Page 55 of See You at the Sunset

But Henry stood here trying to convince her she was more than enough. Could she believe him?

Henry crowded Jia closer until her back hit the wall. He reached out an arm and leaned it against the wall, blocking her in. She didn’t know why she’d ever said it. She was not choosing the bear over this man.

He smelled impossibly good even through the scent of disinfectant and bleach in the community center’s kitchen.

“Actually, I was wrong, Jia. You’re not capable.”

There they were. The words that she knew would eventually come. He realized the truth.

She dropped her head and could not look at him. But his fingers gently propped below her chin, once again lifting her head up to face him. “You’re so much more than that. You’re extraordinary.”

A tear pooled in and eventually dropped from her eye down her cheek, and he bent a little closer to her. His lips met it with the gentlest kiss. She let out a sob.

“Sweet Jia, please don’t cry because someone, anyone, made you believe you were less than amazing,” he whispered into her ear. “Especially if that someone was me.”

He pulled back and looked at her. His gaze was tender andpleading. His hands had grabbed her arms with just enough grip that she felt... grounded.

“Henry—” It was the only word she got out before his lips were on hers. They were but a whisper of a touch at first. Like he was asking for the permission to kiss her. She placed her hands on his hips and pulled him until their bodies were flush against each other. “Yes,” she said as she pulled back for just a second before pressing her kiss to him, harder than he had. She had no hesitation. She wanted him.

And that was all he needed.

His mouth hungrily took over. He reached down, grabbed both her hands, and then lifted them above her head, holding them there against the wall with one of his while his other arm wrapped around her waist. His upper body leaned in, pressing her back, while his arm pulled her hips toward his.

Henry’s lips moved to her neck and then her ear. Jia’s head was spinning with desire, but she wasn’t able to reach for him while he had her pinned. Jia didn’t usually like being overtaken, but with Henry, it felt safe. Like she knew how much being in control meant for him, so giving him this felt like her own level of satisfaction.

The hand around her waist lowered, reaching down under her dress, lifting up the fabric to expose her from the waist down. She felt the coolness of the air-conditioned chill and shivered.

“Open your eyes, Jia,” Henry commanded. She didn’t realize they’d been closed.

“I want to watch you,” he said.

Jia felt Henry’s hand tug at her underwear and pull it to the side. A long finger dragged along her fold, until it reached the top and pressed against her clit.

Jia cried out at the pressure.

“You are so fucking wet and hot down here,” he growled.

For a brief second, Jia’s thoughts centered on how she’d never once heard Henry swear. Knowing she was the one to make him lose that control made her smile.

“You like that, do you?” he said.

“Yes,” she said breathily.

The tip of his finger rubbed along her pussy until it found the opening. Henry’s eyes focused on hers as she felt his finger enter her. Jia’s eyes fluttered closed at the penetration.

“Open,” he reminded her.

She quickly opened her eyes back up to look into his. His pupils were blown, and the look he gave her was so lust-filled she felt more wetness flood between her legs.

“Fuck,” he said. He pressed his finger in again, dragging as he pulled it out. He added a second finger, and Jia felt the stretch along with the faintest burn.

She wanted more.

“Henry, I want you,” she said.

He moved his fingers faster. “Baby, I’m gonna make you come just like this.”

She thrust her hips to meet his hand as he pumped harder. “I want you inside me,” she pleaded. She needed more. She wanted the burn of being stretched, filled.