Page 145 of The Temporary Bride

“You feel so good,” I say against her throat. “So perfect. Every single time.” I roll my hips on the next stroke, finding a slightly different angle, and feel her body respond to it immediately. “I don’t think that’s ever going to stop.”

She makes a sound that might be agreement and might just be a response to what I’m doing. When I draw back, her head is tipped up, her lips parted, her hair spread out across the pillow. She’s gorgeous. She’s always been gorgeous, but right now, with her ring on a chain against her chest and her eyes finding mine in the dim light of the room, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

How the fuck did I almost lose this woman? How was I lucky enough to get her back?

I push her legs back farther and shift the angle slightly, going deeper, and feel her tighten around me. Her whole body reacts to it, a sharp inhale making her breasts bounce as her spine arches off the mattress.

“Tristan!” she gasps.

“I know,” I grit out, repeating the motion.

I’m closer than I want to be. The combination of the car and now this and all those days of missing her has my self-control running on empty, but I’m not coming before she does. I focus entirely on her, on the sounds she’s making and how she moves and what she responds to, adjusting my pace and angle until I find the rhythm that makes her breathing go ragged and her hips start moving more urgently to meet mine.

Her hand comes up to my face, her palm soft against my jaw as the sweetest little sounds pour from her lips.

“Don’t stop,” she begs. “Please, oh god. Don’t—don’t stop.”

I do what she asks, keeping up a steady pace as the bed rocks slightly beneath us. Her legs tighten around me, pulling me closer.

“I love you.”

The words fall from my lips before I’ve decided to say them, but they’re the truth. They’re so fucking true. Bracing one hand on the bed, I sign it with the other—I love you—the movements slow and clear so she can read every one, because I want her to have it both ways. I want her to be able to see it or hear it or feel it, and to know it’s real no matter what.

She goes still beneath me, her mouth falling open slightly. Her eyes turn glassy, and a tear slides down the side of her face into her hair, but she doesn’t move to wipe it away.

“I love you too,” she whispers, her voice cracking on the last word.

I drop my head and kiss her, deep and thorough. She kisses me back with both hands in my hair, her body pressing up into mine. I keep moving inside her through the kiss, and I can feel the moment when she starts to come. Her pussy tightens around me, and I swallow her needy cries as I keep driving into her, working her through every wave of it until she’s gasping and clinging to me with both arms.

Then I follow her over, thrusting deep and holding there, my face against her neck, her name leaving my mouth. I come hard, emptying into her, and I stay buried inside her until I’ve got nothing left to give.

We lie tangled together afterward, neither of us moving or inclined to. Her fingers move slowly through my hair. My face stays against her neck, her pulse beating under my lips as both of us just breathe.

I don’t want to move. I’m fairly certain I could stay right here for the rest of my life and not have a single complaint about it.

Chapter 54

Chloe

In the afterglow, I lie against Tristan’s shoulder, soaking in the feel of his skin against mine. I let my fingers trail over his chest, exploring the hard lines of his muscles and tracing the tattoos on his arms.

The windows across the room are open, and the distant murmur of waves drifts in and echoes around the vaulted ceiling. The cool sea breeze brushes my face, mingling with the faint scent of sweat and sex. Every sensation, from the coolness of the breeze to the heat of Tristan’s body, is a reminder of how perfect this moment is.

I glance up at him, my chest full of a deep, quiet contentment. His eyes are closed, a peaceful smile playing at his lips.

I never want to leave this bed or his side. I’m so comfortable here, so at peace.

“Do you know any other sign language?” I ask, half joking, although my curiosity is real.

Tristan’s eyes light up before he lifts his hand and begins to sign. I watch in surprise as he forms a complete sentence in fluid, easy movements. The signs are precise. “Yes, some. I’m trying to learn more.”

I can’t help but grin. “You’ve been learning this for a while, haven’t you?” I ask, a touch of awe in my voice.

He nods. “Yes. As soon as I found out about your hearing issues, I started learning. I wanted to be able to communicate with you on terms that felt natural and comfortable for you.”

The sincerity in his voice makes my chest tight. I reach up and touch his cheek, my fingers lingering as I take in the depth of his dedication. “That means so much to me, Tristan. I didn’t know you’d been working on this for so long.”

“I wanted to make sure I could always be there for you, in every way that matters,” he says.