Phoenix by Cecilia London Page A

something else.”
    His eyes drifted to the bulge in his boxers. “It’s working.”
    Caroline laughed. “I can tell.” She leaned into his hand as he cupped her cheek. “Make love to me.”
    She’d never used that kind of language before. Caroline hated that turn of phrase; she found it cheesy and overused. That it tried to say something that couldn’t be expressed in words. It was much easier for her to talk dirty than to use that faux romantic shit. She’d curse like a sailor before she’d start quoting Danielle Steel novels. Jack closed his eyes, forcing a smile.
    “Of course,” he said.
    She kissed him again. “Be gentle.”
    He opened his eyes. He’d do whatever she wanted. Especially tonight. “Always.”
    Caroline led him toward the bed. “I need some help getting this off,” she said, indicating her nightgown.
    That much he could manage. Jack pulled it off in a heartbeat and she gave him a tremulous smile, her brown eyes brimming with tears.
    “I’ve missed you, darling,” she whispered. “So much.”
    He swallowed the lump rising in his throat. “I’ve missed you too.” He stepped back to look at her. Full, round breasts, a healthy, curvy figure. Beautiful auburn hair framing a radiant face. Absolute perfection. “You are gorgeous,” he whispered.
    Caroline slid onto the bed, resting her head on one of the pillows and spreading her legs wide. Jack drank in the view. “Jesus, woman. Give a man time to orient himself.”
    She giggled. “Come here.”
    He shrugged off his remaining clothes and knelt on the bed in front of her. He wanted to kiss her, touch her, do any number of things to her. But he hesitated for an unknown reason.
    Caroline gave him a coy smile. “What are you waiting for?”
    This was real. It had to be real. “I don’t – I’ve missed you,” he said hoarsely.
    She pulled him on top of her. “I’ve missed you too. So much.”
    She kept saying that. Did she mean it? Something in her voice was off. Maybe she needed proof of how he felt. He could manage that much. Jack started to kiss her breasts, moving down her body, but she tugged on his hair.
    “No,” she said. “I’ve waited so long. Please don’t make me wait any more.”
    He always took care of her first. Always. She knew that. And on tonight of all nights, he couldn’t skip out on it. “But-”
    “I don’t need that. I need you.”
    Ugh, she always got him with that pleading tone. Just a shade above begging yet not quite a demand. Jack sat on his haunches, gazing down at her. She lay there waiting for him. Waiting for him to take what he wanted, to give her what she needed. He’d gone too fucking long without her. How the hell had he gotten so lucky?
    Caroline pulled him on top of her again. “Please,” she said. “I need you inside me.”
    He slid a finger inside her. “You’re so wet.”
    She closed her eyes. “All for you. I’ve had to wait so long. Please, Jack. Please.”
    He couldn’t turn her down when she talked to him like that. Jack entered her and she sighed. She was so slick that he slid out a couple of times before finding a rhythm. He gasped, surprised by how tight she was. How wanting.
    “I’m sorry,” he panted. “I-”
    Caroline gave him a loving smile, tousling his hair. “It’s okay.”
    He wasn’t acting nearly as capably as he should. She deserved better than a shitty lay. “I just – I’ve dreamt of this and now you’re here and-” She clenched her muscles around his cock and he groaned. “And you’re doing that,” he said. “Fucking hell.”
    He moved inside her again, slowly, trying to make it last. Listening to her sighs, her whimpers, her words of love. He wanted to show her how much he’d missed her. He wanted it to be meaningful. Magical. And he never wanted it to fucking end.
    Caroline yanked his head up. “Stop with the sweet bullshit. Fuck me,” she said. “Hard.”
    A shocking change in behavior. Unexpected under the circumstances. “What?”