“Jesus, fuck.” Pleasure raced up his spine as she fisted around him. “So damn good.”
Emma’s head jerked in agreement, her lower lip caught between her teeth as he pumped in and out like a madman. She wrapped her legs around his hips and squeezed in synchronized pulses as if trying to bring him closer. Deeper.
Her head rolled back and she whimpered. “I’m close. Oh, God, Dean, I’m so close…”
Sweat beaded on his forehead as the world narrowed to right here. Them, connected. The sensation of her, wet and warm around his cock, the small panting sounds escaping her lips. Hell, the heavy pants escaping his…
“Right now, baby. Right now.” God, she had to come soon, because he refused to let go before she did. He slid one arm farther under her so he could support her, raising his other to find her clit with his fingers. Rubbing his thumb over it in tight circles as he watched his cock disappear into her over and over again.
“Yes. Yes, yessssss….” Emma hissed out her release.
Dean rejoiced as he relaxed the iron grip on his control that he’d barely been able to maintain. His balls were tight, and the tingling at the base of his cock threatened to short-circuit his entire system.
He let go and came, rocking forward once, twice, before pressing as close as he could and allowing his spine to melt with pleasure.
When his vision cleared enough for him to see straight, it was like staring into heaven. Emma’s hair was tousled around her shoulders like a wanton angel’s. Her lips swollen, eyes filled with satisfaction. Dean leaned forward and kissed her while he undid the ropes from her wrists. He dealt with the condom and got her into his lap, and she draped herself over him like a human blanket. Cuddling close as the yacht rocked slowly under them.
“You good?” he asked.
“Oh yeah,” she breathed against his neck happily.
He rubbed her wrists and stroked her shoulders. He couldn’t fucking stop touching her.
Emma chuckled softly, tilting her head back and pressing a kiss to his cheek. “You’re a fine pirate, Captain Dean.”
A burst of laughter escaped him. A woman who was into pulse-pounding sex and had a sense of humor? Damned if he didn’t love this new grown-up version of Emma.
No, damned if he didn’t love Emma. Period.
The realization blasted through him like a gust of hot air, instantly warming his body and circling his heart. Fuck, he was in love with Emma. Or maybe he’d never stopped loving her.
Christ. The guys were never going to let him hear the end of this.
Chapter Fourteen
Pepper peered through her camera lens, shouting orders as she arranged the shot.
Lynn raised her glass. “Cheers. Here’s to an increased advertising budget for DreamMakers, and all the good things that means.”
“Like fake killer martinis?” Suz joked, leaning over to sniff the contents of the enormous glass in front of her. Her eyes widened in delight. “Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat, these babies have liquor in them.”
“Of course they do.” Pepper grinned as she lifted her head from behind the tripod. “But let me get at least a half dozen shots before you start chugging anything, Miss ‘I can tie one on so hard I’ll lasso doggies in Wyoming’.”
Emma took a tentative sip, humming her approval. “Wow, you guys hands-down win the prize for the best shoot I’ve ever been on.”
The five of them were gathered in Pepper and Jack’s garage. The area had been decked out as a studio, bright lights showcasing the linen-covered table Lynn had set up as a stage. There were four chairs tucked behind the table, three occupied, one sitting empty.
That was supposed to be her spot, but Emma had shaken off all requests to get in front of the camera today. Pepper had tried coaxing her to join the models, but she was far happier in the background watching as Suz, Lynn and Gillian got their photos taken for the new DreamMakers brochure Pepper was designing.
Emma took another sip to steady her nerves—it wasn’t that there was a big crowd around, but these were all the women who worked with Dean, or were connected to his best buddies. None of them were deliberately doing anything to make her feel uncomfortable, but anxiety did weird things to her perspective. The foreboding sensation hanging over her head screamed if she made one wrong move, the entire house of cards would come tumbling down around her shoulders.
Pepper took a few more shots then snapped upright, fists planted firmly on her hips. “Gillian Reyes, how many times do I have to tell you to leave your hair alone?”
Gillian sighed as she undid the hastily formed braid hanging over one shoulder. “It feels uncomfortable leaving it down unless I’m in disguise. I don’t like it in the way.”
“Whatever you do,” Lynn warned, “don’t you dare cut it military short. Your hair is gorgeous.”