I do a little growl, wrapping our laced hands around her waist and drawing her flush against me. “Talk second.”
She giggles and chases my lips with hers. Our mouths unite and a little moan tells me all I need to know. Unfastening our fingers, I cup her ass, sliding her up over my waist, I position my head at her entrance, and in a stomach-tingling thrust, we’re together.
Sighs and moans are the only noise surrounding us. We rock together, her soft meeting my hard. In all my life, I’ve only had this with her. I’ve been with other women—some I remember better than others—but it’s not about that. It’s about us, how we complete each other.
I touch her, and she moans. I kiss that little spot behind her ear, and she shivers. She touches me, and my brow feels tight. I can’t think beyond needing her, possessing her, loving her, protecting her.
“Mariska,” I exhale through the pulses of my orgasm. Her slim hands hold my face as our mouths fuse together. Her knees are bent, legs tight around my waist, and I’m deep inside her.
She sighs, and I kiss her again, giving her tongue a suck. Her inner muscles clench, drawing another pulse from me, and I groan. We hold each other so close. Her soft breasts are crushed against my chest, and our bodies touch from face to chest to thigh.
Her lips taste like the fresh water of the lake. I hold her to me, thinking beneath her softness is our baby. The baby we made.
“I love you so much.” I almost sound angry, but shit, it’s only because I mean the words so fiercely.
She exhales a laugh, kissing my chin. “Always so serious. Have I told you how much I love you, my sexy Marine?”
I’m not sure the emotions in my chest can get any tighter. I don’t know the words for how I’m feeling. I’ve never been much for words. Action is what I’m about.
“You don’t have to.”
She lifts her head, and our eyes meet. Her golden sunset eyes. I could lose days in them. They’re like the desert. They’re like the sun rising in the Montana sky. They’re everywhere I want to be.
“Why do we have to leave?” Her question is gentle, not hard or accusatory. Only curious.
I know better than to give her the real reason. The best way to have Mariska arguing we should stay in Montana is to tell her the reason we have to leave is the baby.
“I have to set up the Princeton office.” I kiss the side of her neck, nip her earlobe with my lips. I won’t look in her eyes and tell her half-truths. “You know that.”
“But… it’s not what you want. We all know you want to be here.”
My sweet Mariska. I’ve only talked about it with Derek, but the women in my life are always dissecting my motives—my fiancée, my mother, my sister, my sister-in-law, Derek’s wife… I don’t know why I’m often the topic of discussion, but I’ve come to accept it.
“I have an obligation to Derek and Patrick to be a part of the team. You know this.”
Her chin goes out. “You don’t like being cooped up in an office. You hate it.”
“Some things change.” Leaning down, I kiss her temple, taking a deep inhale of her jasmine-scented hair.
“Not that.” She pushes back, out of my arms to meet my gaze head-on. “You’re doing this because of me. Aren’t you?”
Her defiance is adorable. Still, I straighten in the water, putting space between us. She’s not giving me orders, and what we have to do is non-negotiable.
“I’m doing the right thing for all of us.” My tone is firm, and her eyes drop.
A little pout is on her lips. I can’t tell if she’s angry or sad, but conflict is not what I want for today. We had a ridiculous morning followed by this very satisfying trip to the lake. Now I want peace, calm.
“Come here.” I hold out my hand. “I love you.”
She drifts to me in the water, putting her arms over my shoulders. My face is at her neck, and I kiss her soft skin.
“I don’t want you to give up what makes you happy for me,” she says softly.
“You make me happy.” I hold her as I say the words, truer than she can ever understand.
“Have you ever considered that I like it here, too?”
“I’m glad to hear it, and we’ve got plenty of time. For now, we’re headed back to Princeton.”