't feel that same ache of abandonment that I felt with Colby. I don't feel as though I'm reaching for something I can't have. Something elusive. I don't feel that immediate pain of loneliness, and I think it's because of Stryder. He hasn't guarded his heart and soul so fervently. He's gifted it. He's already proven he understands what love is. He took a huge risk in encouraging Colby to be with me, but our hearts found each other in the end, which makes me know we were destined to be together. Stryder's heart isn't continually lifting toward the skies for fulfillment, so even though there still will be moments when I can't crawl into his warm and comforting arms after the hard days, I don't feel as . . . hopeless.Alone.And that gives me peace. We are right together.
He wants to be my everything? Well, he already is.
Chapter Twenty-Three
STRYDER
