Sexy Wreck

Chapter 25

She knew what was going to happen, knew he was going to possess her in the most elemental way possible. Stake his claim on her. Brand her as his. An aggressive, wild mating that would bend her to his will and allow him to release the fury and anger swirling inside him in a purely sexual way. It was Zeke's way. Just like the first time he's taken her so fiercely at the cabin, when she'd provoked him beyond his restraint.

He dragged her pants and underwear down her legs and yanked them off, then quickly unbuckled his belt, unzipped his jeans, and freed his shaft. He lifted her so she was sitting on the edge of the table, and with his hands pressed against her knees, he widened her thighs and fit himself in between. She was already wet and aroused, and his erection slid along her slick flesh, the head of his cock burrowing into her weeping sex.

She braced her hands behind her on the table and shuddered, wanting this, but decided she ought to put up at least a token protest. "Zeke... what are you doing?"

A muscle in his cheek ticked. "Since you only seem to understand the way my body talk to you, I'm going to let it do the talking for me." He grabbed her ass and jerked her to the edge of the table at the same time he flexed his hips and thrust into her, making her gasp at the depth to which he'd plowed.

He rolled his hips, grinding himself against her sex. "Do you know what my body is saying right now?" he demanded gruffly.

She shook her head, moaning as he slowly withdrew, and quivering as he filled her again. "No."

"It's telling you that I'm falling in love with you," he said, the tight edge in his voice softening as he pulled back and surged in again. "That I'm not going to ignore what's between us, and I'm not going to let you walk away either." Out... and back in again in a slow, languid stroke that made her so wet. "I need you in my life, and you sure as hell need me in yours."

Her heart rejoiced, and she slanted him an assessing glance that gave away nothing of her own emotions just yet. "That's a little arrogant, don't you think?" she smirked

Watching her expression, he withdrew, and she whimpered at the loss, then gasped sharply when he returned, burying himself to the hilt. "I'm inside your body, sweetheart. As deep as I can get. I can feel your heartbeat. I can see the emotions in your eyes. I have every right to be arrogant. And demanding.

"Yes, you do," she agreed solemnly.

And then another revelation stuck her. Zeke was all about taking risks, in everything he did in his extreme sports, when making love, and even when it came to wearing his hear on his sleeve. As for her, she'd always played it well but not anymore. Not if she intended to meet this man halfway in all things. And that included trusting him with her heart and emotions. Right here and now.

With him full and heavy and throbbing inside her, she slid her hands into his thick, silky hair and nipped his chin, pressed a soft, open-mouthed kiss to his lips, then looked so deeply in his eyes she thought she'd drown in the unabashed emotion she saw shining there. The adoration. The hope and need that reflected her own. 

She smiled and framed his face in her hands, and without any hesitation she said, "Zeke Matthews, I love you."

With a grateful moan, he captured her mouth with his, kissing her as deeply and fiercely as he plunged into her body. So much passion. Earthy and sensual and irresistible.

The ending came fast for both of them, and when his climax rolled through him, she took his harsh groans into her mouth and gave back her own sweet sounds of release.

Amazingly enough, after that physically draining session Zeke seemed to have enough strength to carry her to her bedroom, so she hung on for the ride and gave him directions down the hall. He set her gently on the bed and stretched out beside her, and she knew they still had a few things to discuss. But this time she was ready to face the past and hopefully secure her future.

"Why did you leave the cabin today without waiting for me to return from my run?" he asked as he stroked his fingers along her arm. There was no censure in his tone, no more anger, just the need to understand.

She'd already given him her love, now she gave him her honesty. "I was scared... mostly of what you make me feel, and my first instinct was to run from my emotions."

"What I make you feel is supposed to be a good things, sweetheart," he murmured gently.

She stared up at him, feeling like the luckiest girl on the planet Earth to have somehow earned this man's patience and understanding. "I know that now, but at the time I wasn't ready to face my feelings, or trust in them."

"Are your ready now?"

She nodded and whispered, "Yes."

He lifted a curios brow, obviously wanting more answers, which he fully deserved. "What changed your mind?"

"It was those pictures you took of me this morning. I saw myself through your eyes, just as you'd intended. All my emotions were right there in front of me, and there was no denying how hard and fast I'd fallen for you." Sh reached out and touched his unshaven haw, loving the rough, arousing texture against her fingertips.

"I don't want to keep living through the picture I take of other people. I want to make my own story-book of memories, real ones, and I don't want to be along anymore, Zeke. I want to take a chance on a sure thing. I want to take a chance with you.""oh yeah, I like the sound of that... oh wait! I love the sound of that, rather. He grinned, looking like the rogue of her dreams, and the man who's stolen her heart. "But taking a chance on me means being part of my big, crazy family. Think you can handle that?"

Her heart pounded crazily in her chest, the gift he was offering more than she'd ever believed possible. "Oh, Zeke, I would love to be a part of your family. Do you think they can handle me snapping pictures of them when they least expect it?"

He chuckled, the sound reverberating with warmth and a bit of wickedness. "They'll get used to it."

She sighed blissfully, a huge smile on her face. "With each of us bearing our own scars, we're quiet a pair, aren't we?"

"We're a perfect pair." He ran the tip of his finger down the slope of her nose, then he grew serious. "I know this has all happened so quickly, but I promise we'll work this relationship thing out, take whatever time you need to adjust to having me in your life."

"I don't need any more time, Zeke." Now that he was hers, there was no room left in her heart for uncertainties. She was risking it all. "I chased you for four months and you've just given me the best weekend of my entire life. And I really do love you, and nothing is going to change that."

"I love you, too, Axelle Knight." He kissed her lips softly, reverently, then pulled back and grinned down at her, his eyes bright with tenderness, and something more mischievous. "You know, it's gonna take a lot of years to tame my wild ways, but I do believe you're just the right woman for the job. How do you feel about marrying me and becoming Mrs. Wild Matthews?"

She forced back the lump of emotion rising in her throat with husky laughter and thought to herself in triumphant awe: He loves me! He really, really loves me!

The knowledge chased away every last bit of Axelle's insecurities, leaving her heart wide open for this incredible man to fill up with his presence, his love. "Yes," she managed to reply around the joyful tears threading her voice. "Yes, Zeke Matthews! I will marry you!"

Giddy with happiness, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him on top of her, absorbing his declaration and wanting to preserve this precious moment forever, like a rare photograph in her mind. It was a wonderful beginning to her own personal storybook of mental snapshots, and she knew her private album would grown to reflect the best years of her life with the man she truly loves.