His chest clenched at where that sentence had been going before she trailed off. “After you’re gone?”
Her soft sigh was full of regret. “Yeah.”
He took it back. He would trade this one night for a lifetime of forever with her.
But that wasn’t an option. She had to get back to her life, and a career that included riding for Olympic gold. He would never ask her to give up her dream.
Reyes brushed his knuckles over her cheek before kissing her with all the pent-up longing of the past few weeks and what was to come in his future. Somewhere in there they stripped off his sweats and boxer briefs, and she nearly killed him with the soft explorations of her hands.
As her fingers circled his hard flesh and caressed up and down, his hips bucked in response. He reached down to close his hand around hers, applying torturous pressure before pulling her away.
“I need to be inside you,” he rasped.
He rolled on the condom, then positioned himself at her entrance. In the faintest of light filtering in from the outside yard lights, he saw her lips part on a soft gasp when he slid into her tight heat. A low groan of pure pleasure rumbled from deep in his chest as he buried his face in her hair.
Holy fuck, I don’t remember it ever feeling this good.
A soft laugh whispered over his ear. “I’d love to take the credit, but that’s just because it’s been a few years.”
“Did I say that out loud?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Raine arched beneath him, her hips urging him to move.
After a few strokes, another moan left his lips when she matched his rhythm. “Take the credit—it’s truly all yours.”
Her hands in his hair drew his mouth back to hers. “How about it’s ours?”
He didn’t agree or disagree as a tingle started at the base of his spine, urging him faster. He fought hard to hold on until she came first—or with him—but his control slipped fast. “Raine…I…I can’t…”
“It’s fine,” she bit out, her nails biting into his back. “I’m good. Oh, God, Reyes, so good.”
Her inner muscles tightened around him. His climax barreled through him, and he let go as it carried him over the edge with her.
His pulse still beat crazy fast as he tried shifting to the side moments later. With her arms wrapped around him, her fingers threading through his hair at the nape of his neck, she made a negative sound and kept his weight over her body.
Emotion swelled in his chest, and he knew without a doubt he’d failed despite his best efforts. She’d given him this memory to hold onto in the dark, and in turn, she’d take his heart with her when she left. He wasn’t so sure the exchange was fair—but he wouldn’t take it back for anything.
Now, he just had to figure out how to live with only the memory as she rode her way to gold.
19
Sunday morning, Raine woke briefly when Reyes murmured he was going to feed the horses, and then a short while later, he slid back under the covers with her. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d stayed in bed past eight, and certainly not with a man. But he’d woken her with a kiss that quickly turned into so much more.
She wished she could spend the whole day with him right here, but reluctantly lifted her head from his chest to check the clock on the nightstand. “Brunch is in an hour. I should get back to the guest house to shower and get ready. You want to meet me up there?”
There was a beat of silence before he pressed a kiss to her shoulder, then rolled over to sit up on the other side of the bed. “I’m not going to brunch.”
Raine sat up, holding the sheet to her chest. “You’re not?”
Back still to her, he shook his head as he pulled on his briefs and a pair of jeans. “I got other stuff to do.”
Surprised by his short tone, she frowned in disappointment—and hurt—while reaching down for the button up shirt he’d given her in place of her wet top. As she slipped it on and secure
d the buttons, it took all her willpower to not demand exactly what stuff was more important than making the most of the time they had left?
“You want coffee?” he asked on his way to the door.
In what, a to-go cup?