“You belong to me,” I growled between quick and shallow thrusts. “And I belong to you.”

He trembled and studied my face, as if searching for the truth inside my eyes. I sank down on my forearms, my choppy breaths against his lips, as I continued to plunge inside, filling him up with everything I had.

“You fucking mean everything to me.” I roughly kissed his lips. “And you’re all mine.”

I tried not to focus on how tight and hot he was. How painfully hard I was. How close I was to losing my mind and coming undone inside of him.

This was about him. Giving him what he needed. And right then he needed me.

I captured a patch of skin at the hollow of his throat, marking him with my lips and teeth and tongue. I bit and licked my way down his collarbone and sucked on his nipples until he thrashed and moaned. Clutching his cock between us, I pumped him solid and steady.

“I love you, Jude York,” I whispered as he shuddered beneath me and blew apart so hard, his teeth were clattering.

***

The next morning, Jude joined me on the porch with a fresh cup of coffee.

“It’s nice out here,” I said, looking toward the woods. “Do you miss living in the countryside?”

“Sometimes,” he said. “But I’d miss the concrete, too.”

“Bet you would, Mr. Daredevil.”

When he finally smiled at me after such a long stretch, I thought my chest would burst open with relief.

We took the dogs in the yard and threw them the ball for a long while until there was a rumble of thunder and we both arched our heads toward the sky.

Then he kissed me, soft and slow, his lips tasting mine—top and then bottom. His mouth was warm and gentle, almost cautious. Like he was showing me how much everything meant to him.

He murmured my name and told me that he loved me.

We pulled apart and Jude laid his head against my shoulder as a light mist of rain coated our skin. We stayed that way—our fingers interlaced—leaning, shifting, breathing, until we collected ourselves.

We went inside and silently began gathering our belongings, both of us having the exact same idea. To get home and resume living. This time, more freely.

I reached for him and held his face in my hands.

“So what now?” he said, his breath heavy, his eyes dreamy.

“I’m not sure,” I murmured, kissing his ear. “We’ll figure it out.”

His voice was cautious, momentarily uncertain. “Together?”

I breathed against his hair. “Together. Always together.”

My lips trailed down his throat. “Just like this.”

I felt him shiver against me.

“And this.” I placed his hand on my pounding heart and held it there, letting him feel what he did to me, what he meant to me.

“And this.” My thumb skimmed over his bottom lip, right before he pulled my mouth to his, his tongue plunging and tasting, kissing me senseless.

“Let’s go home,” he whispered against my lips.

“Where’s home?” I asked, hoping this meant we no longer needed to be apart.

He stared into my eyes. “Anyplace you are.”