I knew he wanted it, struggling to look away from my lips. He wanted the kiss. He craved it. He begged for it, looking into my eyes before sliding his gaze back down, but I couldn’t. Not just yet.
Instead of breaking that barrier that I held, Alex murmured into my neck. "Yes." I worked him nonstop, so close—we were so fucking close. "Anything you want."
“Mmm, yes. Show me that you like it, Alex,” I whispered his own words into his ear.
It became hot and blurry. My hips moved without respite, grinding between his legs, and it was like magic—he moaned into me, the sound unlocking all the untamed parts of me.
In his embrace, he held me so gently while my whole body trembled, our loud gasps muted by the darkness. His lips were attached to my neck, but his control and self-restraint were wrapped around my pinky…and I let myself go.
We came at the same time, both of us loud and breathless. But together.
The dark night hid our deed as we sat on the bed, slumped against each other, in full disbelief of the linewe didn’t cross.
This. Was. Phenomenal.
Alex breathed me in. He ran his hands up my body, gently fixing my dress, making sure I wasn’t exposed beyond the moment. His tattooed fingers pulled up on the low necklineof my summer dress, both my breasts disappearing into the material.
He fucking took care of everything.
And then he brought my hand to his lips andkissed.The inside of my palm. The tips of my fingers. My wrist. He kissed tenderly, reverently, like he was taking his time to enjoy it.
Darkness pulled me under and my eyes closed. My heart, my body, my mind—it was all fulfilled.
"Hmm." The low vibrations of his voice traveled all the way to my tippy toes. "Get some rest, Malyshka." Gently, he placed me on my side of the bed, running his large hand down my arm and covering me with a blanket. "I'm right here, baby."
17
We
Alex
Iblinked my eyes open to morning light and an empty bed beside me. I was in bed—in Jade’s bed.
In two seconds, I was already on my feet, scanning the room as memories of last night hit me full force. Her words, her worries, the way she…the way she felt. How she trembled in my arms. The way she said my name.
I spotted something on the beach and rushed to the window. There she was—perched on the sand and looking out onto the horizon. It was cloudy, for the first time in months, and the strong wind blew Jade’s hair in every direction, but she washere.With me.
Just like last night.
The whole thing was the hottest and most erotic experience I’d ever engaged in—in my entire life. It obliterated all the sex I’d ever had—every relationship, every fling, every wild and seemingly edgy thing I’d done.
Nothing ever felt as special or as good as whatever happened last night. What even happened? I was months away fromturning thirty-five and somehow living through what felt like my first sexual encounter.
You’ll do it again when I ask?When—not if—when.Her words echoed in my mind, and I was now more convinced than ever that if anything were to happen further, it had to be on her terms. I couldn’t take any first steps, couldn’t initiate, and that was both liberating and extremely disempowering.
Waiting for permission wasn’t really my thing. My entire life, I just took what I wanted. And Jade…I wanted Jade more than I’d ever wanted anything, but this time, she held all the power.
How long had she been out there? I glanced at the clock—seven in the morning. That was an hour after my regular wake-up time, but I’d already learned it was too early for her.
I threw on some sweatpants and a hoodie and turned the coffee maker on, haphazardly brushing my teeth.
The coffee brewed…soslowly. I stood there, drumming my fingers in anticipation. I was going to go see her. With coffee because she liked coffee in the morning.
And then we’d make breakfast.
No, I’d make breakfast forher.
It was ridiculous—the way my heart fuckingsangwhen I did things for her. Just as I reached for the cups, the sliding door shut behind me, and I whipped around to see Jade already inside, watching me with a small smile.
