Page 73 of Crashing Into You

He pushes slowly, carefully, into me. I moan.

And as he starts to move, his touch lighting fires all over my body, all I can think about is how much I want him. How much I need him.

How much I love him.

Bryce

I cannot resist her.

She owns me, body and soul.

And as she lights up beneath me, moaning, as I thrust into her slick heat, as my orgasm builds, all I can think about is how much I want her. How much I need her.

How much I love her.

ChapterThirty-Three

Claire

Isit at the table on my balcony, squinting against the bright sunlight. It’s another beautiful summer morning, carrying the promise of heat later in the day. But it’s still reasonably cool at the moment, and I wrap my light robe more tightly around me.

Bryce comes out from the kitchen, putting a plate of scrambled eggs, avocado and toast in front of me to accompany the coffee he’s already made. He drops a kiss on my hair, then sits down opposite me, digging into his own breakfast. His hair is still damp from an early surf; I insisted he go, knowing what it means to him to be in the water, telling him I would be fine.

I watch him for a moment, my heart full. I still can’t believe my good luck, that he cared enough to come back for me after the way I treated him. I’ve realised that I built walls after my parents died, and I let in the wrong people. Wrong person, anyway. But I need to stop beating myself up about Simon. I was in a bad place when I met him, and he took advantage of that. I was lucky to have good friends around me to get me out of that situation.

And it seems I’m still lucky. Bryce told me about Kylie and how she explained everything to him, even though he was already on his way back. I still can’t believe he was willing to leave his family for me, especially with everything that he had going on. We’re heading to Melbourne today, where I’m going to meet his mum and, hopefully, his sister. She’s recovered enough to start her rehab and it’s at a facility where she’s allowed visitors, so we’re going to drop by.

It will be the first time we’ve left my house since he brought me home from the hospital five days ago. My head is feeling better, the wound starting to itch as it heals. We’ve spent most of the time in bed. Bryce insists on it, telling me I need to rest, then making gentle torturous love to me. I’m not complaining about that at all, except for the fact I know he’s holding back. I want him to unleash.

But I’m letting him set the pace. I threw him out of my life, and now that he’s back in it, I’m content for him to do what feels right for him.

“You not hungry?”

I realise Bryce has almost finished his breakfast, while I’ve been sitting here staring into space. I take in a deep breath and stretch my arms over my head.

“I am. Sorry. Just lost in thought.”

“Anything good?”

“Just you.” I smile at him. “So yeah. Very good.”

“I’ve booked us into a hotel tonight.” He drains his coffee, putting the mug down. “You all right with that?”

“Sure.” I frown, slightly. “I thought your mum said we could stay with her.”

“Claire, there are many things a man can do under his mother’s roof. But if I’m going to do what I want to do to you tonight, I’d rather we had a little privacy.” His green gaze darkens, starting to smoulder.

“Oh yes?” I’m breathless, tingling between my legs.

“Yes.” He gets up, taking his plate and mug back inside. He drops another kiss on me on the way past. “And that, my darling, is a promise.”

Bryce

We get to Melbourne around lunch time.

Mum loves Claire, of course. They take to each other as though they’ve known each other forever. With Claire’s permission I told Mum a little of her history, just to save them both from any awkward questions about her parents. And when I see how natural they are together, Mum’s caring nature taking over, I begin to hope that maybe she might be able to fill some of that space in Claire’s life. It’d be good to know they’re looking after each other while I’m away.

Because I have to leave. My job is surfing, after all, and while there are excellent waves here, I have to travel as part of it. I want Claire with me, as much as possible, but I can’t ask her to give up her life to follow me around the globe. It’s the only thorn in my happiness, to be honest, and a conversation we have to have. But for now, I’m enjoying the moment.