“His hand slid up my spine, bringing me closer, pinning my hands between us as I watched his neck bend.I had a feeling I knew where this was going."Max," I warned, my body bracing."Quiet," he ordered softly. "Got a point to make, honey.""Max!" I snapped."Let's see how good this could be," he muttered, his eyes on my mouth and I knew, I just knew, he was going to kiss me."Max, don't you-"But his fingers had sifted into my hair against my scalp cupping my head, holding me steady and his mouth came down on mine, cutting off my words.”

“His hand slid up my back and his fingers sifted into my hair to cup the back of my head.“Kiss me, baby.”I used the moonlight on the angles of his face to aim and found his mouth. The minute my lips hit his, he rolled partially into me, forcing me to my back in the bed, and my mouth opened as did his. My tongue slid inside, he growled against it and when I absorbed that in my mouth, a small moan escaped my throat. His head slanted one way, mine tilted the other and my kiss turned into a kiss.”

“You and me are both in my bed, no one's asleep, no one's delirious, I think we should take advantage of that."My eyes got wide as my body reacted strongly to his suggestion and it was a positive reaction."Mindy's downstairs," I whispered and he grinned, his face getting even closer."Not gonna fuck you, honey, just fool around," he whispered back"Max-""Shut up and kiss me, Duchess.""Max!""All right, I'll kiss you.”

“I dreamed a dream, Shy Cage." He shifted so his hips were against mine and his voice was now raw when he ordered, "Shut up, baby, and kiss me." "I dreamed a dream when I was sixteen and here I am, standing with my dream, feeling it come real.""Fuck me," he muttered. Then I knew he'd lost patience, because Shy slanted his head and kissed me.Yes.I dreamed a dream and there I was, a ring on my finger, my man's mouth on mine, standing with my dream, feeling it come real.I was feeling everything.And it was beautiful.”

“Kiss me, Tate,” I demanded softly. “Baby -“I lifted my head and put my lips to his, encouraging on a whisper, “I wanna catch fire, honey, and only you can bring that out for me.”I watched up close as Tate’s eyes went intense then his head slanted and he muttered, “You got it, Ace.”Then he kissed me.”

“<…>His body shook as his grin spread to a smile. Then he asked, "You honestly think you can tackle me?" "I didn't say it would be a successful tackle." And then my husband burst out laughing. And I watched. He didn't give this to me often but I always watched. This time it was way better because he was doing it while still inside me. Then his laughter died to a chuckle, he dropped his forehead to mine and his hand came up and curled around the side of my neck. And when he did the last, the laughter died, his eyes held mine and he whispered, "Is my mama home?" I swallowed but I still knew my eyes got bright and my voice was husky when I whispered back, "Yes." He closed his eyes, shifted the lower half of his face and touched his mouth to mine. Then he lifted his head away, opened his eyes and I felt his thumb stroke my jaw. His gaze again locked with mine, he told me gently, "Missed you, baby." I swallowed again and my arms and legs tightened around him. "Me too."<…>”

“After more of his sweet torture, I called, “Tate, honey?”“Yeah, baby,” he answered.“Am I under your skin?” I whispered as my hips moved with his hand.He replied instantly, “Oh yeah.” His thumb tweaked my clit harder, my hips jerked and a low mew slid out of my throat as the fingers of one of my hands slid into his hair and the other arm held on tighter. “Fuck yeah,” he growled and his lips left my ear, his mouth found mine and he kissed me, wet and deep.”