Page 149 of My Real Love Affair

“Sleep, baby girl,” I whispered against her hair.

My brothers had it right. Having your person in your arms, knowing she’d be there tomorrow, was worth everything. Worth changing for. Worth fighting for. Worth protecting. And I would.

She was worth it.

CHAPTER 46

MELODY

Iwoke up on our last full day in Tahiti with a sense of dread sitting heavy in my stomach.

Tomorrow, we’d be heading back to reality. Back to New York. Back to responsibilities and pressures and all the things we had left behind. I had no idea what awaited us. What awaited him. I still had my old life, but Austin’s future wasn’t a guarantee.

I didn’t want to go.

“What’s wrong?” Austin asked, his voice still rough with sleep. He was propped up on one elbow, looking down at me with concern.

“It’s our last day.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want to leave.”

He kissed my forehead. “Then we’ll come back. We’ll come back as many times as you want.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” He grinned. “We’re going to make today so good that you’ll have enough memories to last until we can get back here.”

“And how are we going to do that?”

“Jet skis, baby girl. We’re starting with jet skis.”

We were supposed to do jet skis yesterday but ended up snorkeling most of the day. I realized snorkeling was my new favorite hobby. The yacht had anchored in a few different places, each with different ecosystems for us to explore.

“After breakfast,” I said. “I’m starving.”

“Because you passed out after barely eating dinner,” he teased.

I laughed. “It was a busy day.”

I stretched, cat-like, against the sheets. Austin’s hand was already on my hip, thumb tracing idle circles that made me shiver despite the warm Tahiti air.

“Breakfast can wait,” he murmured, voice sleep-rough and dangerous.

I rolled over to face him, nose brushing his. “If we skip it again, Claire will start leaving trays outside the door like we’re shut-ins.”

He grinned, wicked and slow. “Let her. I don’t mind being shut in with you.”

I laughed, pushing at his chest. “Up. I want coffee that isn’t delivered by someone who’s seen us both naked.”

“It was one time,” he teased.

I scowled at him. “One time too many.”

Two days ago, Claire thought we had left the yacht. We hadn’t. We were naked. In the shower. Austin in all his chivalry had stood in front of me to shield my body while exposing his. And Claire had gotten an eyeful.

And yeah, it pissed me off that she stood there for far longer than was necessary. I understood why she stared at him. He was gorgeous, and when he was naked, it was like looking at a Greek god.