Page 76 of Citadel

I giggle. “I know. Same with me, and you didn’t seem to mind. You washed up earlier. I saw you.”

“Not the same.”

“Nothing’s the same. Everything’s different than it used to be. We might both be dirty and sweaty and exhausted and in danger, but that doesn’t take away how much we need this.” I reach into his underwear until I can take his cock in my hand. “Maybe it makes us need it even more.”

“Maybe so,” he rasps, closing his eyes as I start to squeeze him. He lifts his hips enough to push down his pants and boxers farther. Then he slides his fingers into my hair as I lower my head.

I give his shaft an experimental lick. He makes a huffing sound. Then I lift his cock and slide my mouth down around it, sucking on the head.

He bucks his hips up in an involuntary thrust. “Fuck. Sorry ’bout that.”

“It’s fine.” I smile, poised over his erection. “Just don’t choke me. I’m not an expert at this.”

“You feel pretty—” He grunts and jerks his head to the side, his eyes sliding shut again when I give him another suck. “You feel pretty expert to me.”

This encourages me. I continue sucking, building a fairly fast rhythm that matches the slight pressure of his fingers against my head.

He smells strong, but it’s the natural, familiar smell I know deep in my bones. The smell of Cole. And it doesn’t disgust me. Just the opposite, as crazy as it is to admit.

He smells like mine.

Soon Cole is grunting and rocking his hips in time with my rhythm. Occasionally muttering out encouragements. “Fuck, baby. Just like that. Such a hot little mouth. That’s my girl.” Then his hands tighten in my hair and he releases a strangled groan that sounds like it’s channeling all his deep, pent-up tension.

He pulls my head up just before he comes in several spurts on my chest.

When he finally opens his eyes, we stare at each other for an extended moment, both of us panting loudly. Then he grabs me and rolls me over so he’s on top of me again.

Lowers his lips to mine and rests his weight on me again. Kisses me deep and hungry.

I kiss him back, offering him everything I have, somehow knowing it’s enough. It’s exactly what he wants.

Needs.

His erection softened slightly after his climax but never fully dissipated. Soon he’s hard again, his cock folded up between our bodies.

It’s a long time before he pulls up and readjusts between my legs. He slides inside me. Helps me wrap my legs around his waist. Then fucks me with a fast, tight rhythm that shakes both our bodies.

I think I come again. I can’t really tell. Everything feels so incredibly good—so right and deep and needed—that I can’t distinguish between orgasm and everything else. But I whimper and make helpless sobbing sounds as Cole grunts like an animal.

He barely pulls out in time to come on my belly with another visceral groan.

We collapse together afterward, a tangle of hot flesh and clutching limbs. His face is tucked in the crook of my neck. He gives me a few clumsy kisses there before he finally picks himself up.

I smile up at him. It’s getting darker now since the fire is dying.

He smiles back in a way I’ve never seen from him. Nakedly sincere.

For a minute, I think he’ll say something. Something I want to hear. But instead, he murmurs, “You should get some sleep.”

He’s right. I need to. So does he.

No matter what happened between us tonight, the world is still what it is.

Breanna is still in danger, and we need to try to save her tomorrow.

11

Morning always remakes the world.

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