After lunch, the sight-seeing resumed. It was a Friday afternoon, so we got to enjoy a free outdoor concert at thebandshell in Grant Park. The last thing on my list was a boat ride.
“You know how to sail, right?” I asked him with a grin as we stood waiting to board a small Duffy boat for our self-guided tour.
“I do.”
I leaned back and relaxed as Bright led us down the calm but grossly polluted waters of the Chicago River. As we rode, I pointed out buildings and landmarks to him, even telling him the story of the Great Chicago Fire and Mrs. O’Leary’s destructive ass cow.
Once the sun set, I directed him to head toward Navy Pier. There was only so close we could get because of the harbor locks that separated the river from Lake Michigan. But once we were close enough, I had him idle.
“What are we stopping here for?”
“No reason,” I told him. “Just to chill.”
About five minutes later, the first of the fireworks from the bi-weekly show lit up the night sky.
“Oh shit. I did not see this coming.”
“Welcome to Chicago.”
“Welcome to Chicago,” he muttered with a grin on his face. “Come here.”
I walked closer to him and didn’t protest when he pulled me onto his lap. “I love fireworks,” I admitted.
“Then I’m glad as hell that we got to see them tonight.”
I watched the night sky over the lake light up with bursts of color and smiled my ass off. For the first time in a very long time I felt free and my heart felt light. The show only lasted for ten minutes, but it gave me ten minutes of joy. I settled my lips on top of Bright’s and kissed him. When he pushed his tongue into my mouth, I didn’t deny him or myself. I kissed him right back.
Once we were back in my SUV, I turned to him. “I wanna stay with you.”
“For the night?”
“Yeah.”
He reached over, running his fingers through my hair. “You really should do that.”
I smiled to myself as I headed toward Collins’s house.
For the firsttime in more than five years, I was single and free to do as I chose. All day with Bright had been easy, relaxing, and affirming. He made me feel dainty, giggly, and shy. He made me blush. Made my blood heat underneath my skin. Made my heart thump. I wanted more of that. I wanted more of him.
“You sure about this?” he asked as the two of us stood in the guest bedroom he was using at Collins’s house. “You sure? Because once I put my hands on you, I ain’t taking them off until you’re glistening with sweat, breathing hard, and completely satisfied.”
I grinned because I liked the way that sounded. No man had ever made promises like that to me. “Okay.”
That one word falling from my lips made him smile at me. The kind of smile that made his lips part slightly, his dimples show up, his eyes brighten, and his chin dip. He looked so damn sexy, but like a menace too. “Get naked. I wanna see all of you.”
I undressed slowly because I hadn’t been naked in front of a man that wasn’t Xander in almost a decade.
“Don’t get shy on me.” The sexy smile remained on his face.
“Okay,” I repeated.
Bright pulled the T-shirt he wore over his head. He followed that up with the removal of his pants and drawers. My mouthwatered at the sight of him. His sun-kissed body was muscular and toned. Butterflies danced in my stomach at the thought of how he would handle me.
“Get in the bed.”
I did, and was surprised when he climbed in next to me and gathered me in his arms. “You’re a beast, Bae-Bae. Things line up against you, and you take them out one by one. You’re a fighter, but I’m about to give you rest.” His hand caressed the side of my face. “Consider this me, unlacing your boxing gloves.” He picked up my hand and brought it to his mouth. “Kissing each of your knuckles one by one.” He kissed each of my knuckles. “And carrying you out of the ring. Your days as the heavy-weight champion of the world are over.”
Tears sprung unbidden, filling my eyes and trailing down my cheeks. “Bright . . .”
