Page 46 of Anton

The sound of her plea sent a jolt through me, a low growl rumbling in my chest as I positioned myself over her. Her legs parted, inviting me in, and when I slid into her tight channel, everything disappeared but us. The sensation of being inside Marcie, of truly being one with her, was overwhelming—a feeling so perfect it was like coming home after a lifetime lost.

The old wooden bed creaked beneath us, its sturdy frame barely keeping pace with our frantic rhythm. The sound blended with her gasps, each thrust sending vibrations through the headboard as it tapped against the wall. The rough edges of the wood grounded me even as we soared, the physical world a stark counterpoint to the raw, transcendent connection we were creating.

Marcie cried out with each thrust, her voice a melody that drove me higher, harder. Her hands gripped my shoulders, nails biting into my skin as if she needed to hold on to something solid amidst the tumult of frenzied passion. The scrape of her nails only fuelled me, her every sound a spark igniting something wild in me.

“You’re perfect,” I growled, my lips brushing against her ear as I drove deeper. The words spilled out, unfiltered and raw, as if my body demanded she knew. “Every part of you. Mine, Marcie. All mine.”

Her hips rose to meet my own, our movements instinctive, like we’d been created for this moment. The bed groanedbeneath us, an accomplice to our passion, as her body arched and pressed tighter to me. Her skin was damp with sweat, her hair a dark halo against the blankets, and I couldn’t stop myself from tasting her again. My mouth found her neck, her collarbone, leaving a trail of heat and possession in its wake.

Marcie’s breath hitched as my teeth grazed her pulse, her back arching as if offering herself to me entirely. The motion pushed her breasts against my chest, and I took a second to savour the feeling before sliding my hands to her hips. I pulled her against me, deeper, harder, until I could feel the tremors of her body beginning to tighten around me.

“Honey…” My voice was hoarse, my control slipping as her legs locked around my hips, pulling me impossibly closer. The feel of her, the way she clenched around me, left no room for thought—just instinct, primal and unrelenting.

Her cries grew louder, each one more desperate than the last, until she broke, her body shaking as her climax consumed her.

“Anton,” she moaned my name, and the sound of it shattered what little restraint I had left.

My thrusts became erratic as I chased the edge, her trembling body urging me on. “Marcie,” I groaned, my voice guttural as the heat coiled tight in my core. Her eyes, hazy and glazed, locked on mine as I reached my breaking point.

I pulled out just in time, shuddering as I released across her stomach and breasts, marking her as mine. The sight of her beneath me, flushed and radiant, her body glistening with sweat and my release, was enough to sear itself into my memory forever.

Marcie let out a breathless laugh, her chest heaving. “Oh my god,” she gasped, chuckling through the words. “That was bloody awesome.”

I grinned like a fool, and she beamed back, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

“You’re grinning like a man who’s just won a battle,” she teased, her voice low and warm.

“Maybe I have,” I murmured. Her gaze softened, and she reached up, her fingers brushing over my jaw with a tenderness that made my chest tighten. I turned into her touch instinctively, letting her warmth seep into me.

Leaning down, I pressed a lingering kiss to her lips, savouring the way they parted so naturally for me. When I finally pulled back, her eyes were half-closed, exhaustion catching up with her.

I tucked us both under the blanket, adjusting her so her head rested on my chest, her hand splayed over my heart as if holding it close and the imagery wasn’t lost on me. Marcie Matthews owned my heart.

My arm curled protectively around her, pulling her closer until there wasn’t an inch of space between us.

“Rest, honey. I’ve got you,” I whispered in her ear.

She let out a contented sigh, the sound filling the room like the soft hum of a melody. My lips curved into a smile, satisfaction settling over me.

Outside, the storm began to quiet, the wind no longer rattling the windows, and the thunder rolling faintly in the distance. I combed my fingers lazily through her hair, the strands still damp from earlier, their coolness a sharp contrast to the heat of the fire warming the room. Her breaths evened out, her body slackening as sleep claimed her.

But sleep eluded me.

I stared at the ceiling, watching the flickering glow of the wood burner cast shadows across the beams. The quiet lull of the storm and the feel of her in my arms were deceptive—danger still loomed just beyond this moment. Yet for now, I let myself believe in its calm.

A tiny snort escaped her, and I bit back a laugh, shaking my head slightly. God, she was perfect.

My thoughts lingered on her—this incredible, unpredictable woman who had bulldozed her way into my life. My Little Miss Sassy had turned everything upside down, her bubbly energy and unrelenting boldness breaking through every wall I’d built. I ran a hand slowly down her back, the curve of her waist fitting so perfectly against me.

Marcie Matthews wasn’t just the feisty woman who matched me wit for wit or the impossibly sexy woman who starred in all my fantasies—or even the friend I’d pretended her to be. She was everything I hadn’t known I was missing. A force of nature—unyielding, steady, unforgettable. My lifeline. The spark of light in my darkness, the grounding force I hadn’t realised I needed, and the reason my heart finally felt whole again. And now that I had let her in, let the walls come down, there was no going back.

Thinking of how close I’d come to losing her made my jaw tighten. I’d been an idiot, pushing her away because I was too afraid to open my heart. My fingers flexed gently on her shoulder, trailing over the smooth curve of her bare skin. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake, her lips parting on a long sigh, as if she sensed my unspoken emotions.

A half-smile tugged at my lips as I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, her scent filling my senses—a mix of sweet vanilla a and the faint hint of smoke from the fire.

Marcie was mine, and I was hers. From now on, I’d make sure she knew it—every day, in every way. As soon as I had the chance, I’d tell her everything: why I’d kept her at arm’s length, and how deeply I felt for her.

The decision settled over me like a promise, a resolve calming the tension in my chest. I held her closer, my hand splayed against the curve of her back, savouring the steady rise and fall of her breathing against me.

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