Chapter 24 Afterglow – Rhodes
AFTERGLOW
RHODES
I woke up with Rory nestled against me, deep in sleep.
I watched her peaceful face, lips parted open, hair tumbling over the pillow.
My gaze traveled over to her hands, curled up against her chest, and saw the giant engagement ring.
It symbolized so many things—most importantly, a promise between two people.
The ring was real. The promise we’d made was real.
It just wasn’t the right one.
When she’d let me touch her last night—when I was finally able to run my hands down her skin—something inside me unfurled. When we’d kissed, I felt like I had lost and won something all at the same time.
And when I’d made her come? Something inside me became positively savage.
I’d been the one to make her cry out like that.
To beg for mercy. To cause tears to stream down her face as she experienced unbridled pleasure.
I’d been the one to taste her, to claim her, to unlock the secrets of her body.
She’d wanted more, and I’d been so fucking close to giving it to her—to taking her virginity, to marking her deep inside. But I’d decided to make her wait.
I needed to be sure. I needed to be sure that she wanted me like I wanted her.
Because what had awakened in me last night had me unsettled.
My need for her had surprised me. I’d experienced a deep ache, a longing I’d never experienced before.
And it wasn’t just her body, although I wanted to take her very badly.
There was some other, unnamed connection between us.
I cared about her. I wasn’t sure how that had happened. Or why. It was inconvenient, uncomfortable.
It was also true.
As I watched her sleep, my wild thoughts settled. They crystallized.
No one was ever going to touch Rory.
Ever.
Except me.
She was mine.
A fierce protectiveness swept through me, unlike anything I’d ever experienced, mixed with desire.
I wanted her again, but also, I wanted to protect her and give her the world.
She was innocent. Rory was unlike anyone else I’d ever encountered—pure, kindhearted, authentic.
Chance, born of necessity, had brought the girl to me.
I’d be a fool if I ignored a real chance to be happy.
In a few days, Rory would become Mrs. Rhodes Barrington.
And she might not know it, but I had every intention of making her my wife in every sense of the word.
As I stared down at her, she opened one eye and sheepishly smiled.
“Was I snoring?”
“No.” A little.
“Good. And… good morning.” She shut her eyes again. “I’m embarrassed about last night!”
“You shouldn’t be.” I wrapped my arms around her and held her, surprised and charmed at her honesty. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“I think I was really loud?” she asked, peeping at me again. “Like, really, really loud?”
“I mean, you weren’t quiet,” I said, feeling smug. “But that’s a good thing. I hope it means you enjoyed it.”
“Oh. Yep, I did. Oh my goodness, I’m so embarrassed.” Her cheeks turned pink, and she dove under the covers.
“I really did enjoy it,” she called from under them.
“Oh, I know you did.” I’d earned the right to be cocky. I’d rocked her world last night, and I knew it.
And I knew how to do it again.
“If you’re good today, maybe we can play again later,” I offered casually.
She peered out from under the blanket. “If you’re lucky.”
“Oh, that does it.” I dove under the covers with her. She shrieked with laughter as I pulled her against me, but then I kissed her, and she kissed me back with so much enthusiasm that I lost my fucking mind.
Play turned serious instantly. I was rock hard, pressing against her.
Rory moaned, shimmying against me. She was innocent, but somehow, she knew exactly what she was doing.
I bit back a curse as she rubbed against my shaft.
I wouldn’t take her, not yet—but I slid my hard length against her sex, and she cried out, bucking, grinding, heat increasing with each thrust.
I was out of my mind as we rubbed against each other. It was furious. Rory cried out as my cock slid against her wet slit. It felt so fucking good. I was so close.
I picked up the pace. I would not penetrate her, but this still felt fucking amazing.
Rory’s eyes rolled back in her head as she ground herself against me, giving herself over to the pleasure our bodies created together, completely unselfconscious.
She reached down to rub my cock, and that was all it took.
I started spiraling, shattering, but I knew enough to take her with me.
I found her clit, rubbing it expertly as I thrust against her.
“Rhodes!” She cried out, shattering beneath my touch, vibrating along my cock as she came all over me. My orgasm chased hers as I found my release, shooting my seed all over her as she babbled and moaned and clenched against me.
Fuck. Fuck. FUCK! I saw white. I wanted to bury my cock in her for the rest of my life, to make her scream my name until she didn’t know any other words…
We collapsed against each other, sweaty and spent and breathing hard.
After a moment, she peeked at me again.
“That was fun… Sir.”
I couldn’t help it: I laughed. And then my cock stirred again.
“You’ve gone and done it now,” I growled. I poked her with it, and she yelped.
“Sometimes good girls do bad things.” She giggled.
This girl. She was going to be the death of me.
I pulled her on top of me, ready to play, yearning to make her come again. I was desperate to mark her, to make her scream my name again, to turn her world inside out.
I yearned to make her cling to me and only me. To want me and only me.
I’d vowed not to take my virgin bride until our wedding night.
It was going to be a long fucking couple of days.