More Than Anything (Broken Pieces 1)

She pushed her hair out of her face and peered up at him, curious about that.

“I didn’t know guys could come more than once without taking a breather or something in between,” she said, and he shook his head, looking a little awed himself.

“It’s never really happened to me before,” he said, looking bemused. “Guess I have you to thank for that.”

She grinned, feeling a little smug about that. The grin faded when she took a proper look at him.

“Your poor eye is swollen shut,” she said in horror, and he lifted his free hand to gingerly probe at the contusion. It was darkening from red to purple.

“Hurts like a son of a bitch,” he complained, and she couldn’t stop herself from glaring at him.

“I hope this doesn’t destroy your friendship with Smith.”

“I’ll talk to him. Like I said before, it’s my fault. He has every right to be pissed off. But I wanted to acknowledge Fletcher as my son. And I wanted you to know that I have your back.”

Tina’s heart turned into a puddle of goo at those words. The only other person who had ever really had her back was Libby. And because Tina had chosen not to tell her friend about her pregnancy, that support had been absent when she’d needed it most. She once again acknowledged that she should never have isolated herself from people who cared about her. People like her best friend and her brothers.

And now . . . so many years later, she knew she could trust that this man, who had once inadvertently hurt her so badly, truly had her best interests at heart. He had been nothing but kind and supportive. Generous and loving.

“Your mother is way too obsessed with weight,” he was saying, still reflecting on their disastrous dinner with her family. “She’s bordering on malnourished herself—you guys should stage an intervention or something.” His words startled a laugh out of Tina. She could just imagine her mother’s reaction to that. The woman was petite but not underweight, yet Harris looked perfectly serious.

“My mother’s weight is fine, Harris. She’s got a nice little body for someone her age. I reckon a lot of guys would think she’s quite the MILF.”

He shot her such a truly appalled look that she choked on another laugh. “Dear God! Why would you put such an awful image in my head?” he asked, aghast.

“No, seriously, I’ve seen guys check her out.”

“Jesus! Stop! You’re being gross. You don’t see me telling you my dad could very well be a stud if he wasn’t so devoted to my mom, do you?”

“I wouldn’t argue with you. Your dad is pretty good looking. He’s like a sexier version of George Clooney or something.”

“Why are we talking about this?”

He sounded totally disgusted with her, and she laughed, pushing herself up and straddling him in one smooth motion. “Why don’t I do something to get those distasteful images out of your head?” she asked on a seductive purr, and he growled a sexy assent, his big hands stroking down her waist to settle on her hips.

“Yeah, go for it,” he said invitingly, and she trailed a finger down his chest, over his rib cage, and then to his side.

Without any warning, she prodded his ribs, and he jumped.

“No!” he gasped, and she grinned before launching into a relentless tickle attack, targeting his ribs and sides in particular. He convulsed into helpless laughter, punctuated with the occasional No! while attempting to buck her off. He finally succeeded in flipping her over and pinned her hands above her head.

“That wasn’t nice, Tina,” he scolded. “Taking advantage of my weakness like that . . . now, how do I punish you?”

Tina smiled trustingly up into his beautiful face.

“I don’t know . . . but I’m sure it’ll be good.” His expression softened, and he kissed her until she was breathless. She couldn’t quite believe that either of them was capable of another session of lovemaking after their last marathon.

But they both proved very capable.

It was hard and fast and intense. So very different from before. She lost herself in their mutual passion. Relishing the weight of his body on top of hers, his lean hips pistoning between hers, the thick, hard thrust of him inside of her. It was indescribable, and her fingernails dug into his back when she gasped her way into another amazing orgasm. Her climax triggered his, and he lowered his forehead to her shoulder as he plunged into her a final time.

“Oh God, Tina.” His voice was dazed and breathless and a little lost. “I love you. I love you so much.”

He went limp and collapsed on top of her for a few seconds before sluggishly removing the condom. He shifted to the side but tugged her close, his arm draped across her stomach and his head resting on her chest. His body slackened and grew heavy with sleep mere seconds later.