Page 42 of The Billionaire's Runaway Bride

I nod. “Me too. And I’m on protection.” Thank goodness I got my last shot recently. “Don’t stop to get a condom. I just, I just want you. Now.”

“Take it slow, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.” He pecks another quick yet sweet kiss to my lips. “I’m all yours. Take what you want.”

I nod and arch up to kiss him again, silencing the slow moan that leaves my lips as I urge him to slide into me and stretch me with a delicious fullness I never want to lose.

“I want you,” I reply simply, once he’s all the way in.

He smiles that roguish grin and gives me just that.

Back and forth, he whips his hips and drives deep inside me. It’s been so long, and he’s made me so needy, I can’t hold on. The tension grows to an unbearable point, and with a sweet surrender, I give in. I submit to the urgency of pleasure cascading over me, and I come. My climax is swift and brutal, robbing me of breath. I’ve never felt this good, so taken care of and cherished, and the waves of my orgasm don’t stop even when he thrusts, then stills, jerking deep inside me.

As we both come down from the high of finally addressing the tension that pulled us so close together, we kiss and ease into a peaceful sleep.

***

When I wake in the morning, I feel Caleb’s strong arms anchoring me to the bed. Not only is he hugging me tight to his chest, spooning me, he clutches my breasts. I smile in the dimness of the morning, loving how possessive he is of me in bed. Warmth spreads through me as I realize the enormity of what we’ve done.

We’re no longer partners in painting, we’re no longer on-and-off friends. We’re lovers. Instead of assuming it’ll be a scary commitment that will make me want to run away, I refuse to let go of the feeling.

Still, I need a chance to think this through and accept the change. And I want distance and space to do that properly. With extreme caution and ginger movements, I slip out of his hold and grab my clothes off the floor. As I dress silently, I look at him sleeping so peacefully. He looks content, yet still so rugged like the demanding lover I now know he is.

I will never lose sight of the way we gave in to each other.

I creep downstairs carefully so I don’t wake anyone, but my solitude doesn’t last.

I intended to slip out the back door of the kitchen to run to my cottage and shower, then hurry back to Caleb.

Marian sits at the table, though, calmly sipping a cup of coffee. When she spots me, I freeze like a deer caught in the headlights, as though going perfectly still will somehow make me invisible.

Her smile isn’t completely hidden behind her raised coffee cup. “Going somewhere?”

“I, uh, I…” I point stupidly at the door.

She grins.

“You know?” I slump into a chair, giving up this botched attempt at a walk of shame.

“I was waiting for it to happen.”

I smile back at her, snagging a cup to fill for myself.

“And I couldn’t be more pleased it finally has.”

“You approve?” I can’t stop smiling, knowing she must. What’s even better is that I want her to approve. I want to please her, unlike my motivations with my parents.

“Caleb is a good man,” she says softly, “if a bit wayward.”

I giggle and shake my head.

“Do you approve?” she asks me.

I nod and bite my lip to tone down this smile that’ll never fade. “I do.”

Chapter 17

Caleb

I felt Lauren’s stare on me when she escaped me in the bed. I knew, without opening my eyes, that she had to be grinning at me as she got dressed. The rustles of fabric gave her away. I figure she wants some space, and I won’t hold that against her. If she didn’t, she would’ve woken me up. It’s fine.

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