Page 27 of Heartwood and Hardware
Dean enters me slowly, giving me time to adjust to his size. The stretch is delicious, filling me completely. When he's fully seated, we both pause, breathing heavily, adjusting to the sensation of being so intimately connected.
"You feel amazing," he groans, his forehead resting against mine. "So perfect around me."
"Move," I urge, rolling my hips. "Please, Dean, I need you to move."
He starts with slow, deep thrusts, each one hitting spots inside me that make my toes curl. I match his rhythm, lifting to meet each thrust, my hands exploring the muscles of his back as they flex and release.
"Riley," he breathes, the sound of my name on his lips sending a fresh wave of pleasure through me. "You feel so good."
"So do you," I gasp as he hits a particularly sensitive spot. "Right there. Don't stop."
Dean increases his pace, his thrusts becoming more forceful. One hand slides between us to find my clit, circling it in time with his movements. The dual stimulation is overwhelming, building me toward another peak faster than I thought possible.
"I want to feel you come again," Dean says, his voice rough with exertion and desire. "Want to feel you tighten around my cock."
His words push me closer to the edge. I'm normally self-conscious during sex, worried about how I look, if I'm making the right sounds. But with Dean, all those concerns vanish. There's only the pleasure building between us, the connection that transcends the physical.
"I'm close," I warn, my nails digging into his shoulders. "So close."
"Me too," he admits, his rhythm faltering slightly. "Come with me, Riley. Let go."
His thumb presses more firmly against my clit, and that's all it takes. I shatter around him, crying out his name as pleasure crashes through me in waves. Dean follows immediately, his body tensing as he thrusts deep one final time, my name a groan on his lips as he finds his release.
For several moments, we stay connected, our bodies trembling with aftershocks, our breathing gradually slowing.Dean's weight is welcome on top of me, grounding me as I float in post-orgasmic bliss.
Eventually, he shifts to the side, pulling me against his chest. I nestle into his embrace, my head finding the perfect spot on his shoulder, my leg draped over his.
"That was..." Dean trails off, seeming to search for adequate words.
"Yeah," I agree, understanding completely. "It was."
We lie in comfortable silence, his hand tracing patterns on my back, mine exploring the contours of his chest. There's no awkwardness, no uncertainty. Just a peaceful contentment that feels both novel and familiar.
"I'm glad you came back," Dean says finally, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
"Me too." I prop myself up on one elbow to look at him properly. "For what it's worth, I think those matchmakers knew what they were doing."
He laughs, the sound vibrating through his chest beneath my hand. "Don't tell Parker that. His ego's big enough already."
"Our secret, then." I lean down to kiss him softly. "But they were right. We do fit."
Dean's expression softens, his hand coming up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "Like pieces carved from the same tree."
"Different shapes," I continue his metaphor, "but the same grain."
"Exactly." His smile reaches his eyes, crinkling the corners in that way I've come to adore. "Hungry yet? I did promise you dinner."
"Starving," I admit. "But I'm also very comfortable right here."
"Who says we can't have both?" Dean sits up, reaching for his boxers. "How do you feel about breakfast for dinner in bed?"
"Like you're a genius." I pull the sheet around me, watching appreciatively as he stands. "Need help?"
"Just stay right there," he says, leaning down for another quick kiss. "I'll be right back."
As Dean disappears toward the kitchen, I settle back against the pillows, a sense of contentment washing over me. Twenty-four hours ago, I was a nervous wreck preparing for my panel, certain I'd say or do something wrong, that I'd be too much or not enough.
Now I'm lying in Dean Evans's bed waiting for him to bring me breakfast for dinner. And I feel completely, utterly right.
