But the reality was a house wasn’t in the budget. “I don’t have that kind of money, Connor. I can barely afford the rent and Deaglan is giving me a deal.”
His hands slid up my arms to cup my head, his thumbs softly stroking my cheeks. “I do. Vault set me up nicely, although I expect they thought I’d continue to be under their control and using the money for missions, not buying a house.” His eyes softened and he sighed. “Babe, I can easily support us for a while.” I opened my mouth to object when he put his finger on my lip. “I’m not going to talk about you working at the bar, you know how I feel, but I’d like you to start something with your photography and if I can help with that, I want to.”
Despite his persistence to get me to stop working at the bar, Connor had faith in my photography. He’d been supportive of my work when we met, too, although that was only when I’d convinced him to take us to the orphanage.
Taking photos at the Center had been like getting a piece of me back. I’d been thinking about doing something with my photography, but it was art and difficult to build a name.
He tilted my head up. “I fuckin’ love you so damn much. You know that, right?”
I smiled. “Yeah.”
“I can’t give you normal with the perfect white picket fence, but I can give you the broken green picket fence.”
“I’m kind of a fan of green and broken.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him. “I love you, Connor O’Neill.”
“Damn right you do.”
I laughed at the familiar words and then a loud hissing and sizzle sounded behind me. “Shit, pasta’s boiling over.” I dove to take the pot off the stove, but Connor was there first and did it for me.
He dumped the pasta in the strainer in the sink while I added a few final spices to the sauce.
He came up behind me and kissed the back of my neck. Goose bumps popped along my skin and my chest swelled.
God, I loved when he did that. Having him pressed up against me from behind, his hands settled on my hips, inhaling his scent, the light touch of his lips on my skin. That simple gesture made all the uncertainties vanish.
Because there were uncertainties. Connor had yet to see his sister or parents, and he refused to talk to a therapist.
But he wanted to buy the house. Give us permanence.
“Babe,” he whispered against my ear. “I need to jump in the shower. Two minutes.”
“Okay. The garlic bread isn’t ready yet.” I flicked on the oven light and bent to peer through the glass.
Connor’s hand caressed my ass. “Fuck. I love your ass.”
A wave of heated tingles erupted. I stood straight and glanced over my shoulder at him. “I thought you liked my breasts?”
“Like those, too.”
“Like?” I teased.
He chuckled. “Fishing for compliments, shutterbug?”
I smiled. “Yeah.”
He swung me around so I faced him. “I love every single piece of you, Alina.” He lowered his head and kissed me. It was sweet and gentle and really unlike Connor, but I discovered I loved this too. His lips roamed lazily over mine, tasting, exploring, unhurried.
But it didn’t take long before he picked me up in his arms and carried me to the bathroom where he set me on my feet then with one yank ripped my shirt off.
“Connor!” I gasped.
He smirked then tugged his shirt off over his head. Next he rid me of my shorts and panties with a few quick movements before stepping out of his.
Then we were in the shower with the water streaming down on us. My back against the wall, legs around his waist while he held my ass. Our mouths melded in a fury and he groaned just before he guided his cock to me.
He slid the tip through my wetness. “Fuck, I love that.”
I’d been wet from the second he walked in the door looking sexy as hell.
I closed my eyes as he slid inside of me. “Oh, God. Yes.”
He tilted his hips and sank deeper. “Alina. Baby. So incredible.” He kissed me again as he began to move and there was nothing gentle about it.
Raw. Rough. Real.
All control vanished as my fingers gripped his hair and he thrust into me against the wall over and over again. His deep growls vibrated against my neck as he nipped, bit, and licked while pressing his pelvis against my sex.
The sudden burst exploded and my body jerked. “Oh, God. Oh, God,” I cried, thighs clamping and hands pulling at his hair as I came fast and hard.
He came right after me after two more thrusts.
Then we both stilled, our breathing ragged, lips bruised, bodies soaked and throbbing.
My eyes widened as he pulled out and I felt the remnants of him dripping down my inner thigh. “Shit, Connor. Condom.”