She hugged him, smothering him with kisses while she caught her breath.
It was some time before they relaxed and eased back, watching each other with hazy surprise.
Justine blew out a breath. “I just…wow.”
He nodded. “I agree.”
“And now we need to make it to the bathroom without making a mess.” She nibbled on his lower lip and kissed the tiny sting away. “You came a lot inside me.” She shifted slightly, and they both groaned. “So sexy.”
“Justine, it’s like you want me to come inside you again.” But he needed a much longer break this time.
“I do. All night long.” She smiled. “But first, the bath. Because you’re my love slave for the night, I expect a lot of pampering.”
“As long as that includes me buried inside you somehow, I’m in.”
They paused, stared at each other, and said, “Literally,” before laughing.
Later in the bath, as she lay on top of him, cradled in his arms, Xavier knew he’d never had a more perfect night. Too tired now to be afraid of what came next, he stroked her breasts and belly and let the hot water, and the even hotter woman, soothe him.
“What do you think I should do about Ted?” she asked after having confided what she’d witnessed earlier.
“Well, I’m no expert.”
She snorted.
He grinned into her hair and kissed the top of her head. “But if it were me, I think I’d say nothing. Not because what Ted did with that woman wasn’t wrong, but because it’s over. You heard him end it. Besides, it’s your sister’s wedding day. You don’t want to ruin it for her. And you don’t want to be remembered as the one who ruined it either.”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “That’s what I thought, but I wondered what you would say.”
“Well, I can say I’d never cheat on you like that. I’ve never cheated on anyone. I don’t believe in infidelity. I mean, hey, everyone makes mistakes, and I’m no one to judge. But trust is a big sticking point with me.”
She turned in his arms and kissed his chin, stroking his beard. “Me too.”
“Ted and your sister need to communicate in their marriage. And I’m not even going there with their sex life. Because none of this is my business.”
“Mine either.” She made a face. “On the one hand, I was really impressed Ted turned Sasha down. But now I’m wondering how he knows her. If they work together. What happens the next time they take a trip to Vancouver together?”
“Ifthey take one.”
“If, yeah. But still. I worry for my sister.”
“Which is sweet.” Xavier hugged her tighter and had to kiss her. “But it’s her life. Trust me. I know all about butting in when I’m not invited. I’ve lost a few friends that way, and it’s taken me some time to learn. Not everyone wants good advice. Sometimes they need to live in the muck they make of their lives before they can clean up after themselves.”
“You mean, clean up like we are right now?”
He grinned. “Yeah. Where did I drop that soap?”
It took him a while to find it, but by then, they’d both forgotten why they wanted to be clean in the first place.
Justine groaned the next morning.It turned out Xavier was a cheerful morning person. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but it came close.
Her lovely man didn’t try to wake her though. At—she turned a bleary eye toward the clock by the bed—seven am, he kissed her on the forehead and left the room. Once again ensconced in silence, she went back to sleep.
An hour and a half later, he nudged her. “I’d let you sleep, but you have to show up for family breakfast. Remember?”
She groaned. “My freaking parents. It’s not like Ted and Mallory will be there.”
“Aw. Poor Justine.”
