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He exhales and closes his eyes for a moment as if in silent prayer. When he opens them again, they are blazing and stray to my mouth. He leans down and his lips hover over mine. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you,” he says.

“Same here, Tristan. I love you.”

“Ah.” He makes a sound as if I’ve punched him in the gut, but he leans down and kisses me. A no-holds-barred kiss, his hands weaving into my hair, angling my head so he can have full access to my mouth. One hand holds me at my nape so my mouth remains on his; the other skims over my shoulder, down, brushing my breast, his thumb skimming my nipple, then over my ribs and to the small of my back, and I light up like a comet. He tightens his embrace, pulling me to him as he kisses my throat, the pulse point beneath my ear, and he continues his sweet, sweet way along my jaw to my mouth. I glory in his touch. I want this. I want all of this. He kisses the corner of my mouth, and then his tongue traces my lower lip. “Can you feel how much I want you?” he says against my mouth.

“Yes. Please.”

I groan when he kisses me again, consuming me, and slowly we sink to the soft moss until we’re laying down, side by side.

Tristan’s hand strays up my thigh. “Are you naked beneath this?” he says when his fingers reach the hem of my I ❤️ Bach T-shirt.

“Just my panties.” I blush, and he smiles.

“You’re so beautiful, Emily. I love putting some color in your cheeks.” His fingers continue up my leg, peeling back my T-shirt. “I never thought I would be here, with you, like this,” he says. “I want so much more.”

“Me too.”

“I want you,” he breathes and kisses me again while I thread my fingers through his dark hair.

“Please,” I whisper against his lips, and he moves, lying on top of me, resting his weight on his elbows. And there’s nothing between us but fabric and the buttons on his fly.

“This what you want?” he says, green eyes intent on mine. He rocks his hips into me, making me gasp. He’s so hard. Against me. Rock hard.

“Yes.”

“You like?” He makes the move again, metal buttons against thin white cotton and my most private place.

I close my eyes, savoring the sensation that spirals out from a small, small, powerful part of my body. “Yes. More,” I breathe, and he does it again so that I moan and move to meet his rhythm.

“Yes,” he hisses softly. “I never expected to feel like this.” His lips find mine, his mouth exploring, as he picks up the speed, rubbing and rocking against me. His breathing quickens, and he’s kissing my mouth, my chin, my jaw as my hands move over him and on him—his hair, his face, his neck, his shoulders, his back. I tug his shirt free so my hands roam on his back, on his warm skin. I want to touch every inch of him.

“Emily,” he murmurs, his voice hoarse, and my eyes spring open. His are closed, his face strained, lips parted as he covers me. I’m panting, pushing against him, and my body is winding up tighter and tighter like clockwork. He opens his eyes and they burn into mine. “This what you want?”

“Please,” I beg, and he groans and quickens his pace, rubbing against me over and over, as his hand cups my covered breast and his thumb circles and circles the fabric over my hardening nipple. I groan, and my legs start stiffening. I’m reaching, reaching… and he’s moving… moving. “Ah.”

“Yes,” Tristan breathes, hot and heavy in my ear, and my body erupts beneath him. Crying out, my voice echoes through the barren landscape. Tristan clamps his hand over my mouth, and wordlessly, he finds his own release.

We lay panting and spent, his head buried in my neck. “Emily, Emily, Emily,” he says, all breathless and sexy as hell. “That was…”

“I know.” I hold him to me, relishing the aftershocks that shimmer deep inside me.

“You make me feel so alive,” he says and rolls to his side, taking me with him so I’m tucked underneath his arm.

“I can say the same to you.” I reach up and trace his lips with my index finger.

He kisses the tip as I do and grins. “Well, that was unexpected and messy.”

“Messy? Oh…” For him. I blush scarlet, and his grin broadens.

“Yeah, Beauchamp. Really fucking messy. Not-so-dry humping for me. It’s been a while.”

I can’t help my shy smile. “A first for me.”

“Really?” His smile lights up my heart. “I’m fucking delighted at that news. First for me… here.” He leans over and plants a soft kiss on my lips. “That was… amazing. Did it make you forget?”

I nod, now embarrassed to be talking of such things. He gives me a quizzical look, and I cover my face with my hand.

“Are you embarrassed?” His voice is gentle, but I think he’s surprised. He removes my hand from my face and kisses my forehead. “Are you?”