Chapter 27

27

* D ylan POV*

"I love you, too, Dylan,” Isla whispers, her voice cracking.

Her heart is galloping like a wild mustang beneath my fingers. She looks up at me, wonder rippling through pools of deep emerald green. My breath catches in my throat, the beauty of this moment tearing me wide open. I cup her face, tracing her freckles with my thumb. How can any of this be real? She blinks, a solitary tear running down her cheek. I catch the salty drop with my tongue, palming the back of her neck and pulling her to me, crushing my mouth to hers. She pushes up onto her toes, her kiss echoing my desperate hunger. I walk her backward toward the bed, gently laying her down. Her shy smile is a balm for my soul, nourishing parts of me I didn't know existed until I met her. Reaching up, she pulls me down on top of her, our bodies fitting together like we were molded by the same hands. Created for each other. She feels so soft and delicate beneath me that I'm scared I'm going to crush her. I try to move my weight onto my knees, but she wraps her legs around my waist, holding me in place .

"I'm going to hurt you, Isla," I protest, planting my elbows on either side of her head.

"You're not. I promise," she murmurs, rocking her hips against me.

I look down at this creature that has captured my heart. Flaming hair. Ruddy cheeks. Swollen lips. Heavy lids concealing the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. "I don't know what I did in a past life to get to this moment, but it must have been something fucking amazing."

"Maybe we find each other in every life," she muses, running her fingertips over my cheek.

"I hope so," I whisper, emotion choking me. Sliding her hand into my hair, she pulls my head down, our lips locking together, her tongue sliding slowly over mine. I realize in that moment that even if we spend every day of the rest of our lives in each other's arms, it will never be enough. I kiss the freckle on the right side of her top lip, connecting the dots over her jaw and down her neck.

"My last test came back clear and I’m on the pill," she breathes, her back bowing as I drag my tongue down her sternum.

"Mine as well, but it's your body, Isla. It’s your call to make."

"I want you in me. Now." Our gazes lock, something words could never express passing between us. I kiss both of her nipples before pushing back onto my knees, her legs falling open on either side of me. She's so fucking gorgeous. Milky white breasts with a smattering of freckles that lead the way to the dusky rose of her nipples. I follow the curve of her waist with my hands, the outward sweep of her hips. I pull her toward me so her ass is on my lap, my cock millimeters from her core. I want to bury myself inside her, lose myself in her warmth, but at the same time, I never want this moment to end. I slide my hands up her thighs, her skin velvety soft beneath the roughness of my palms. Goosebumps race over her skin, drawing her nipples tight.

''You're so goddamned beautiful it hurts to look at you," I rasp, my heart thudding in my chest as I sweep my thumbs over her inner thighs .

"Dylan," she groans, digging her heels into the bed, lifting her pelvis toward me. I massage her thighs, coming closer to her center with every pass. I don't stop until her pussy is weeping for me. I press my thumb against her clit, my cock jumping at the sound she makes. I drag my finger down through her desire, pushing into her, fucking her. Her eyes flutter closed, and she squeezes around me like a vise, rocking her hips.

"Fucking hell, Isla," I groan, wiping my finger on my cock before taking it in my fist and dragging it down her slit, getting it wet before sliding it back and forth over the bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs.

"Now, Dylan." She opens her eyes, trapping me in her gaze. I can't resist the call of her body any longer. I keep eye contact as I lean over her, my cock naturally lining up with her body, nudging at her entrance as she locks her legs around me. Time slows, every heartbeat feeling like an eternity, but even that isn't long enough.

"Don't look away, love," I whisper, holding her gaze as I sink into her, not stopping until our bodies are flush, watching the ecstasy ignite behind her eyes. It's a perfect fit, so perfect I have to distract myself from it. I drop my head to her shoulder, breathing hard.

"What are you thinking about?" she asks, immediately picking up on my predicament.

"The steps to making bagels," I confess, chuckling. She laughs, her pussy squeezing my cock, and I groan, clenching my jaw, refusing to ruin this.

"Sorry," she gasps, snorting as she tries to hide her laughter. She wipes tears from those sparkling eyes, her entire face lit up. "What's the first step?" she asks, biting her lip to try to stop herself from smiling.

"First, you stir sugar and yeast into warm water to encourage the yeast to bloom," I murmur, slowly sliding in and out of her.

"Fuck, you feel good," she moans, her body soft and pliant beneath me. "Then what?" she asks, her gaze slightly unfocused. It dawns on me that she's trying to hold off, too. Draw this moment out as long as possible .

"You stir in flour, oil, and salt. Then you knead the dough." My voice is rough around the edges as I struggle for control. I slam into her several times, my cock screaming in protest as I pull out before I come.

"Dylan, no, I'm so close. Get there with me."

"I want this to last forever, Isla." I trace the curve of her jaw with my finger, trying to memorize every little detail.

"We have all night." She pulls my lips to hers, kissing me tenderly as she rakes her nails down my back. I push my tongue into her mouth as I impale her, fitting my pubic bone against her and rocking back and forth, her clit rolling between us as I thrust into her. "Oh god, Dylan. Don't stop," she gasps, breaking our kiss, her face crumpling as her body finally gives in.

"Yes, Isla. Come for me. That's my girl," I rasp, coaxing her through it, hanging onto my control until her body relaxes beneath me. Only then do I give myself permission to let go.

"Look at me," she whispers, soft hands framing my face as I slam into her, my entire existence narrowing to this moment. I hold her gaze as I fall apart, ramming into her, surrendering my soul to her, giving her a part of me I've never given to anyone else. She draws me into a kiss so sweet, so poignant, it brings tears to my eyes.

"Thank you, Isla," I rasp, rolling off of her and gathering her in my arms, pulling her tight to my body.

"For what?" she asks, looking up at me.

"For being you." I kiss the tip of her nose, wishing we could stay like this forever. "Let's get you washed up and then we can come back and cuddle." I untangle myself from her arms and scoop her out of the bed, carrying her to the bathroom.

"What if I don't want to cuddle?" she asks, raising an eyebrow as I set her down next to the toilet. My heart rises to my throat.

"Do you want me to leave?" I ask, my voice cracking.

"Yes, get," she says, shooing me away.

I close the door softly behind me. Did she really just tell me to leave? Swallowing hard, I pick up my sweatpants from the floor, stepping into them as she comes back out of the bathroom .

"What are you doing?"

"You asked me to leave."

"Leave the bathroom so I could pee, you dummy."

"You said you didn't want to cuddle!" I protest, standing there with my pants half on like an idiot.

"Because I want to do other things, Dylan." She plants her hand on my chest, pushing me back onto the bed, sinking to her knees.

"Isla–"

She presses her finger to my lips, silencing me. "You promised me five rounds, remember?"

"I said if we're lucky."

"Oh, we're going to be lucky. Don't you worry about that," she says, mischief sparkling in her eyes.

I wake up early the next morning, my body already reacting to the feel of her skin against mine, the smell of her shampoo, the soft puffs of breath against my chest. I extricate myself from her limbs, rolling out of the bed and pulling the blankets over her. I can't help but stand there and stare. The glow of the sunrise lends a rosy hue to her skin, her hair dark in the dim light. She opens her eyes, startling me. One slow blink and then she rolls over and falls back asleep. I grab my sweatpants and tiptoe out of the room, closing the door carefully behind me. I start a pot of coffee and leave a note in case she wakes up while I'm gone, and then wrestle with the front door, wincing at how loud it creaks as I open it.

Two hours later, I’m heading back down to the cottage with a plate of hot bagels, some cream cheese, and orange juice. I peek through the side window and nearly fall flat on my face. Isla is standing in front of the picture window, completely naked, sipping on a steaming cup of coffee.

"Morning, beautiful," I say as I push through the door, setting everything down on the coffee table and carefully taking her mug from her before pulling her into my arms .

Her face lights up like a Christmas tree. "Did you make me bagels?"

"I did. Would you like one now?" I ask, curling a lock of her hair around my finger.

"Later," she whispers, winding her arms around my neck and pulling my lips to hers.