Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 50801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
My heart warms in my chest, knowing Paxton set this excursion up for me today. Because he knew how much fun I’d have.
He’s always done that…gone out of his way to make sure I’m taken care of.
How could I have possibly denied my feelings for him for so damn long? It’s hard to even fathom it in this moment, when I feel so much love for him I’m not exactly sure what to do with it.
We surface after the turtle swims out of sight, slipping off our masks as we bob in the water.
I grin at him, wrapping my arms around his neck, kissing him hard and quick. “Thank you!” I say, seriously downright giddy at the sighting.
His hands glide around my hips, holding me to him as we tread. “I’m so glad we came at the right time,” he says, glancing across the water to where the guide boat waits.
“You’re the best,” I say, emotions catching up with me. “Do you know that?”
He smiles, a humble grin that is so Paxton. “You make it easy to be the best.”
I swallow hard, the compliment doing things to my heart. And I don’t have the right words to tell him what this—what he—means to me in that moment, so I kiss him again.
The simple act of brushing my lips over his is an unleashing all on its own. Years of pent-up need releases through the ability to kiss him whenever I want, and I relish the way he meets me there, holding me close, kissing me back with the same intensity.
It’s hard to think about anything outside his kiss. Outside the way he makes me feel—seen and safe and on fire at the same time.
A whistle blows, and we break apart, laughing softly as we’re drawn back to the present at the guide’s warning.
“That means we have ten minutes left,” Paxton says, still holding me.
“Let’s take one last look.” I slip my mask over my face, but don’t let go of his hand as we dip into the water one more time.
“I don’t remember the last time I’ve danced that much,” I say, slightly breathless as we make it back to our room. I immediately kick off my shoes, sighing at the relief from their absence.
Paxton closes and locks the door behind us, laughing. “That place was too much fun,” he says, sweat dotting his brow just like mine.
We really danced the night away. The little spot he’d found had been so much fun—a local hotspot with live music and incredible food.
“I didn’t want to leave,” I say. “But I’m not sure my legs could hold out much more.”
Pax comes up behind me, hands on my hips, lips on my neck. “Want to cool off in the pool?”
That quickly, I want him, as I remember his words from this morning. I’ve been able to think of little else, despite the fun distractions. And it’s all too easy to slip into this new role—whatever it may be. I like whoever this version of me is with Paxton. I love it, actually. So, I don’t hesitate to spin around and loop my arms around his neck.
“Yes, please,” I say, kissing him softly, slowly.
He groans against my mouth, his hands flexing on my hips.
“I’m never going to get tired of that,” he says as I pull away.
“What?” I tease, backing away while I untie my halter dress, letting it drop to the floor. “Dancing? Swimming?”
His eyes flare wide as I strip off the rest of my clothes right there in the living room, not a hint of hesitation or worry in my mind. I trust Paxton with everything, especially my body, and with the way he’s looking at me? I wonder why we didn’t try this sooner.
“I forgot what we were talking about,” he says, his voice rough as he starts peeling off his clothes, following me through the bungalow.
I step onto the patio, knowing we have total privacy, and once again feel so damn grateful that Paxton included me on this luxury vacation. I slowly descend the stairs into the infinity pool that stretches over the ocean, the water softly illuminated by low blue lights. The ocean beyond looks almost black with the clear night sky above us.
I spin around in the water, grinning as I see Paxton following me into the pool. We’re so secluded out here, we could be the only two people on the island, and I’m quite certain I never want to leave.
The reality of that thought brings me up a little short, leading straight into the question of what will happen when we leave.
Luckily Paxton reaches me at that exact moment of panic, hands on my hips and propelling me out of the water, perching me on the edge of the pool and stepping between my thighs.
I gasp, every other thought emptying from my head as he captures my mouth with his.