"Not going to last," he warns, his voice strained. "You feel too good."
"It's okay," I assure him, my pleasure building once more. "I'm close, too."
He slips a hand between us, finding where we're joined, his thumb circling the bundle of nerves that sends lightning through my veins. The dual sensation of him inside me and his skilled fingers on my clit is overwhelming.
"Come for me again," he commands his voice a growl that reverberates through me. "Let me feel you."
His words push me over the edge, my second orgasm crashing through me. My inner muscles clench around him, and he follows me over with a hoarse cry, his hips jerking erratically as he finds his release.
For a long moment, we stay locked together, sweat-slicked skin against skin, heartbeats thundering in counterpoint. Then he carefully withdraws, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before rolling to the side to dispose of the condom.
When he returns, he gathers me against his chest, his heartbeat strong beneath my ear. Neither of us speaks right away, content to simply exist in the afterglow, our bodies cooling in the night air.
“Hey, Lena?” His fingers trace lazy patterns on my back as I snuggle my cheek against his chest.
“Mm?”
“Is it okay if we go sleep with Gordie?”
I untangle from his arms, sitting up. “Of course. You should go to him.”
He shakes his head. “I want you there. With me.” His eyes are vulnerable, and I tamp down the small voice that whispers this feels like much more than a fling.
“Lead the way,” I tell him, my mouth tipping into a smile. “I’m going to use the bathroom and be right in.”
He nods and plants a kiss on my forehead, walking nakeddown the hall like a man on a mission. And it’s this–the care he feels for this helpless dog–that tells me there’s no way I can go back to not having sex with him after he just exploded my world.
But that's a complication for tomorrow. I hurry to clean up and make my way to Alder’s room, where I'm content to lie in his arms, my body pleasantly exhausted, my heart full of something I'm not ready to name.
And I'm not sure I'll ever be the same.
CHAPTER 24
ALDER
I waketo early morning sunlight filtering through my blinds, and a woman's unfamiliar but perfect weight curled against my side. For a moment, I just breathe, taking in the scent of Lena's lotion mingled with the lingering traces of sex and sleep. Gordie is stretched out at our feet, the cone still firmly in place, but his tail thumps gently against the mattress when he notices I'm awake.
Lena's head rests on my chest, her brown hair spilling across my skin. One arm is thrown across my stomach, her leg tangled with mine. I love the contrast of her soft skin against my hairy hockey thighs. She looks peaceful in sleep, all the careful composure she maintains during the day softened and melted away.
Last night replays in my mind—the heated rush from the wedding to our townhouse, the way she looked spread across her bed waiting for me, the sounds she made when I touched her. I've had my share of hookups, but nothing has ever felt like that. Like finding something I didn't know I'd been missing.
Gordie whines softly, drawing my attention. He's squirming in a way that suggests he needs to go outside soon.His energy seems better than yesterday, which is a good sign for his recovery.
Beside me, Lena stirs, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks before she opens her eyes. For a brief second, confusion crosses her features, then recognition and warmth.
"Hi," she says, voice husky with sleep.
"Morning," I reply, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "How'd you sleep?"
"So well, despite a dog fighting me for space on the mattress.” She stretches, her body pressing against mine in ways that immediately reawaken my desire. "How's our patient?"
Our patient. I like the sound of that. "Seems more energetic this morning. I think he needs to go out, though."
As if understanding, Gordie gives another soft whine and walks up to the bed, his cone bumping awkwardly against the headboard.
Lena laughs, sitting up and reaching for him. "Careful, buddy. You're going to hurt yourself."
The sheet falls away as she moves, exposing her breasts to the morning light. I'm momentarily distracted by the sight, my mouth going dry. She catches my gaze and smiles, a slow, knowing curve of her lips.
