he slid his cock into her mouth and held himself deep. he leaned over and grasped the back of the couch with his left hand and braced himself on the seat cushion beside her head with his right. then he began thrusting into her mouth.

"swallow it," he growled.

it was all the warning she got before the first splash of cum flooded her mouth. he paused to let her swallow before thrusting again, deep, and he held himself at the back of her throat while his cock pulsed more warm seed.

he rode her mouth just like he rode her pussy. hard, deep and unrelenting. her lips stretched around the base to accommodate his size. he didn't let up until he'd poured every drop down her throat.

slowly and with seeming reluctance, he pulled away, but he paused as his cock slipped from her lips and dangled a mere inch away.

"lick it clean," he said huskily.

he lowered it until she sucked it back into her mouth, swirling her tongue around her head.

he groaned as he pumped his hips forward. when she'd licked every drop of the moisture from his skin, he pulled away and stood to his full height beside the couch.

he reached behind her to untie her hands then pulled her up until she was in a sitting position. "give me one second to get some shorts on, and i'll be right back," he said.

she sat there, body shaking, numb, her ass still on fire from the spanking he'd given her. he returned just a minute later and sat down on the opposite end of the couch. then he stretched out and reached for her.

she went willingly into his arms, and he pulled her up on top of his body. he positioned her back against the back of the couch and wrapped his arms around her as she nestled her cheek into his chest.

"you're incredible," he whispered into her hair. "never did i imagine finding someone like you."

she smiled and burrowed deeper into his embrace. he continued to run his fingers through her hair, gently pulling the strands apart.

"i was wrong about you," he continued. "i treated you badly, and all because i believed something about you that wasn't true."

she raised her head to look him in the eye. sincerity blazed in his blue eyes. and regret. she lowered her head to his until their lips touched. she kissed him sweetly, gently, too tired to infuse more passion into the act. he didn't seem to mind. he gathered her tighter in his arms, and kissed her back, exploring her mouth with his tongue.

then he turned so she slid down the back of the couch and they faced each other.

"you wore me out," he confessed. "you're way too young for me. i can't keep up."

she laughed. "thank god you're worn out, because i can't move another muscle."

"then go to sleep," he said softly. "i just want to hold you for a while. i'll fix us something to eat when you wake up."

her heart swelled, and she felt a giddy thrill as he rubbed his cheek to hers. nothing in her fantasies, in her most vivid dreams had come close to the reality of their lovemaking. he was the perfect combination of strong and tender.

she nuzzled into his neck and pressed a kiss to his warm skin. he squeezed her a little tighter, and she closed her eyes, content to let him do exactly what he wanted: hold her.

chapter 33

gray slowly opened his eyes and registered immediate contentment. he glanced down to see faith's head burrowed in his chest. his right arm was asleep, but he hated to move. she felt right in his arms. like it was the only place she belonged.

he kissed the top of her head and stroked her hair with his left hand. she stirred and rubbed her cheek against his chest. he felt her yawn against him, and he smiled.

"want to go swimming?" he asked. "i assume you brought a bathing suit, but i wouldn't care if you went naked."

she raised her head and looked at him with sleepy, contented eyes. "i brought a suit. i don't want sand and salt up my woo woo, thank you very much."

he laughed. "sand up the woo woo would be a tragedy indeed. especially since i plan to spend a lot of time up that woo woo."

her brow crinkled. "yeah, wouldn't that be like screwing sandpaper?"

his entire body shook with laughter, and he smacked her on the ass. he left his hand there and glanced down to see the faint red marks still on her behind. the sight turned him on all over again.

he shifted until she was positioned underneath him on the couch. he struggled out of his shorts and tossed them to the side. then he nudged her legs apart with his knee and was deep in her pussy in two seconds.

this was no gentle lovemaking session. his need was urgent, and he wanted to fuck her senseless. he gripped her hips in his hands and rode her hard and deep. her pussy wrapped around his cock. sucked him deeper, heated, silky. as tight as her sweet ass had been, her pussy gripped him just as hard.

his balls drew up and tightened painfully. he elicited tiny gasps from her every time he pounded home. he ran his hands up her sides to her arms then up to her wrists. gripping them tight, he pulled her hands above her head and held them there as he drove deep and locked himself against her.

he wanted to come inside her this time. mark her his in the most primitive way a man can. he wanted to empty himself as deep in her as possible.

her velvet pussy spasmed around his cock, and to his surprise, she orgasmed. she cried out, arching her chest forward as he held her captive against the couch. the sound of her pleasure pushed him over the edge. he hammered home one more time, clenched his teeth and came deep inside her welcoming heat.

as he felt the last jerk of his cock, he collapsed onto her. he let go of her arms and curled his arms around her, gathering her closely. he was holding too tight. she probably couldn't breathe worth a damn, but in that moment he didn't care. he wanted her as close to him as possible.

he kissed her temple and suddenly wanted to tell her more. wanted to make her promises he wasn't sure he could keep but wanted to make nonetheless.

as he became aware of her struggling for breath underneath him, he pushed himself off her. his cock slid from her body in a rush of fluid. he gazed down at her pussy, pink and swollen from his lovemaking. his fluids glistened against her pinkness, and he felt a deep satisfaction. his. she was his.

he held his hand down to her. "let's go take that swim," he said.

she slid her small hand into his, and he was struck by the trust the gesture implied. it was all there in her eyes for him to see. vulnerability, like he had the power to hurt her or pleasure her in a way no other man could. for the first time, he was uncomfortable with the idea of having complete power over her.

he helped her up, and she surprised him by wrapping her arms around his stomach and hugging him tight. as she laid her head on his chest, he raised his arms to hug her back. he stroked a hand over her hair and kissed the top of her head.

when she drew away, she looked up at him, her green eyes sparkling with happiness. "give me a few minutes to get my suit on."

he walked to the bedroom with her and while she was putting on her bikini, he dug his swim trunks from his suitcase. when he looked back over at her, she was struggling with the strings to her top.

"let me," he offered as he moved over to where she was standing.

she relinquished the ties, and he secured them in a quick knot. his gaze wandered downward to the tiny scrap of material charged with covering her ass. he raised a brow as she turned around to face him.

"not that i'm complaining, but i really doubt that thing you call a suit will keep the sand out of your woo woo."

she grinned. "i guess i'll just have to be very, very careful."

he cupped her chin in his hand and kissed her. with reluctance he pulled away and reached for her hand. "let's go before i become a complete animal and fuck you senseless again."

she blushed, but he could see the spark of desire in her eyes before she quickly looked away.

they walked out the french doors and out on the deck. the sun beamed hot on them as they walked down the wooden ramp leading to the beach.

faith gazed out over the water as her feet hit the sand. today the water was greener, not as muddy as it had been the first day she'd arrived. there was a sparkle to the water that was inviting.

she glanced down at gray's hand entwined with hers and couldn't help the surge of happiness that filled her. with a mischievous smile, she broke free of his hand and dashed toward the water.

"last one in is a rotten egg!"

he took off after her, and she ran shrieking into the water. water splashed in all directions as she charged into the surf. she slowed when the waves reached her knees but continued to wade out into the warm water.

gray caught up to her and scooped her up in his arms. she let out a yelp as he grinned evilly down at her.

"i may be a rotten egg, but you're going to be a drowned rat."

"you wouldn't," she dared.

he arched one sexy brow before tossing her into the air. she sailed several feet and landed with a splash in the deeper water. her head went under, and she came back up, sputtering and coughing.

he was there, wrapping his arms around her. he hauled her up against him and kissed her. she wrapped her arms around him and returned his kiss. when he pulled away, she launched herself at him, knocking him over into the surf.

she laughed as he dragged her with him and they both fell under the water. she got a mouthful of salty water again, but it was worth it to see the look on his face when he'd fallen.

they laughed and they played. faith couldn't remember a time when she'd felt so happy and carefree. and gray had lost the driven, intense look he'd worn so often since his arrival. she harbored a teeny tiny hope that she was responsible for the relaxed expression he now wore.

after an hour of swimming, they dragged themselves back onto the beach. she was waterlogged, and her tender bits were starting to chafe from the salt and the sand.

gray wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her temple. "let's go shower and wash the sand off, and then i'll make us dinner."

she moved closer to him and wrapped her arm around his waist as well, as they headed back up to the beach house. she shivered when they stepped into the air-conditioned interior. gray rubbed his hand up and down her arm and hurried her toward the bathroom.

while he turned the shower on, she stripped out of her bikini and waited for the water to warm. then he gestured for her to step in with him.

the steam rose from the heated water, and she sighed in sheer bliss when he pulled her into the spray. he soaped her body with gentle hands, taking care to get all the sand.

she closed her eyes and let the water spill over her face while he soaped himself. a few seconds later, he cupped her cheek, and she opened her eyes to see him staring at her.

"ready to get out?" he asked.

she smiled and nodded.

he turned the water off and stepped out. he reached his hand back to her and pulled her out beside him. once again he dried her, taking his time as he rubbed the towel over her body.

when he was done, he pulled her up and kissed her lightly on the lips. "you go get dressed, and i'll start dinner. we'll eat out on the deck."

while gray cooked, faith sat in the kitchen and kept him company. they talked about unimportant things. laughed. chatted. it was comfortable. no awkward lapses.

he handed her plates and utensils, and she walked out onto the deck to set the small table. the sun had set, and the breeze blowing off the water was cooler now. she arranged the plates and turned back toward the doors. she met gray, who was carrying a platter of pasta in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.

"the bread's on the bar if you'll get it," he said.

when she returned with the small basket of rolls, he had dished out portions of the food onto their plates and was sitting at the table waiting for her.

she sat down and glanced at the wonderful-smelling pasta. she picked up her fork and took a bite. it melted on her tongue, and she made a sound of appreciation.

"i feel so spoiled," she admitted.

he raised a brow in question.

"i've done nothing since you got here. i haven't lifted so much as a finger."

he smiled lazily, his eyes glittering as he stared back at her. "you're doing exactly what i've asked you to do. i couldn't ask for more, and i couldn't be more satisfied."

warmth surged to her cheeks. she swallowed at the fierce look in his eyes.

"eat," he said huskily.

they ate as night fell around them. as the stars popped across the sky and the moon, now full, rose over the water, she sipped at her wine and sat back in her chair.

her gaze drifted across the table to gray when he stood and began collecting the dishes. when she started to get up to help, he motioned her back down.

"i'll be back in just a second. you sit here and relax. it's a beautiful evening."

that it was. waves crashed in the background. the moon cast its pale glow over the beach. the sand crystals winked and glistened as the water chased up and down the shore.