Page 106 of Make It Last

When he dragged the backs of his fingers up the inside of my thigh, I trembled. “Tanner,” I breathed. “Please. Hurry.”

A low chuckle vibrated against my skin as he pressed another languid kiss to my belly. “I’m getting there. The wait makes it better.”

I laughed, breathless and desperate at the same time. His fingers slid inside me, slow and sure, and the sensation pulled a soft cry from my throat. When his mouth followed, I shattered quickly, pleasure cresting and spilling through me in a rush that left me panting and trembling.

He rose over me then, bracing himself above my body. I needed him. Now. His eyes held mine, dark with desire and something deeper. The intimacy between us felt almost visible, like smoke curling around us and binding us closer. He eased down, and I felt the warm press of him at my entrance.

“I love you, Ava,” he rasped.

My heart answered before my mind could catch up. “I love you too.”

Our lips brushed as his fingers laced with mine. He slid into me in a slow, deliberate glide, the stretch drawing a gasp from my lips. He settled fully, and for a moment, we stayed there, foreheads touching.

“There,” he whispered.

Chapter Fifty

Tanner

The big gesture

Ava’s eyes held mine as I rocked into her slowly, fighting for control, trying not to let my release crash over me too soon. She shifted restlessly beneath me. I released one of her hands and slid my palm between us, finding her swollen, slick heat. The moment my thumb brushed over her clit, she cried out, my name spilling from her lips like a prayer.

Her body clenched tight around me. She trembled and shuddered, and the feel of it dragged me right over the edge with her. My release hit hard and piercing, my mind going blissfully blank for a heartbeat. When it passed, I held her close and rolled us carefully onto our sides so I wouldn’t crush her. She always protested when I did that, insisting she didn’t mind my weight, but I couldn’t help it.

We lay there, breathless, our chests rising and falling almost in sync. The sunlight still filtered through the window, catching in golden threads in her hair. It felt so right. Not just the sex, but her. Here. With me. Relief settled inside, a certainty that this was exactly where I was meant to be.

I sifted my fingers absentmindedly through her hair, as we simply rested. She leaned up and pressed an open, lingering kiss against my neck before propping herself on her elbow on my chest. She smiled down at me, eyes bright.

“I’m so glad to be here,” she said softly. “Thank you for coming to get me.”

“I needed to make a big gesture,” I admitted.

“You didn’t have to.”

I brushed my thumb over her cheek. “I did.”

She beamed at me, and I felt the power of her smile in the center of my chest. A little while later, we ordered pizza. We sprawled on the couch with Growly wedged between us like he owned us and the couch. We half watched a show and made out like teenagers. Eventually, we fell asleep tangled together. It was exactly what I needed.

Chapter Fifty-One

Ava

Meet the family

“And this is my sister, Sophie,” Tanner said.

When I glanced her way, I felt a little jolt. Her eyes were exactly like Tanner’s. She had the same coloring and shared his striking gaze, but she was medium height with a curvy build and a wide, unapologetic smile. While Tanner gave off that loyal, steady quality that I knew had come with a price—I loved that about him, not the price he paid, but the man he became—she had a sharp quality to her. She gave off the vibe of the kid in class who questioned everything.

Sophie thrust her hand out toward me. “Ava!” she exclaimed, and before I could fully process it, she flung her arms around me and gave me a breath-stealing hug.

Her embrace felt like an exclamation mark. When she stepped back, she glanced at Tanner, and I saw the unquestioned love of a sibling who knew exactly who her brother was. “He’s always been the best older brother,” she said.

My cheeks warmed. “Tanner is the best kind of guy.”

My heart felt full at that moment. Whatever this was, whatever future we were building, I would never let him down. Not for a second. Something told me she sensed that.

“I’m the problem child,” she said, leaning in slightly, her tone conspiratorial.