Page 119 of Only and Forever

My legs shake. My breathing stutters. Viggo wraps his hand around my thigh, traces the tributaries of stretch marks that lead to where his tongue strokes me, dragging me to a height I can barely fathom falling from.

But I will. I will fall, trusting him to catch me.

“Please,” I beg, rocking my hips into him. “Please don’t stop.”

He hums against me, tongue and fingers moving faster, sending me flying, soaring. I arch up, shaking, crying out his name. I’m still shaking and gasping, when I grip his arm like a vise and drag him toward me. “Inside me,” I tell him. “Now.”

He salutes me, his face a portrait of solemn obedience. “Yes, ma’am.”

I swat his butt, making him break into a laugh, making me laugh, too.

I’m so wet, from my body, his tongue, and he sinks inside me effortlessly, filling me to the hilt. I moan, my orgasm’s echoes stretched into sweet, lasting pleasure.

“Fuck, Lu,” he gasps into my neck, breath hot in my ear, his hips thrusting fast and desperate. “One of these times I’m gonna last longer.”

We laugh into each other’s mouths. Our kiss turns into wide twin smiles. “We’ve got lots of time for that.”

He pulls back, eyes holding mine. He cups my face, and his fingers slip into my hair.

“I love you,” I whisper, as he moves faster, hips faltering, his smile slipping into that beautiful furrowed-brow concentration, preceding the pure ecstasy that breaks across his face. He throws his head back, eyes shut, throat working as he comes, then falls into me, rocking into me still. I clasp him tight, kiss his forehead, hold him close to me, so close, heart to heart.

“I love you,” he whispers. “I love you, Lula, with all my heart.”

I nod, smiling, my forehead pressed to his, and tell him what I feel in this moment, right down to my bones: “I know.”

—

It’s late when we get back to LA, the sun only a sliver of tangerine on the horizon. I take the Vespa ride slow, savoring the wind on my skin, Viggo’s arms tight around my waist, his strong warmth wrapped around me.

When I take the turn toward Donnie’s shop instead of home, his grip tightens, revealing his surprise.

I smile as we soar down the road, then finally pull up to the shop. I drop the kickstand and kill the engine. Viggo yanks off his helmet, frowning in confusion. “Lula, what are we doing?”

I tug off my helmet, too. “That errand I skipped on the way outof town. Come on.” Clasping his hand, I walk ahead of Viggo and guide him toward the shop. Donnie’s there, just like he promised he would be, lingering at the entrance.

Viggo gives Donnie a hug, then stares after him, perplexed as Donnie backtracks. “I’ll take good care of her for ya,” he tells me.

“Thanks, Donnie.” I smile at him.

Donnie smiles back, winking. “You bet.”

Viggo sets his hands on his hips. “What is going on?”

“Pandora needs a tune-up.”

His confused frown returns. “Who’s Pandora?”

“My Vespa, sweet cheeks.”

Viggo gaze narrows. “Since when did you name your Vespa...” His eyes widen. “Wait,Pandora?”

I shrug, smiling coyly. “She’s a great heroine. Fiercely independent, vehemently against marriage, but she changes her stance after a sweet, determined man decides he’s going to bend his world, meet her where she’s at, and love her endlessly.” I step up to Viggo, cupping that bristly jaw, my thumb sweeping along his temple. “She has a beautifully creative, agile brain like yours. I loved that about her, too.”

Viggo swallows roughly. “Lula... you read a romance?”

“Ahistoricalromance,” I tell him, wrapping my arms around his waist as I smile up at him. “Tore through half of it the night before the wedding while you were sawing logs. Finished the rest of it on the plane today.”

He shakes his head, staring down at me. “Lu, I don’t know if I can handle this.”

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