I rose onto my elbow. “She didn’t recognize you?”
“I don’t exactly look like my old self, and I barely recognized her at first. It’s been a while, but she was one of the leading researchers. If she’s here, maybe there’s still a chance to figure all this shit out. Maybe there’s still hope.”
“There he is.” I cradled the back of his head and drew him close. “There’s my man.”
Our lips touched.
My fingers disappeared in his hair, and I was bombarded with memories of missing him and the fear I’d had of never kissing him again. Before today, I’d assumed I would have had to accept one and begrudge the other. Then, he teased me with almost timid flicks of his tongue, but the Julien I knew was raw and passionate. This Julien was exhausted.
Groaning, he broke the kiss.
“You just wait,” he said, rolling onto his back. “Once I get my fat-soluble vitamins, iron, and electrolytes up, you won’t know what hit you.”
I laid my head on his chest.“Yes,daddy. Tell me more.”
“Go ahead and joke, but I’m serious.” He yawned. “It’s gonna be wild, Arihi. Feral. Primal.”
I growled. “Primal’s my favorite position.”
“Oh, I know. Trust me, I know. I’ll be the one,” he yawned again, settled into place, “blowing yourm’backout. Don’t try to run, either.”
“You want me to take that dick?”
A soft snore responded for him.
I smiled and kissed his chin. “Good night, Julien. I love you, baby.”
17
TAYLER
I glanced over my shoulder.
Gage was still behind me.
As far as I knew, nothing prohibited us from exploring our sexual attraction. A relationship wasn’t in the cards at a time like this, nor was there a need to be buttoned up and reserved as if a society existed to judge me for my sexual decisions.
I burst through the storage room door.
He entered behind me.
The door swung shut, and he turned the lock.
I grabbed one of the condoms I’d stashed in the room right before dinner. He crossed the room in two steps, removing his shirt. I pounced on him, and he tugged on my pants until I was naked from the waist down.
I needed him.
He wanted me.
After this, there would be no guilt. I wouldn’t have to battle with shame over smiling in Ari’s face while fucking her husband behind her back.
He wrestled the foil packet from my grip.
I fumbled with the button on his jeans, silently cheered when I felt it pop, shoved down both waistbands and wrapped my hands around his dick.
“You want me?” he asked.
I bit down on his bottom lip. “Yes...”