Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) by Karen Rose

            He didn’t make her wait, sliding into her in a single perfect stroke.

            She’d wondered if it would hurt, because he was not a small man. It did not.

            She’d wondered if it would feel awkward, once it finally happened. It did not.

            She’d wondered if she’d resent his Tory in that moment. She did not, because he was looking down at her with a mixture of wonder and gratitude that she hadn’t ever even dared to dream of.

            I love you. The words burned her tongue, but she held them back. Not yet. Not tonight. Soon. “Perfect,” she whispered instead. “Show me. Please.”

            And he did. And it was perfect. Every thrust, every cry, every touch. Every clench of his jaw as he tried to make it last.

            And then he hit a spot inside her that she’d never known was there, making her cry out in shocked pleasure.

            “There?” he asked, his voice so deep she could barely understand the single syllable.

            She couldn’t say anything, so she nodded and he thrust harder, faster, his glutes bunching under her palms as she clutched him closer.

            “Open your eyes,” he growled. “Look at me when I make you come.”

            She forced her eyes open, fixed her gaze on his, and let him see everything she was feeling. He groaned and thrust, holding himself deep, and she was frozen, teetering on the precipice.

            “This . . . is . . . real,” he panted, punctuating each word with a punch of his hips.

            Her eyes filled with tears, because she believed him. “I know.”

            “Now,” he demanded. Bracing himself on one elbow, he ran his palm over her belly, heading down until his thumb found her clitoris and he pressed hard.

            She came on an overwhelmed sob. He came with a quiet roar, head thrown back, the muscles of his neck straining until he shuddered. Shaking, he lowered himself to his forearms, still careful not to hurt her.

            He kissed the corners of her eyes. “Did I hurt you? I’m sor—”

            “No. You didn’t.” She drew a breath, trying to get hold of her emotions. “It’s . . . I wanted this for so long. And . . . here you are.”

            His lips curved. “Here you are. With me. Exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

            She cupped his cheek, her hand trembling. “We’re really going to do this.”

            “We are.” He kissed her temple. “Give me a minute. I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

            And then he was gone, taking his warmth with him. Liza thought she should climb under the covers, but she couldn’t move. She felt boneless and utterly relaxed.

            Finally. It was real. The happiness was real.




ROCKLIN, CALIFORNIA

            SUNDAY, MAY 28, 9:30 P.M.

            Tom got rid of the condom and braced his hands on the vanity, staring at his reflection. The man who stared back was familiar, but not. It was the eyes, Tom decided. His were calm.

            He was . . . happy. Deep down, no faking it.

            And he owed it to the woman in his bed who’d bared her soul, telling him her secrets—how long she’d wanted him. How she’d tried to forget about him. How she’d loved and lost.

            He owed her the same honesty.

            He turned off the bathroom light and hurried back to her, finding her in the same place he’d left her. He picked her up and tucked her in, earning him a dreamy sigh. “Love the way you can pick me up,” she murmured.

            And if that weren’t a stroke to his ego.

            He climbed in beside her, relaxing when she cuddled in close. She rested her head on his shoulder with a contented sigh. “Thank you.”

            “I feel like I should be saying that to you.” He stroked her hair and she petted the hair on his chest. This was a perfect moment. Too nice to spoil.

            Nope. Don’t even think it. He needed to tell her a few things. He should have told her before. He didn’t think what he had to say would make a difference, not to his Liza, but he should have given her a choice.