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"If you've a mind to remove these. . . Mistress," he made it a husky caress that trailed up her spine like fingertips, "I can help hold you up. "
"Or collapse to the floor with me. "
He chuckled, acknowledging the truth of her words, and planted a lingering, fierce kiss on her temple.
She cupped his head, holding him there, her eyes as tightly shut as his for a moment.
"God, that felt good," she murmured, surprised when tears choked her voice. "Thank you. "
"Likewise. " He lifted his head, a tender stroke of his nose against hers. "I'd really like to hold you. "
"Oh! Sorry," she smiled, somewhat unrepentant, and tugged off the leg straps, amazed at the ease with which the buckles unsnapped, when they were so resilient when locked. She smoothed her fingers over the deep red welts on his arms, leaned forward and placed her lips there. His other arm curled around her back, folded her to him as he moved off the cross and sank down to sit on the dais. She went down with him, sitting on the step below, her body folded between his bare thighs. The wetness of his cock pressed against her side. He laid his head over hers.
"I really like you, Josh. "
He chuckled against her hair, and she lifted her head to look up into his eyes. Both of them were grinning foolishly. "That's not what I meant. I mean. . . aside from all this, I really like you. You're someone I'd like to get to know better. "
"I think you probably know me better than most people ever have," he tucked a curl behind her ear,
"and," he lifted a shoulder, "I don't know why it is, but two people can be together five years and not know how to love each other, cherish each other, and others can do it," he glanced at his wrist as if a watch was there and slanted a glance at her, leaving the thought unfinished.
She swallowed, uncertain what to say, not sure if she needed to say anything, because the idea was at best a fragile miracle that words might destroy.
"I know," he nodded, as if reading her thoughts. "I'm not talking about the kind of love people have after twenty years, where they can finish each other's sentences. That takes work, and time. But I think all those relationships start with something more than just a flash of lust. You feel like you could just sit and look at that person forever. You just want to be near them. I felt that. . . feel that, with you.
"But you don't need to do anything about it," he added quickly. "I mean, it doesn't obligate you to me.
You have a life, and this is just - "
She placed a finger on his lips. "Don't," she said quietly. "Don't start playing those games. You trusted me with those straps on, trust me with them off. We'll figure it out. I want to be with you, too. Just," she traced the firm lips with a finger. "Just shut up. "
He cocked a brow, and then gave her a slow, sensual smile that reminded her that expression was all he was presently wearing.
"Yes, Mistress," he replied.
She heard Marcus give a weak chuckle as Josh's lips took hold of her mouth, and all her senses, once again.
Chapter 21
Marcus had to leave the following morning. Josh and Lauren followed him down to the wide beach, clean and white in the light of late morning. It was a day that begged to be whiled away, gazing at the surf from a reclining position in comfortable beach chairs.
Lauren felt something tighten in her chest when she saw the charter boat. It had already dropped anchor and a dingy was making its way toward shore. Marcus looked very different in a golf shirt and perfectly tailored slacks. He wore an expensive gold bracelet, Italian shoes, and his hair was carelessly styled to fall in lustrous waves to his shoulders. He looked every inch the urbane New Yorker, but his eyes, moving over the two of them, held a warmth and wistfulness that was a reflection of her own desire to hold onto the special bond they had forged here.
It had been one of the most incredible emotional and physical experiences of her life. She suspected it would rate among the top ten for Marcus. At least for now, until he garnered other experiences to knock it down the list.
The thought curved her lips in a smile, and loosened some of the tight feeling. She left Josh's side and put her arms around Marcus, lifting onto her canvas sneakered toes to brush his lips with hers. His hand caught in her hair and he held her there against him a moment, savoring the sensual pleasure of bodies and lips touching, recalling experiences shared. He eased her down and she smiled at him. "You keep those boys up in the Big Apple in line, you hear me? And if you need any help. . . "
He chuckled. "You'll be the first. You'll scare their cute little asses off. Maybe," he looked away, then down, an unusually vulnerable move for him, then his eyes lifted and found hers over his sunglasses. "I might call Thomas, see what he's doing these days. "
She squeezed his hand at her hip. "You do that. Don't let him go, Marcus. Not if he's the one. "
He nodded, touched her cheek, then looked over her head at Josh. She stepped delicately out of the space between the two men. Marcus moved forward, hugged Josh close. It was the embrace of good friends, brothers, and something that did not need definition. Josh held him just as firmly, his fingers tightening on Marcus's back. Lauren thought she heard a murmured, "thank you", before both eased back, looking a bit choked up by the moment.
Men. Such softies. She smiled on them, felt the warmth of the sun, and thought today was the most beautiful day in the world. More importantly, tomorrow and the next day could be even more beautiful.
There were no limits to the possibilities of life.
"I have a parting gift for the two of you," Marcus said, reaching into his travel bag. He gave them an enigmatic smile as Lauren came to Josh's side.
