Page 14 of The Rule of 3

“Figs?”

“Yes, figs. Dolly Gunn has a chapter about natural aphrodisiacs, and figs are mentioned prominently. Therefore, I was under the influence of a substance I could not control because you took me out for Moroccan food.” She tried, and failed, to look haughty, but Tanner grabbed her and kissed the daylights out of her.

“Let’s go back to bed. I’m tired,” Tanner said with a yawn. “Someone kept me up all night ravishing me.”

“I can’t. Sorry.” She pulled away giggling as he nuzzled her neck.

Against her neck he grumbled, “Why not?”

“Because I have a birthday cake to make.”

“You remembered?” Tanner blinked at her as she smiled shyly at him and nodded. “Thank you, but you don’t need to bake. My parents have a birthday dinner planned for me tonight, so we can show uptogetherand make them happy. If we told them we’re getting married, it would make them ecstatic.” He looked at her expectantly.

Frowning confusedly at him, Zoë asked, “What’s the rush, Tanner? We’ve been back together for about a minute, and you want to get married? Can’t we just get reacquainted for a while?”

“Zoë, I’ve told you I never stopped loving you, and I mean that. You’re the only woman for me. Always.”

She stared at him quizzically for a moment. “Didn’t you date any girls in college?”

“Just now and then. I can’t say I was celibate, but I never had a girlfriend. I knew right away that I’d messed up horribly, and I could never get interested enough in any of the girls at Princeton to pursue a relationship. It was always you I wanted to get back to.” He reached up and stroked her cheek.

“Tanner, I’m sorry, but that sounds borderline weird. You broke up with me, remember? You were so sure we both needed to meet other people…”

“Well, what about you? Did you date any guys in college?” Tanner braced himself for an answer he didn’t know if he wanted to hear.

“Um… well… not really. I mean, I did go out on dates and I had guy friends. I did stuff with groups, but I guess Brandon was the only real boyfriend I’ve had since you.” She gave a little shudder.

Tanner snorted, “We saw how well that worked out.” He noted her expression and quickly added, “I don’t hold anything against you about that, Zoë, really. I can understand why you didn’t want me to hurt you again—not that I would—and I can also understand how you wanted to have someone around who cared for you. I’m just really, really glad it didn’t go any further with that asshole.”

“Yeah, well… I am too,” she said softly. Then she snuggled up to him. “Tanner?”

“Hmm?”

“I guess I’m not going to be baking today, so we better find something else to pass the time.” She stood and took his hand, leading him to her bedroom. “This is so different from when we were younger. I was always so worried one of your parents would show up unexpectedly.”

Tanner threw back his head and guffawed. “Zoë, either one of my parents would have just said something like, ‘Be sure you’re using protection!’ and they’d have left it like that.” He started pulling off his clothes as he spoke. “Honestly, I think everyone has always known you and I belong together. I was just too young and stupid to realize what I had, and you were too hurt by me being stupid. We have a second chance, Zoë.” He was now naked and started working on removing her clothes. “So now, I’m going to show you,” his voice went low and gravelly, “how deeply I love you and how you need to be married to me.”

Tanner sat Zoë down on the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss her deeply. He moved his lips down her neck and played with first one nipple and then the other with his lips and his teeth. Zoë sucked in a startled breath as he clamped down on one nipple and flicked it with his tongue. At the same time, his hand plunged into her pussy and he impaled her with a long finger.

She clamped her legs together, barely able to breathe, as he began thrusting in and out and then added a second finger. “Zoë honey, you’re positively drenched for me. God, that’s so sexy.” Tanner dropped to his knees and spread her legs apart. He kept massaging in and out of her as he bent down to latch onto her clit with his mouth. Zoë cried out as he sucked it into his mouth the way he’d done to her nipple, using his firm tongue to drive her wild. Faster and faster his fingers plunged in and out, as he kept licking and sucking.

After only a few minutes, Zoë cried out, shaking with spasms. “God, Tanner, I love you!” she almost hiccupped.

Tanner reached for the bedside drawer and pulled it open. At the same time he asked, “Do you have any condoms? I just remembered I’m all out.” Peering into the drawer, his eyes went round and he chuckled, “Well, well! Look who I found.” He pulled out a brand-new box of condoms and a somewhat flexible, vibrating dildo. “It’s BOB!”

Zoë scooted back and buried her face in her pillow. He could hear her groan, “I’m so embarrassed! And you’re a big snoop.”

Tanner, who was absolutely ready for action, ripped open a condom, put it on and announced, “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. This could be fun! These condoms are a little small though, so we’ll need to be careful and not break this one.”

Zoë pulled the pillow away from her face and stared at Tanner, who had his erection in one hand, and was brandishing her toy in the other. She gaped at him. “That doesn’t bother you?”

“Why should it? It looks like a great idea to me. Open up your legs and get that horrified look off your face. I want to see how this could work.” He located the button on the base of the vibrator and turned it on. “Hmm. Nice. Come on, honey. Open your legs for me.”

Zoë finally complied, and Tanner positioned himself over her. He located her clit, and as he touched her with the vibrating toy, she gave an involuntary jump and a squeak. Tanner laughed softly, “I guess that means I found the magic button.” Slowly he stroked her with the toy as she writhed.

“Tanner, Ineedyou. Fuck me now, please!” She opened her legs even wider for him as he settled into place.

Sliding into her warm body, Tanner hummed his appreciation. “So good, Zoë. You feel like home and where I need to be.” He watched with satisfaction as another orgasm cascaded through her. Slowly, he pumped in and out as she clamped and released him with her spasms. When she finally calmed, he asked, “Are you ready for something different?”

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