Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

“I know.” I found words. “I love you. I do.”

I touched the rippled lines of biceps and dug my fingertips into the skin on his shoulders.

My body tightened as my core shook with the last threads of resistance. The orgasm had built to epic proportions. Vaughn reached between my legs, caressing my clit and I lost it.

“Vaughn,” I screamed into the shower as the last wall collapsed and the orgasm broke free.

“Fuck,” he growled pumping harder and faster.

I rode him wildly, abandoning fears. I clung to him, grasping for more of his skin. His back. His arms. His hands splayed on the wall behind me as he pushed deep, giving in to his own release.

I sucked in gulps of air. The water splattered off his shoulders, hitting my cheeks.

His head hung against my neck. “Fuck.”

I raised his head so that I could stare in his eyes. “I don’t like that you have to leave, but I think I like goodbye sex.” I smiled shyly.

He lowered my legs to the floor. He kissed me, sucking and biting my lips. The flutter in my core returned. I didn’t know anything for sure, but I didn’t know how this could be anything but love.

We opened our eyes.

“I have to go soon.”

“Will you call me when you get where you’re going?” I asked.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to.” He turned around and reached for the shampoo.

I leaned into his back, circling my arms around his chest while my cheek rested on his back. I loved how he felt under my palms.

“Maybe a text or a message. I have that international app. I can give you my username.” I had added it to my phone just for him.

He ran the shampoo through his hair. “I’ll see what I can do.”

His hands landed on top of mine. He rotated to rinse the shampoo. We were chest to chest. My nipples grazed the indentations of his muscles. My lips pointed toward his. He brushed his wet lips over mine. I smiled.

“I can’t wait for you to get back.”

He was quiet.

He turned me around and soaped my back with body wash. When we were finished rinsing off, Vaughn reached for the towels, wrapping me in a spiral before drying his hair and stepping from the shower.

We both dressed and he picked up the few things he had brought with him last night.

“I guess you’ll have to get to know Preston another time,” I mused.

“I guess so.” He tucked his wallet into his back pocket and unplugged his phone from the charger.

“Maybe when you get back we can do a different double date. A movie? Or one of the shows that are coming up for the holidays?”

“Maybe.” He walked past me and pulled his jacket from the hook on the back of the door.

The charge between us had changed. I couldn’t explain it, but it seemed as if Vaughn was so distracted from his travel plans he couldn’t focus. As soon as the shower sex was over, he was on a clearly distinct mission to collect his belongings. I didn’t want to believe it was because I told him I loved him. He already knew—saying it out loud only made it official.

“When is your flight?” I sat on the bed and watched him, confused by how broody he had become.

“Three hours. I have to pack.”

“At least you had a shower,” I teased.