Page 121 of Spring Tide

“Mm, nope.” She moves toward the tent, unzipping the entrance as she glances back at me over one shoulder. “I’d like to see where we’re gonna sleep tonight ... maybe test it out?”

“Test it out?” I scratch at my forehead, shooting her a quizzical look. With a playful waggle of her brows, she uses two fingers to beckon me forward. “Oh! Oh yeah, let’s test it out.”

Once we’re securely tucked inside the tent, we make quick work of removing our clothing, desperate to reconnect physically. Harper runs her hands across my abs and up to my shoulders, carefully pushing me onto my back. She wastes no time climbing on top.

Before I can even form a rational thought, she rips open a condom package and rolls it down over my hard length. I’m not even sure where the hell she got it from, but I suppose I’m glad my girl comes prepared.

“Impatient much?” I ask playfully, running my fingertips along the sweet curves of her waist.

She dips her head, capturing my lips in a heated kiss. Her body melts against mine, chests flush, tongue pushing into my mouth. A quiet moan slips free.

“Sorry, I’ve just really, really missed you,” she says, reluctantly pulling away.

My hand curves around her neck, dragging her back against me. “God, I’ve missed you, too. So much.”

She angles her hips, lifting up until we’re perfectly aligned. One hand wraps around my erection, teasing the tip inside of her, slowly running it across her slick folds. She’s so fucking wet and ready, so I tap her clit just once before finally sliding home.

As she clenches around me, grinding her hips low and slow, I let her take full control. Her fingernails dig into my chest while she rides me, seeking out her own pleasure on my cock.

“That’s good, baby.” I reach a hand between us, rubbing my thumb over her clit. “You’re so fucking pretty like this.”

She bounces faster at my praise, her tiny little whimpers taking on a mind of their own. At this point, I’m fully lost in my lust-filled daze. I’m fairly certain I almost die when her hands move to cup around her breasts. She kneads the soft flesh, rolling her nipples between her fingers, a low hum of a moan breaking free.

I know I’ve already said it before, maybe more than once, but this time with her is definitely my fucking favorite.

“Luca,” she rasps, slowing her pace. “Can you fuck me now?”

I clasp both hands around her hips, driving into her from below, loving her harder with each passionate thrust.

“It’s you and me,” I murmur on a groan. “Always.”

“Always,” she echoes.

When we come together a few moments later—her clutching tightly to my shoulders—I swear to God a tear almost leaks out of my fucking eye. Sometimes, I still can’t rationalize the fact that this girl is actually mine. And that I’m hers, for-fucking-ever.

I’ve spent a large part of my life believing that I’m not enough. For anyone or for anything. That all my hopes and dreams—supporting my family, playing professionally, finding real love and friendship—were far-fetched, relatively unachievable for a guy like me.

It wasn’t until I met Harper that I started to believe differently. Although I’ve had to face some major setbacks over the past few months, I’ve also built a greater sense of confidence and security in myself. Truthfully, I never thought I could feel this fucking happy or complete.

Learning, loving, and then losing Harper has shown me exactly what I’ve been missing out on all this time. And there’s not a shot in hell that I’m gonna let myself lose her twice.

It’s the two of us from now on.

Together. Always.

THE END

EPILOGUE

5 years later

“Juney, come on, sweetie,”I say as I attempt to wrangle my daughter out of her car seat. “We’re gonna be late.”

“Mama, nooo,” she whines, putting up quite the fight. Her little legs kick against the back of the seat, lips turning down in an exaggerated pout. Normally, I’d be swayed by those sweet, puppy-dog eyes, but we don’t have time to compromise today.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

She grabs my face, pulling at my cheeks. “We go Nonna’s house?”

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