“I guess if we’re going to defile the lodge we’re going to have to start now. Not much needs to be done to the place before we open, and I’m not enough of an exhibitionist to have sex in the common areas after our guests arrive.”
The “we” and “our” parts of his statement would have sent her running for the hills just days ago. Maybe he was just so used to having a business partner with Catacombs he reverted to an automatic “we”? However, the warmth in his voice made it sound like he thought of the island as theirs.
To be fair, it wasn’t like she’d ever be able to come here again without thinking of their time alone here. Maybe he felt the same way.
She thought of him owning this place in the future, after they’d split up, and sharing adventures like the ones they’d had together with some other woman. Maybe even with Sarah.
Dex didn’t like that idea at all.
It had been so long since she’d let herself get attached and insecure about someone that she wasn’t sure how to deal with it.
Grant swept her up and walked into the lodge with her, like he had the first day. A few insects still buzzed around the light above the door, but they passed them without being abducted.
“You really need to stop carrying me around like this. I’m going to get home and forget how to mov
e from one place to another on my own two feet.”
“You’re one of the most independent women I know,” Grant said with what sounded like approval. “I’m just trying to help you conserve energy for our next adventure.”
“Our next adventure? We’re only going to be here until tomorrow.”
“I am about to do terrible things to you in various parts of the lodge.”
She groaned in fake dismay. “I’m sorry, but I’ll be having a headache out of the country in a few minutes.”
The arch of his brow made her shiver. He always seemed to know when she was bratting—then again, when wasn’t she?
“You’ve found a faster way home than driving?”
“Wormhole.”
He sighed and sat her on the kitschy log welcome desk, putting his hands on either side of her hips to pen her in. “I can’t believe we’re already out of week.”
His tongue flicked over her lips and she groaned again, but instead of complaining, this time she pulled the elastic from the bottom of his braid and undid his hair. Loose, it fell around them in a silken curtain, shielding them from the world. It felt like heaven between her fingers, and she tugged him down to her and kissed him again.
The week had flashed by so fast, and she was very sorry it was over.
He pulled away but didn’t go far, speaking against her lips. “We have to talk about how we’re going to handle things when we get back home.”
It seemed like he was holding his breath, but she guessed that was fair, considering how hard of a time they’d had even getting to the point where they’d agreed to be in a relationship.
“Well, I’m down with telling people, if that’s what you’re asking,” she said, watching as his expression turned from wary to ecstatic. Her heart leapt at the joy on his face. She’d made him happy like that, and her own elated response to his excitement surprised her. In all their time fighting, she’d almost forgotten how much she loved his real smile, instead of the edged, angry one he’d kept aiming her way.
“I know telling people we’re together isn’t the same as you accepting a collar,” he admitted, “but I’ll wear you down. You’ll see. And if I don’t . . .” He tilted his head to the side and grimaced, as if to say it wasn’t the end of the world.
She had a feeling he just might convince her though. At least the thought of it didn’t scare the pants off of her anymore. He’d been through too much and been alone too long—he’d never discard her the way Nigel had, without much of a second thought.
Besides, she didn’t have any more best friends who were like a sister to her. Even if Grant eventually left her, he couldn’t do it in a shittier way than Nigel had.
Inside, away from the wind, the lodge was warm and comfortable. As their kisses grew more heated, she let the blanket fall away and didn’t miss its warmth.
With a growl, he pulled away from her kiss.
“Woman, you even make kissing hot. I shouldn’t have a hard-on from getting to first base.”
“Wouldn’t first base be groping my tits?”
“Are you arguing with your Dominant?”