Page 127 of Resist

“This place is intimidating.”

“Only at first.” He brushes his lips against my temple. “Once we’ve screwed on the kitchen island, I promise you’ll forget how big the refrigerator seems.”

“Funny.”

He looks at me with that lift of an eyebrow as if to make me question if he is being serious or not.

“Look, we’re here to relax. To have some downtime because God knows we both need it. Stop stressing about everything. It’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.”

“We’ll be fine,” I repeat and blow out a breath, excited and nervous all at the same time over what this weekend holds in its future.

“So . . . the fridge—”

“The massive one I’m supposed to forget about?” I ask, shaking off my doubts.

“That one . . . it’s stocked with everything you can imagine. The bathrooms, too, in case you forgot any toiletries. Please, make yourself at home.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“So, what would you like to do first?”

You.

My grin gives away my thoughts. We stare at each other for a moment, smiles on our mouths and suggestion in our eyes.

“I’d have to agree with your line of thinking, Vaughn, but Rosie is going to be bringing in our bags any moment. While I’m all for kink, having the hired help watch me lick your pussy till you come on my face isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

He lifts an eyebrow as I clench my thighs together. “Well then,” I murmur, completely surprised and turned on by his frankness.

“Well then.” He flashes me a grin and holds out his hand. “Want to take a walk on the beach?”

“That’s a good start.”

“I promise the licking part will come later.”

“Good thing I know you’re a man of your word.”

“That I am.”

“So tomorrow I’m thinking we head into town for a late breakfast, and then we can play tourist since you’ve never been here before.”

“Don’t feel the need to for my sake.”

“Vaughn,” he says, leaning forward and pressing a chaste kiss to my lips. “I brought you here to spoil you. We’re going to play tourist. We’re going to get lobster rolls and ride our bikes out to the Montauk Point Lighthouse. We’ll head to the winery . . . maybe check out the local music scene—”

“All of that, huh?”

“All of that and then some, and you’re going to like it,” he says with a definitive nod as he wraps the blanket around my shoulder.

He stares at me, the flames of the fire in front of us lighting up his features, and it’s the first time I think I’ve ever seen Ryker Lockhart truly relaxed.

“You look happy,” I murmur.

“I am happy.”

Where did this come from? This sudden want to be okay with someone, to have someone like Ryker stare across a fire at me and fill me with hope and love.

Love.