I straddle him and slide along his shaft.

“Heaven.”

I’m dripping wet with wanting him, so it’s a slick slide as our flesh mingles. The head of his cock bumps my little clit on every stroke, taking me higher with every hard drive.

“See if you can come like that.” His voice is a low husk, dripping with expectation.

Maybe I needed his sweet urging, because those words unleash something inside me. I grind against him, gasping at how intense this feels.

I change my angle, moving my hips and legs and pelvis until something seems ready to burst inside me.

Perhaps it’s the amulet that makes dazzling fireworks go off in my vision, or maybe it’s the sheer animal force of what we’re sharing. Whatever it is, it’s spectacular.

His hands are on my hips, helping me, guiding me as my stamina flags. One more intense quiver in my channel, signaling my orgasm is sparking inside me, and I get a second wind.

“Fuck!” I shout as I grind against him, gathering my pleasure until my release hits with the power of gale-force winds.

“Rip!”

This is so potent, even more delicious than what he gave me with his mouth yesterday, because I own this. I caused this. I made this happen.

Moving with animal grace, I lower my chest, gathering pleasure from my hard nipples grazing him, my clit pressing against him with just the right amount of pressure.

I’ve never felt so powerful in my life.

And then that thought flies out of my head as my gaze connects with Rip. I’m coming and coming and connecting with Rip, and the colors are swirling and my body is flying in pleasure.

I’m spasming in bliss and I’m in Rip’s arms and this is without a doubt the best moment of my life.

One more exquisite round of pleasure, and I circle back to the normal plane of existence.

No. I take that back. Nothing will ever be normal after today. After this moment.

I’m still quivering, shocked at what I just did, how far out of my comfort zone I wandered, and how much I love myself.

I love myself. I’ve never been able to say that before. Never been able to feel it. Never been able to acknowledge it.

And with this knowledge, it seems the easiest thing to admit one more amazing thing out loud.

“I love you, Rip!” I shout as I sit up, our pelvises still pressed together, his electric blue gaze glued to me as a smile plays at the corners of his mouth.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Rip

I can’t quite believe what I’ve just heard. My heart pounds with surprise, joy, and a fierce kind of possessiveness.

My one true love, my soulmate, the one woman in the world who speaks to the very core of my being loves me back.

Pulling her closer, I whisper against her temple, “I love you too.” I say it over and over, my voice thick with emotion. Tears prick at the back of my eyes and I squeeze them shut to savor this sweet moment.

After Rose collapses against me with a deep sigh, I stroke her hair and back, still overwhelmed and speechless with joy.

Suddenly I’m filled with the certainty that, like Rose, I can do anything. I’m not alone. I can face my fears, take risks, overcome my doubts and insecurities. I have Rose.

We kiss long and deep, until my body is strung out with pleasure and need.

The scent of her desire is so strong, I can taste it on my tongue. She trembles against me and her skin is flushed a deep rose from her release. I inhale the warm, spicy aroma of her arousal and it sends lightning through my veins.