If I was a better man, I’d go inside and pack our things then take her back to Miami.
But I’m not a better man. I’m a bastard, and I’m stealing every minute I can with her.
Last night didn’t go exactly as planned. I don’t know what I expected, but her falling asleep against my chest fully clothed was not it. Every primal instinct in my body was telling me to rip her clothes off and worship her body until she was thoroughly convinced of my feelings.
Instead, I changed her into her pajamas and slid into bed next to her, never letting go. When the sun started rising, I slipped out quietly and guided us out of the marina.
“Hey.” Grace’s sleepy voice comes from behind me.
I twist to find her standing in the doorway, watching me with uncertainty. She’s so fucking beautiful my heart hurts.
“Come here, Grace.” I open my arms, and she comes with no hesitation.
She buries her face into my chest. “Sorry, I fell asleep.”
“Don’t be.”
“Where are we?”
“About twenty miles north of Miami.”
“I can’t believe I slept through us leaving.”
“You must have been exhausted.”
“Yeah, I guess,” is all she says, snuggling in deeper to my chest.
She lifts her face to mine, and I lay my forehead against hers, inhaling deeply. She smells exactly like I remember in the morning. The hint of mint from our toothpaste, the smell of her lotions mixed with her shampoo… It all surrounds me, and I lock the memory away.
“God, I’ve missed this,” I tell her.
“Me too.”
She tilts her face and rises on her toes, brushing her lips across mine. My hands slide down her back, gripping her hips and urging her up. She gives a little gasp, her legs wrapping around my waist. My tongue slips inside her mouth, and I groan at the first taste of her. She gives me full access, opening wider and touching the tip of her tongue to mine.
Familiarity hovers over me. This is us.
My insides light on fire, igniting for her. I try to go slow, but as if she feels me holding back, she deepens the kiss, gliding her hands up my chest and neck until she’s cupping my cheeks. Her mouth moves urgently against mine, her thighs tightening as she crawls further up my body.
This is unlike any kiss I’ve ever shared with Grace. Desperation and urgency pour from both of us as I grasp her hips tighter then slide my hands to her ass. She moans into my mouth, rocking into me at the same time. My dick throbs, pressing painfully against the waistband of my pants.
She shifts, grinding on me until I’m forced to break away from her mouth and growl against her lips. “Grace, you have to stop.”
She ignores me, her teeth nipping my lower lip then skimming across my jawline. “I don’t want to stop,” she murmurs. “What I want is you. Make me forget it all, Nick… all the hurt and heartache.”
Ice runs through my veins, the self-hatred returning. I tense, breaking us apart until I can see her face. She braces on my shoulders and looks at me in confusion.
“I love you.”
Her eyes start to shine, darting to the side to avoid mine.
“Tell me you know I love you.”
She bites on her lower lip as it starts to quiver.
“Tell me, Grace. Yell at me, scream, do anything you need to do. But tell me you believe me when I say I love you.”
Her body trembles, but she stays quiet.