His eyes raked over my simple shorts and tank, and he pushed back, stalking to me.
“Hi yourself.”
Without asking, I ran my hands over every inch of exposed skin, stopping at his waist. His breath hitched a few times, but he never stopped me. His hand cupped my chin, and he lifted my face to his, kissing me sweetly and softly. After a few minutes, he sat us down facing the ocean. I leaned into him, settling my head against his chest, listening to the beat of his heart. When I fell asleep, he brought me to bed and tucked me in tight, joining me a few minutes later and pulling me close.
I slept soundly until that sliver of light hit me this morning. Quietly rolling away from him, I go to the bathroom. Once my teeth are brushed and face washed, I check my phone for any missed calls or messages. My parents sent a quick note saying Happy New Year’s but nothing else.
When I open the bathroom door, Bryce is propped on the pillows with his hands linked behind his head. His eyes rake over me, causing a shudder. We look at each other for a minute before I make my way back to the bed and curl into him, settling in the crevice of his shoulder. My lips touch his neck, and I nip lightly before wrapping my arms around him.
“Good morning.”
“Babe?”
“Yeah?”
“Look at me.”
I look into his deep blue eyes, which have turned the shade of sapphire, and all my nerves relax. We both smile before he kisses me and moves me on top of him. There’s no way to ignore the bulge that hits my hip, and I roll into him.
“Devon,” he groans.
“What? I can’t help it.”
“Try.”
“Sorry.” I try to roll away, but he holds me in place.
“Never be sorry with me. Ever. I’m the one who will spend the rest of my life wondering what could have happened If I’d have spoken up.”
“What do you mean?”
“I may have told you the last two weeks how much you mean to me, but the time we lost fucking tears me up. I’m thrilled with the life you have and the accomplishments you’ve made. I have so much regret it kills me.”
“How can we get past it?”
“I need to know you forgive me, really forgive me. See where I was coming from and know I was thinking about what was best for you.”
I want to quit this back and forth, and in my mind, I know there’s only one way to let go. “Then we need to talk about what happened. All of it, including my heartbreak. I’ve heard your story, but you need to hear mine, too. The good, the bad, the ugly. My road to healing was filled with mistakes and stupidity.”
His body tenses, but he nods and leans into me for another kiss.
“This is it, sweet girl. After today, we let it go. I hear you out, listen to what I already suspect. You got it?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“I already told you I have a plan, and you are one-hundred percent a part of it. When we leave Miami, we’re a couple, a team. We move past everything. Can you do that?”
“Can you?”
“Devon, I already have. If I thought it was right, you’d be naked underneath me screaming my name. But I’m not ready for that until you promise you’re okay.”
His words send a rush of heat through me, and I push into his hips, which cause a guttural groan.
“Baby, you have to stop. I can’t take it.”
“Why do you want me to stop? Isn’t a sexual relationship just as important as an emotional one?”
“Yeah, but I already know we’ll be off the charts. I’m trying to do the right thing.”