Cape Cod Kisses (Love on Rockwell Island 1)

“I want that, too, but...” She paused before saying, “Maybe we shouldn’t figure out all the details tonight.”

“Why not?”

She was silent for a long moment before finally answering. “Because I don’t want you to feel like I’m just another part of your life that’s pressuring you, or something you’ll feel like you need to run away from because you have way too much on your plate already.”

God, she was honest. And strong.

Smitten didn’t begin to describe what he felt for her.

“I don’t want to run from you, Shell.” He lowered his lips to hers as he said, “That’s the last thing I want.”

Their mouths collided, and his fingers tangled in her hair as more crackles and booms sounded in the distance. Quinn scooped her into his arms and carried her to the blanket a few feet away, lowered her onto her back, and followed her down, her body soft beneath him.

And as he gazed into her eyes, he gave her more of himself than he’d ever given anyone.

He gave her his heart.

WITH QUINN LEVERED above her, looking into her eyes, Shelley knew he was finally letting his guard down. Completely. He was opening up to her and letting her in, and in that unguarded state, she saw all of him. Not just the businessman or the brother, or the suitor or the guy who had shown up a little late with his heart on his sleeve for their date. She saw the whole of him from the inside out. She saw his big heart, his playful side—and his fierce desire to be the man she deserved.

As his lips met hers again, she closed her eyes and slid her hands beneath his shirt, desperate to feel the hard planes of his back and the warmth of his skin. His kisses were all-consuming, as if he wanted to climb into her skin and possess her.

She wanted to possess him, too. Her body pulsed with desire as his tongue trailed along her collarbone, then lower, to the arc of her breast, along the neckline of her dress. She pulled at his shirt, fighting for more of him, to feel his skin against hers.

Shelley wanted so much in that moment. She wanted everything. The heat of his skin against hers. His heartbeat pounding into hers. His lungs swallowing her gasps of pleasure. His groans vibrating all the way through to her soul. Hands grasping, blood rushing, mouths roaming. His talented mouth loving every inch of her body.

Only Quinn made her heart race this fast.

Only Quinn made her rib cage feel too tight to keep her heart inside.

Only Quinn made her want to leap into his arms and never let go.

An explosion of lights high in the sky brought Quinn’s eyes to hers. A smile danced across his lips, but it was the liquid heat in his eyes that had her reaching for the button of his jeans. He’d bared his soul to her, and now she wanted the rest of him bared, too, so that she could pleasure him as he’d pleasured her the other night.

“Shelley…”

He slid his hand up her thigh, kissing her deeply, the heat of his hand searing into her skin. She pressed her hips to his, her anticipation mounting and a moan of need escaping her lungs. It had been a long time since she’d lost herself in a man, but that was exactly what was happening with Quinn. She had no control, couldn’t stop her feelings for him if she wanted to. And she didn’t want to. Didn’t want to hold back any part of herself when she was with him. Not anymore. Never again.

She tugged at his shirt again, and he rose, eyes as black as night, tearing off his shirt with one strong arm. My God, he was beautiful. Masculine and perfectly formed.

She couldn’t slow her roving hands as they played over his muscles. She flicked her tongue over his nipple. His skin was hot and salty, his muscles taut, and when she licked him again, the groan that came from deep within his throat made heat coil inside her. She teased him with her tongue as his hands sought her breasts, and—Good Lord—the man knew just how to touch her to make her whole body hum. His hands moved from her breasts to her belly and finally to her panties.

When they were out on the boat in the moonlight, Quinn had undressed her with not just his hands, but his mouth, dropping kisses on every bare patch of skin he’d revealed. But she didn’t have the patience for that kind of teasing tonight, so she quickly wiggled out of her clothes. Thankfully, he moved just as swiftly, pulling off his own clothes as the fireworks display illuminated their bodies in quick bursts of colorful lights.

When they were both naked, Shelley pushed him onto his back, empowered by the cool night air and the heat in his gaze. She never broke their connection as she ran kisses down the length of his body, earning another groan from him as he fisted his hands in the blanket. His jaw clenched and his hips rose off the blanket as she loved him with her mouth.