Finding Our Course (Finding our Way 3)

He takes his time, slowly building me up, taking cues from the way my body responds. Each nip of his teeth is followed by a lick to ease the sting. The only other time in my life I tried intimacy with another man was nothing compared to the way Bryce and I are together. The instantaneous reaction of craving and desire, each time we touch, fuels the passion between us.

“Baby, your legs are shaking. Let go. Give me that.” His cool breath against my heated core sets me off, and I thread my fingers through his hair, screaming his name.

He doesn’t move fast, instead licking me once more then kissing a path up my stomach, situating my legs around his waist. Without words, he slips inside, stretching me easily. Somehow, he finds the strength to lift me up, leaning back on his calves and holding me to him.

We rock together, and I lose myself in the endless blue of his gaze. My breath gets caught in my throat when he leans in and brushes his lips across mine.

“Tell me you know how much I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Promise me you know how much.”

“I know how much.”

He nods and continues to make love to me slowly, running his mouth, lips, and tongue over every inch of flesh he can. I hold on to his shoulders and arch, rubbing my throbbing nipples into his own, eliciting a low growl from him.

Suddenly, he plants himself as deeply as possible. I roll my hips against his, meeting him thrust for thrust. We both groan and then scream together as our shared releases wash through us. I cling to him, feeling our slick, sweaty chests rise and fall at the same time.

My legs start to cramp from the hold I have around his waist, so I reluctantly loosen them and collapse on the bed. He follows me, rolling to his side to prop on an elbow. His fingers run through my hair, fanning it on the pillow.

Our eyes stay locked, lost in each other, and the intensity in his stare causes my breath to hitch.

“What’s wrong?” I practically whisper.

“Nothing.”

“You’re lying.”

“I promised no more mushy shit, so my lips are sealed.”

“Is what you’re thinking going to make me cry?”

“Who knows? You cry a lot recently.”

“Bryce!” I playfully slap his hard chest and watch the amusement spread across his face.

He turns us slightly and then inches up the bed with his back to the headboard. I have no choice but to straddle his lap and sit face to face. Both of his hands move to mine, linking our fingers. I fall slightly and brace on his chest.

“I hate doing this, but it’s the last night we will have privacy for a very long time.” His amusement is replaced with seriousness.

“Do what?”

“I need to make sure you understand some things. I moved at lightning speed and wouldn’t change a thing. Even though Steve gave me his blessing to propose, he also made me promise to have a conversation with you.”

I suck in a breath, knowing my dad is somehow involved.

“Listen to me, babe. Really listen. I need to prepare you.”

My pulse starts racing.

“This is not the only birthday I’m going to miss, nor is it the only celebration I’ll be absent. Being in the Navy comes with certain responsibilities. I can pray every day that I’ll be there for our anniversaries, the birth of our children, and every other celebration in our lives, but I can’t promise it. Even now, thinking I may miss your graduation next year, kills me.

“Further into our lives, my career is going to dictate a lot. We’re going to get transferred to places out of my control. That’s going to affect your own job as well as our children’s lives.”

“Bryce—”

He continues and talks over me.