He smiles, slow and warm. “Because I wanted to be here. With you. Not as a secret. Not as something casual. Just… yours.”
My heart clenches.
“And I’m yours,” I whisper. I feel corny. But it’s true.
He exhales like he’s been holding that breath for a long time.
He pulls me closer, hands warm at my waist, lips brushing mine as gently as the tide.
“This stopped being casual for me a long time ago,” he murmurs. “Honestly? It never was.”
I cup his jaw, leaning into him, letting the ocean and the sunset and the whole damn sky blur behind him.
“I know,” I whisper. “Me too.”
He kisses me as the waves roll in, soft and deep and certain.
Behind us, we hear Harper shouting something incoherent and Natalie complaining that “no one has ever kissed her like that, not even her massage guy.”
Colt chuckles against my mouth.
But when he pulls back…his forehead rests against mine.
And the world feels simple, like it’s the beginning of something new.
For the first time in a long time, I feel like the past is way, way behind me, and I have a fresh start I’m excited about.
We head upstairs from the pool, water still dripping down our legs, both of us flushed from the heat, the sunset, and the ridiculous amount of staring we endured. The vibrant colors of the sky mirror the excitement coursing through me, and as we reach our room, the moment the door clicks shut behind us, Colt’s entire demeanor shifts.
His voice drops, low and commanding. “Get on the bed.”
My breath catches at the authority in his tone, an electric thrill shooting through me. “On your hands and knees.”
Heat floods my cheeks, igniting a fire low in my stomach. My heart pounds, and I can’t pretend to fight him. Not now. I climb onto the mattress, feeling bold, desired, and alive in a way I thought was long gone.
He comes up behind me, his palms sliding over my hips—slow, sure, teasing. I shiver at his touch, anticipation swirling within me as I feel him press closer. “You ready for this?” he murmurs, his breath hot against my skin.
“Yes,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. I can’t help but crave him, the way he makes me feel—every nerve ending live with need.
With a swift motion, he grips my hips, positioning me just how he wants. The first thrust is powerful, sending a wave of pleasure coursing through me. I gasp, the sensation overwhelming, and I can hear Colt’s low growl as he drives deeper, claiming me completely.
“Keep your eyes on me,” he commands, and I do, locking my gaze with his as he begins to move, his rhythm steady and relentless. Each thrust sends shockwaves of pleasure coursing through me, building the tension in my core.
“Colt,” I moan, the sound escaping my lips like a prayer, and I can see the satisfaction in his eyes, knowing he’s the one making me feel this way.
“Tell me how good it feels,” he urges, his voice thick with desire.
“It feels incredible,” I gasp, feeling myself teetering on the edge. “I love you!”
His thrusts don’t falter. “I love you too,” he replies, the words tumbling from his lips like a promise. The intensity betweenus grows, and I can feel the heat building, the pressure coiling tighter and tighter until I can’t hold back any longer.
With a cry, I come undone, pleasure crashing over me in waves as I scream his name. Colt follows right after, his own release spilling into me, our bodies entwined in a perfect rhythm. I can feel the world melting away, leaving just the two of us, lost in this moment of pure bliss.
I’m laughing into the pillow, breathless, collapsed in a tangle of sheets and Colt’s body weight half draped over me. The satisfaction of what just happened still lingers in the air, and I can’t help but smile.
Colt kisses my shoulder, still panting. “You okay, baby?”
“Okay?” I wheeze, still catching my breath. “I think I saw God. And we just said our ‘I love you’s’ for the first time. What?”
