Page 44 of Reunion With Benefits

“Spencer.” She brought her knees up until the inside of her thighs pressed against his sides. “Go faster.”

The words pummeled him and the urge to give in grabbed him. But this was for her. Tonight, and for as many nights as she would give him. “Soon.”

He moved down her body, kissing a trail over her bare skin. Loving every inch of her softness, each curve. He reached her stomach and pressed a kiss on the slight bump he found so sexy. When she gasped, he did it again.

Turning his head to the side, he rubbed his cheek against her bare skin. “You are perfect.”

“You...” Her back arched off the bed and those heels dug into the mattress.

There, sprawled out with her chest rising and falling on harsh breaths, she silently called out to him. Looked so inviting.

His mouth dipped lower. A finger slipped inside her as she shifted on the bed. He circled and caressed until her thighs clenched against his shoulders. He would never get a clearer sign of how ready she was, and he didn’t wait for one.

Up on his knees, he rolled on the condom. Then his body slid over hers again. He pressed inside. Keeping his thrust slow and steady, he pushed until her body tightened around his. His brain, his muscles—every part of him—begged for release. But he held back. He needed to know she’d gotten there before he let go.

Her breaths came in pants now. Her exposed neck enticed him as her head pressed deep into the pillows. She grabbed the comforter, balling it in her fists. With every second, her control slipped further away and it was amazing to watch.

Her skin glowed as sweat gathered on his forehead. Pressure built inside him, clawing at him. Still, he didn’t give in. He slipped his hand between their bodies. Touched her as he pumped in and out.

The trembling started in her legs. He could feel the muscles vibrate against him as the pulses started moving through her. Her hips lifted and her hands grabbed on to his shoulder. He waited until the last second, until she gasped and her body bucked, before he gave in to his own orgasm. It rolled through him, wiping everything else out.

For those few minutes, it was just him and her and the rhythm pounding in his head as he pushed into her. When the explosion came, all he could do was ride it out. Hold on to her, wrap his body around hers and give himself over to it.

It took a bit more time for his body to calm and the pulsing to stop. Reality came back to him in pieces. Her fingers brushing over his shoulder lured him in. He buried his face in her shoulder and inhaled. He’d get up, move—do something. Soon. But not yet...

* * *

He didn’t know how long he rested with her on the bed with his eyes closed. It really didn’t matter since she’d curled into his side with her hand on his chest. He slipped his palm up and down the soft skin of her arm, loving the feel of her.

This felt right. He’d ached for this, dreamed about it, got angry that he couldn’t stop thinking about what this might feel like when he left. Being away from her and adrift, not having any real direction, was the answer then. He’d needed to clear his head. Yeah, he got the facts wrong and blamed her instead of dumping it all on his father where it belonged. After those few stunned seconds, he’d been so willing to believe the man who raised him and always disappointed him. Spence knew now that he needed to break the habit.

He was about to drift off to sleep when she started talking. She leaned up on her elbow and stared down at him. “May I ask you a question?”

And that destroyed any chance of him sleeping, possibly ever. He couldn’t think of a time when that question ended well. “Why do I think I should say no? I mean, I can only mess up from here, right?”

She smiled as her fingertip traced his lips. “You’re not going to mess up.”

“I like how much faith you have in me.” He folded the arm that wasn’t holding her behind his head. “Go ahead.”

“What are we?”

The wording was strange but he knew exactly what she meant. They’d spent every evening together since she got over being sick. He planned to repeat that pattern next week and for many after that. “You sure know how to lead with the big questions.”

“There’s gossip at work and—”

“Does that bother you?” Maybe he’d been too casual about the boss thing. He’d taken himself off all of her projects. He would be there if she needed to consult but they restored Derrick as her direct line of supervision. It was neater that way. A separation of work and private life. Better for her in case she did have an issue.

“Not if whatever is between us is real.”

The words beat back the anxiety welling inside of him. He had an easy answer for this. “It’s real.”

“Are you just saying that?” Her eyes narrowed but amusement still lingered in her voice.

Despite her light tone, he took the question very seriously. “Because we’re naked and in your bed and I’m hoping I get to stay here? No. I’m saying the words because they’re true. Because they’ve been true and probably were even back when I messed up and pushed you away.”

She blew out a long breath as her hand came to rest on his chest again. “I hate what happened to us back then.”

Now was the right time for the apology. Nothing fancy. Just the truth.

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