Still connected, he rolled them over. When he saw her dampened cheeks, his brow furrowed. “Happy tears,right?”
She smiled. “Veryhappy.”
“We are good together,” he said, before resuming histhrusting.
He held her like she was his. He kissed her like he couldn’t live without her. The sexy sounds he made when he came inside her triggered another orgasm and she released a strangled cry as he poured himself intoher.
In the aftermath, they snuggled close. She shouldn’t be falling in love with him, but she was. Needing a moment to clear her head, she scooted out of hisembrace.
“Be right back.” Though chilled by the nighttime air, she wrapped herself in another beach blanket, and hurried to the water’sedge.
There, she turned her full attention toward the vastness of the star-filled sky, wishing on the brightest one for something that seemed absurd, even toher.
A moment later, he appeared next to her. “You have a thing about leaving me after lovingme.”
She glimpsed his naked body. “Do you want ablanket?”
“No, Taylor, I want you. I want you to stop being afraid of what’s happening between us.” He stood in front of her and laid strong hands on her shoulders. “Trustme.”
“I do trust you, Jagger. It’s myself I don’t trust. I don’t want to gethurt.”
Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her forehead. “Come sit down. I have anothersurprise.”
Once huddled beneath the blankets, he presented her with a small jewelry box. “I bought this at one of the boutique stores in the hotel. I wanted to get out, but theday—”
She pressed her fingers over his mouth. “You didn’t have to buy meanything.”
He shone his phone’s flashlight onto the box. “Openit.”
After lifting the lid, she gasped. “Jagger, it’s beautiful.” A striking sapphire bracelet laced with diamonds sparkled in thespotlight.
“The sapphires reminded me of your eyes, but no worries if you don’t like it. You can exchange it for anything in any of thestores.”
She melted. “I love it. I can’t believe you didthis.”
He clasped the gift onto her wrist. She rose up on her knees and the blanket slipped off her shoulders. Pressing her hands to his face, she kissed him again and again. “Thank you. It’s perfect and thoughtful and totallyunexpected.”
“You just described you. Happy Valentine’s Day to my raven-hairedbeauty.”
On a strangled sob, she threw her arms around him. Together, they fell backward onto the blanket. “Tell me you have more than that one condom,” she said as tears streaked hercheeks.
“Bought a twelve-pack this time,” he said, and theylaughed.
They made love again. Though Taylor thought they should return to the hotel, Jagger asked her to fall asleep in his arms. She didn’t want to leave him, so shestayed.
When she awoke, she checked the time on her phone. Just afterfour.
“Jagger, wake up. It’s opening day and we have to get inside before the staff seesus.”
“Get inside?” he asked. “If you sayso.”
He shot her a sleepy grin, kissed her cheek, and whispered, “Be myValentine.”
I love you.She couldn’t say those words, so she settled for, “Only if you’ll bemine.”
Twenty minutes later, they rode the service elevator to the penthouse level. He stole one more kiss before she hurried down the hall, toward hersuite.
When she entered, she expected silence and darkness. Instead, the room was ablaze with lights. Kate stopped pacing, crossed her arms, and scowled, as if Taylor had missed her curfew. Hoping to avoid a conversation, Taylor marched toward herbedroom.
