Laid Bear by Marina Maddix

kneeled between his legs and leaned forward to plant a soft, lingering kiss on those sweet, full lips. “I love you, Max,” she breathed into his mouth. His chest hitched under her hands.
    Trailing her lips down his neck, she kissed her way down his chest, carefully avoiding his injured shoulder. As her tongue neared his belly button, he stroked her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ears. His fingers lingered, lightly touching her head, as she kissed the head of his shaft and flicked her tongue down to the base.  
    “Mmmm,” he groaned. Bethany glanced up at the look of bliss on Max’s face. As he’d done to her their first time together, she smiled and dipped her head to take him in her mouth. Another sharp intake of breath, this time his. The sound thrilled her. That she could make him growl and groan did something to her, flipped a switch inside.
    Using her tongue, her lips, her hands, she swirled and sucked and kissed and stroked until he was on the brink of oblivion. His hands were fisted in her hair, not guiding her movements but just holding on for dear life. His breathing was labored. His pulse raced. He was nearly there.  
    But before she could take him all the way, he grabbed her under the arms and pulled her up to him, locking his lips on hers and pulling her hips down onto his. Straddling him, Bethany lowered herself until he firmly and fully planted inside her inner walls.  
    Their lips never broke apart as she began rocking her hips, Max gripping them firmly. His lips found a breast while Bethany tilted her head back to enjoy the sensation of riding him in the woods. Birds flitted along the treetops and sang to them while they loved each other completely.  
    His hands never stopped moving, caressing her ass, cupping her breasts, running down her arms to entwine his fingers in hers. Tension was building inside Bethany, and when Max’s thumb found the engorged nub of her sex, she could sense the end was coming close.  
    Her rhythm increased and his thumb matched it. Her hands clutched at his knees for support but her arms nearly gave out as she reached the edge and toppled over. Falling forward into his arms, Bethany rode the wave — and Max — and her body convulsed and tightened around him.  
    He tightened his hold on her, wrapping one arm around her rump, and moved his hips into her, seeking release. When he found it, a deafening roar filled the air. Birds and squirrels scattered and chirped in protest, but Max and Bethany didn’t notice. They were consumed by their love.

“W here should I put this?” Bethany was holding up a tacky seashell lamp she’d picked up at a garage sales years before. She was trying hard not to smile, but Max saw through her.  
    “In the junk pile, where it belongs, smart aleck!”  
    He pulled her into his arms and gave her a peck on the tip of her nose. “I can’t tell you how happy I am you’re moving in.”
    She beamed up at him. “Me, too.”
    He took a deep breath of her scent, holding her for a moment longer as if deciding whether to let her go, before releasing her and picking up the raggedy old afghan from her grandmother. The worry that he would want throw that out too must have been etched all over her face because he gingerly spread it along the back of his designer couch.
    “Hey all!” Paul’s voice pierced through the sweet moment as he sauntered through the door, a bouquet of red roses in hand. “When’s the housewarming party?”
    Bethany threw a wad of packing material at him. “Geez, let me get finished unpacking first, would you?”
    “You should know better than anyone, little missy, that patience is not one of my many virtues.”
    Charlotte poked her head around the doorframe. “Everybody decent? I brought pizza!”
    “Thank God, I’m ravenous,” Max said, lunging for the box.  
    “Who wants a beer,” Bethany asked as she walked into the kitchen. It was unanimous.
    “I’ll help, B.” Charlotte followed her in