Page 78 of The Wisteria Tree Cottage

Bear started shuffling her backwards across the lounge and into his bedroom, still kissing her. He pulled away to switch on the bedroom light and then stepped back so he could look at her, his gaze warmed her from the inside.

‘Meadow, you are so beautiful.’ He took her hand and led her to the bed.

She lay down and he moved to lie next to her, taking her in his arms and kissing her again, his hands wandering over her body with such love and affection. She gasped against his lips as he slipped his hand between her legs.

His touch was so gentle but confident. He knew exactly how to make her go weak and within moments she was shouting out his name, feelings crashing through her that she’d never experienced before. As the feeling subsided he kissed her hard. He pulled away slightly to grab a condom from the bedside drawers and put it on and then rolled on top of her. Her body trembled at the thought of what was coming next, she felt like she’d been waiting for this moment for years. But it was enough to make Bear pause.

‘Meadow, we don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I will be blissfully happy spending the rest of the night just kissing and cuddling you.’

Meadow smiled. ‘While that sounds lovely, I want to do this with you. I trust you completely and there is not a single doubt in my mind that we should be doing this, right here and now.’

He smiled and kissed her, moving deep inside her so carefully like he thought he might break her. Her heart filled with love for him at his gentleness. Every move from him was slow and considered, tender and loving, until every nerve and cell in her body was humming with complete and utter bliss.

He paused to look at her and she stroked his face.

‘You OK?’ he asked.

‘I’m in heaven.’

He grinned and kissed her again, sliding his hand under her bum, holding her impossibly tighter against him, and that tiny movement sent her flying high, grasping at his shoulders, her breath ragged as the most incredible feeling built in her and then exploded through her like a million fireworks going off at once. He pulled back to stare at her as he fell apart too, his body trembling as he collapsed on top of her. They lay there for a while, both panting as if they’d run a marathon. He rolled off her, taking her with him so she was lying on his chest and then he scooped up one of the blankets and wrapped it round her as they tried to catch their breath. He kissed her on the head. They didn’t speak because they didn’t need to, but for Meadow she’d just experienced the most incredible moment of her entire life.

CHAPTERFIFTY-TWO

Meadow lay on Bear’s chest looking at the stars through the huge skylight above his bed. Her body was still buzzing from the incredible sex and it had been quite a while since they’d finished. She was still stunned that her evening had ended like this, not just that she was here in Bear’s arms after all this time, but the fact that she’d had earth-shattering sex.

A laugh bubbled up in her throat and she giggled into his chest.

He stroked her head. ‘Just what any man wants to hear after they’ve had sex.’

She propped herself up to look at him. ‘I just never realised sex would be like that. I knew that it would be good or nice, with the right person. I just didn’t expect it to be so… magnificent.’

She realised that, as far as Bear was concerned, her limited sexual experience was with Heath and what she’d just said made it sound like he was awful in bed. She didn’t want Bear to think that but for some reason he didn’t even question it.

‘It was magnificent because it was us, because we’re meant to be together,’ Bear said. ‘Hands down, it was the best sex of my entire life, but I think that’s because it’s you and I’ve been waiting for this moment for the last eight years of my life.’

‘I’m so sorry I messed everything up when we were younger, I wonder if I hadn’t we’d be married with children of our own by now.’

‘We were kids. Maybe we would have only lasted a few weeks, but now we’re older we know what we want and I want you.’

She leaned up and kissed him. ‘I want you too.’

She pulled back to gaze at him and he stroked her hair, the look he was giving her was one of complete and utter love.

‘I can’t believe we’re here,’ she said. ‘I never thought I would ever find someone who loved me as much as I loved them. And it’s you, the man I’ve been in love with almost my entire life. It feels like it’s too good to be true.’

He frowned. ‘It is true. I love you with everything I have. Don’t ever doubt that.’

He kissed her again and it was quite obvious, as the kiss went on, that he wanted more.

She put a hand on his chest to stop him. ‘Hang on a moment. I should text Heath and tell him I’m not coming home tonight. He might worry when he realises I’m not there later or in the morning.’

Bear nodded. ‘Go for it, but be quick.’

She grinned and climbed out of bed and walked into the lounge to grab her phone from her bag. She sent a quick text.

Hey, I’m not coming home tonight, I’m staying with a wonderful man.

He was quick to reply.Wow, how exciting. Good for you, hope you enjoy your night.

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