Page 31 of Blue Sky

And there was my truth. I had told Paloma, told someone. Everything. No secrets.

Her hand grabbed mine, and I didn’t push it away. “I’m so sorry, Beck. That is awful. But she would be proud of you. You are such a great man. And a great father. Meeting you was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I mean it.”

And at that moment, I broke. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that. As a man I wanted to be strong. But sometimes, even men need to cry.

Paloma wrapped her arms around my neck. And I hugged her back. I pressed her body so hard against mine. This was wrong. She was a girl who worked for me. A girl who I refused to destroy.

But after a few more moments of her in my arms, my resolve broke. I couldn’t wait another moment to kiss her. My hand cupped her face and she leaned up toward me, her plump lips already parted. We both paused for a moment, as if to acknowledge the last seconds before this kiss would change our lives forever.

I brushed her hair back and my lips took hers, softly at first. The second she opened her mouth a bit more, my tongue probed her. She tasted like cinnamon and sweetness and I wanted to devour her. An electricity pulsed through my body.

“Paloma, you are so beautiful. I’m crazy about you.”

Her beautiful mouth upturned into a smile and our kiss turned raw, hungry, unbridled. I needed her, I craved her connection. Her hands ran down my body, stroking my arms, and caressing my chest. Then she straddled me in the truck and my hands grasped her incredible ass, rubbing her onto my cock. Her hair glowed in the moonlight and I wanted to make love to her under the stars.

“I’m crazy about you, too. I can’t believe this is happening right now.”

Neither could I. Our chemistry was electric, and it woke a part of me that I had thought died with my wife.

I buried my head in her chest and kissed the tops of her breasts. She let out a little moan that caused a sharp pang in my cock. I wanted to be inside her, make love to her, tell her that I would take care of her, that I believed she had been made for me and Sky.

She slid next to me and her hand rubbed against my cock, exploring its length. My own hand pressed against her pants, and I was excited by her wetness.

“Beck, I . . . I we shouldn't be doing this.”

Ah fuck. My hand pulled away and I looked at her in the eyes. “We can stop now. I don’t want you to feel pressured into anything because you work for me. But I want you to know, this isn’t a fling for me. I’ve never met anyone like you.

Her shoulders relaxed. “I’ve never met anyone like you either. You don’t look down on me. You appreciate me for who I am. I don’t feel judged. You are kind and generous and sweet. But . . .”

There was always a but. “But what, babe.”

“But you are leaving in next month. And I’ll be leaving also. I don’t want to get my heart broken. I don’t want to make things weird. So, unless we have a future together, I can’t do this.

Ah fuck. I was sure we had a chance, but it was complicated. I didn’t even know where I’d be stationed next year. And though I was crazy about this girl, I wasn’t in love with her. Not yet. But I thought of her every moment of the day, even when I was flying. I dreamt of her at night. I craved her.

And honestly, this was the most passionate kiss I had ever shared.

But I couldn’t give her my word. My forever. We were not there yet. So, I did the honorable thing. I always did the honorable thing.

“I can’t promise you forever tonight, but we could make this work. Let’s cool off and talk tomorrow.”

“Sounds good.”

I pulled her into my chest and she fit perfectly. And I knew the answer to all my earlier questions.

I was falling for my nanny.