“Look who’s feeling cocky rightnow.”
“Just really satisfied, that’s all. Are you okay with whatwe—”
“More than okay,” I tellhim.
If only he knew what that experience meant tome.
I lean down and kiss him. I would have thought we’d shared enough kisses, but one leads to another and then another, as though no amount could ever satisfy those men who kept fucking each other’s brains out a yearearlier.
He puts his arms around me, those strong arms, keeping me close, making me feel so safe against him. As I pull away and gaze into his eyes, I know he sees me, more than any other man has ever seen me. I want him close to me like this for the rest of mylife.
When we finally break away, our skin wet with the sweat we worked up, I lie on the bed and he rolls on top ofme.
“You’re going to make me hard again…and then you’ll be introuble.”
“I think you’re underestimating how often I’ve gotten in trouble already. Remember that night when I got into trouble ninetimes?”
“Was it only nine?” I tease, and helaughs.
“Yeah, this ass needed a little rest after that, but just a little, apparently, because I was still good to go the nextday.”
As I laugh at those early experiences, Jesse licks up the middle of my lips, still filled with eager desire…still so willing to explore andexperiment.
I love this man. He can’t know how much, but he will…when I’m down on one knee, asking him to be with me for the rest of my life…forever.
Because I want him thatlong.
Because I can’t be withouthim.
Part of my reverie was surely brought on by the effects of what we shared tonight and the lingering afterglow, but what I’m feeling extends far beyond that. It permeates my very being, stays in my thoughts even when we aren’t pressed up against each other like this or amid our fucking or the effects shortlyafter.
“What are you thinking?” he asks, seeming to notice my minddrifting.
About marrying you, I think, but won’t share that, notyet.
In some ways, it seems like a betrayal not to share it with him when I want to share everything with him, when he’s the only one who knows the secrets of my heart. But I want to surprise him, for it to be just right. He deserves the surprise, so I calm the eagerness that’s built within me and settle for a half-truth, only half because my feelings are so much more than the words can convey. “Just thinking about how much I love you. How far we’ve come from when we first met here, when I became obsessed withyou.”
“You’re not obsessed with meanymore?”
“No, now I’m addicted, Jesse Morgan. Woe to the man who falls in love with you because you have him trapped in your grip, at your total command, to do whatever youwish.”
I run my thumb across his cheek, collecting the bit of sweat that still covers him. I take it into my mouth, enjoying the salt nearly as much as the film of ocean covering hisbody.
“Whatever I wish, huh?” he asks, his eyebrows poppingup.
“Yes,” I say. “Did you have any particular wish inmind?”
He glances around. “I’m gonna have to think onthat…”
“Well, don’t think about it so far away,” I insist, pulling him to me for anotherkiss.
23
Jesse
The sun hasn’t even set yet,and the party is busy asfuck.
Half of it is taking place on the hotel deck and the other half on the adjoining beach. A couple of dancers in neon-green thongs entertain the energetic crowd that gathers on the open beachfront deck. Behind the bar, a big-screen TV flashes videos matching the music the DJ plays from a booth in the corner of the deck. We’re surrounded by shirtless guys—some in board shorts, others in speedos—and fortunately, there are enough who are wearing far more revealing suits than the one Ty talked me into, so I’m not asuneasy.
