Chapter 145 TYLER

Chapter 145 TYLER
Harper’s lips were on mine before I could even process it. My brain short-circuited.

It wasn’t because she was kissing me—we’d done that more times than I could count. It was the fact that she’d agreed without any hesitation.

My hands tightened around the small of her back, steadying her before she could pull us both onto the floor.

“I was kinda hoping we’d use the bed, you know,” I joked, breathing against her lips.

She pulled back just enough to reach for the hem of her shirt. “Whatever works for you.”

My heart pounded.

She was way more into this than I’d expected, and I was loving every second of it. But for some reason, I couldn’t shake the nervousness creeping in.

I was usually confident when it came to sex. It wasn’t new to me. Still, with her, it felt like I was doing it for the first time. I swallowed hard.

Harper didn’t seem to notice my hesitation—or maybe she didn’t care—because she threw herself at me without warning. If I’d second-guessed myself even for a second, she would’ve ended up on the floor.

I caught her easily as she wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling my face back down to hers. I tried not to focus on the frantic drumming in my chest or how just seeing her in her bra was already shredding my restraint. I didn’t want to rush this. I didn’t want to hurt her.

“Are you… are you sure you really don’t mind?” I asked again, panting against her lips as I carried her toward the bed.

She kissed along my jaw, trailing upward until her hot breath brushed my ear. “I sense hesitation.”

I let out a brittle laugh. “No. It’s not that.”

“Then what gives, Tyler? I thought you’ve done this countless times.”

I could hear the frustration in her voice as she unwrapped her legs and slid down to stand in front of me. Her brows furrowed, like she was trying to read my thoughts. “Don’t tell me you’ve suddenly gotten cold feet.”

“What? No. I mean… maybe.” A question had been sitting in the back of my mind, and I didn’t know how to ask it without sounding like an idiot. “I just… I don’t want to hurt you. Isn’t this your first time? Or did you and Mark…”

I didn’t need to finish the sentence. She rolled her eyes and bent to pick her shirt up off the ground.

“If you’re suddenly feeling repulsed by me just because you think I might’ve already done it with Mark, then just say so.”

She brushed past me, but I caught her wrist before she could walk away.

“I swear it’s not that,” I said quickly. “I’m just… nervous, okay? When it comes to you, I don’t want to make a mistake that might drive you away. I asked because I wanted to know how to take things with you—what pace you need.”

She closed the distance between us, pressing her body against mine. “Tyler, there’s nothing you could do in this world to drive me away from you. Especially not when it comes to sex.”

I leaned down to her eye level, placed a soft kiss on her forehead, and held her gaze. “Promise?”

Her lips crashed into mine in response. This time, I didn’t hold back.

I lifted her with ease, slamming her back against the wall as I stripped away the last piece of clothing hiding her from me. Before she could react, my mouth was on her breast, sucking and teasing, setting the tone for the line we were about to cross.

She arched into me, breathing hard, her fingers threading through my hair.

My hand slipped under her skirt. Without bothering to remove her underwear, I slid a finger inside her. She gasped, clearly caught off guard.

“Just tell me if it hurts, okay?”

She nodded, one hand gripping my shoulder while the other guided my wrist. Soon she was moving her hips to the rhythm I set.

I pushed deeper, using my weight to keep her pinned against the wall. My other hand closed gently around her neck as I kissed her again. She moaned into my mouth.

“You like that?” I drawled, watching her eyes flutter.

“God, Tyler… don’t…don't stop.”

I felt her walls tighten around my fingers, her body starting to tremble. I knew she was close so I slipped my finger out. She groaned in protest.

“What the hell—”

My lips cut her off as I lifted her again and carried her to the bed this time. I laid her down gently, my eyes never leaving her face.

I’d waited for this moment for what felt like forever. Now that it was finally here, I wanted to savor every second of her. But my body had other plans.

In seconds, I’d stripped down to my boxers. My hands slid her panties off before I positioned myself between her legs, hooking one hand behind her knee.

She met me halfway, her tongue exploring my mouth as her hands tugged my boxers down. I let her.

She froze when my cock sprang free, hard and pointing straight at her. Her eyes widened in awe, and she reached out to touch me. I sucked in a sharp breath.

“Yeah… not a good idea right now, babe.”

“Oh,” she winced, pulling her hand back immediately. “Sorry.”

I responded by hitching her leg higher around my waist and adjusting myself at her entrance. Just as I was about to push in, her hands pressed gently against my chest, stopping me.

“Will it… will it hurt?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.

My brows rose. “You and Mark never…?”

She shook her head, biting her lip. My jaw clenched. Seeing her this vulnerable made me want her even more—and made me want to be careful at the same time. I kissed her softly.

“I’ll be gentle,” I whispered, easing her back until she was lying flat on the bed.

Her throat bobbed. My stomach tightened, and my cock throbbed with need. I trailed kisses from her neck down to her pussy, brushing my tongue over her clit, tasting her wetness to make sure she was ready. Then I returned my attention to her face.

I took a nipple into my mouth as a distraction while I slowly penetrated her. She gasped, her fingernails digging into my skin. I held her firmly and began moving in a slow, steady rhythm—in and out.

“You okay?” I asked again.

“Yeah… oh, Tyler,” she moaned, her grip tightening.

I almost pulled out completely, but her hands dropped to my ass, pushing me back inside her as her hips lifted in invitation.

I tried to stay in control, to stay present, to make sure she was still with me. But everything else faded. My rhythm grew faster, harder. I couldn’t hold back anymore. Before I could finish, I felt her suddenly tense beneath me. Her eyes rolled back, her hips bucked wildly, and she came undone around me.

Perfect.

I didn’t hesitate. I thrust into her one last time, capturing her lips as I finally released everything I’d been holding back inside her.

“I love you,” I breathed as waves of euphoria crashed through me. Then I collapsed on top of her, spent.