Page 132 of Let’s Be Real

“You’re beautiful.” I curved my palm around her hip.

“I missed you, Nate.” Her lids lowered, lashes brushing her cheekbones. “I really missed us. As happy as I am that you’re here, and as much as I like just being with you, I was hoping maybe you’re ready to get back to that.”

I sat up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed, and pulled her to stand between them. I pressed my face to her belly, rubbing back and forth. Shuddering, she braced her hands on my shoulders.

“The last time didn’t go so well for me,” I mumbled against her.

Her stomach rose as she inhaled deeply. “I get that. And if you’re not ready yet, we don’t have to tonight.”

“I’m ready.” I took her hand, bringing it to my erection. “I want you, Samantha. Always. Even when my body doesn’t cooperate, I want you.”

“Me too. Always, Nate.”

There wasn’t a lot of speaking after that. I tossed her onto the mattress and got reacquainted with every inch of her, learning her anew. Her skin was twice as soft as it had once been. Her touch on my cock was even more addictive. The taste of her on my tongue nearly sent my eyes rolling out of my head.

And when I finally sank into her, I couldn’t make it last nearly as long as I wanted to. Her heat soaked into my core. Her nails dug beneath the surface, all the way to my heart. She grabbed me deep and left her mark there. We were skin to skin, face to face. Our hearts echoing one another. Her legs surrounded me. Our lungs traded breath. I let her see through me. She smiled and asked to see more.

Months ago, I’d dreaded every one of my heartbeats. They were another chance to fail her. Now, my heart quickened as I moved inside her, but I wasn’t measuring myself. I was simply with her.

We held each other and came back together through the night. Sometimes we went easy. Other times, it was all desperation and claws. All of it was good. Great. Otherworldly. If I hadn’t been so sore, I would have questioned whether I was having some kind of break from reality. But this was real. Samantha and I were real. I didn’t doubt that anymore.

There wasn’t a lot of sleeping. And for once, that was all right.

She didn’t have to work in the morning, so we napped in a pile, nipping at each other in the warm light sneaking through the curtains. When we woke for good, showered, and got dressed, we ended up back on the beach eating sandwiches.

“Do you like it here?” I asked between bites.

“I’m surprised by how much I do.” She tipped her head to rest on my shoulder. “But you know me. I’m a mountain girl. I couldn’t live here full time.”

“I feel the same way.” I squeezed her knee. “I’d like to come back with you, though.”

“I’d like that too.” She lifted her head, and I turned to meet her gaze. “I think we’re going to be okay, Nate. I’m pretty sure, in fact.”

“I think you’re right. We’ve got this.”

“Are you scared?” she asked after a minute.

“A little.”

Her mouth twitched. “We’re going to do it scared.”

I couldn’t keep from smiling. “Like we always do.”

She’d once tried to leave me at peace, but that was never going to work.

Peace wasn’t being alone or finding somewhere quiet. It wasn’t the absence of fear. It was this: her hand in mine, the promise of another day waiting for us.

I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring…

But I finally wanted to find out.

Epilogue

Samantha

Two Years Later

Normally, the sight of Nate sleeping soundly filled me with nothing but joy. This morning, I really needed him to get up and leave the house so I could get on with my plans.