Page 65 of Day Break

Her eyes locked with mine. “Up until I married. Then, after…” She shook her head. “I had other duties to fill my time instead.”

“Right,” I said again.

“Does it bother you?” she asked, shocking me a little.

“What?” I frowned.

“Knowing. I’ve never told anyone else before.” She watched me closely.

“It doesn’t bother me that you’ve told me. There are a handful of people on this planet I want to kill now, but no.” I took her hand in mine. “I don’t think differently of you, if that’s what you were getting at.” She nodded slowly. “It wasn’t you. You did nothing wrong.” I said it slowly.

Her lower lip quivered, and I reached out and tugged her until she was in my arms.

Instead of crying, she sighed and relaxed.

“Thank you,” she said against my chest.

“For?” I asked.

“Showing me what sex could be.” She leaned back and looked into my eyes. “I saw the worry in your eyes.” She smiled. “I’m not going to force you to marry me.”

I chuckled. “That’s good. I’m not ready to make that leap, just yet.”

She nodded. “I like things the way they are.” She looked down at my lips. “I don’t know if I’ll ever want to marry again.”

I nodded, understanding.

“For the first time in my life, I’m in charge,” she said with a smile. “I feel as if I’m not only finally in charge of my sexuality, but my entire life.”

“You’re the boss.” I brushed my lips over hers. “If I do something you don’t like, feel free to tell me,” I said between kisses.

“Lane?” she said softly.

“Hm?” I asked.

“How about we take your food up to my room so you can finish it there,” she said next to my lips. “After.”

As an answer, I quickly gathered her up in my arms, her legs wrapped around my hips. I tried to take my plate but ended up having to have her hold it while I rushed through the light rain to the garage staircase and into her room.

Once more, we pulled our clothes off, only this time we made it to the bed, and I forced myself to slow down. I wanted to show her everything she’d missed over the years. Everything she hadn’t experienced.

By the time we sat in bed, munching on the cold dinner, I was pretty confident I had shown her a few more new things. I was also a little surprised that she’d managed to show me a few things as well.

I’d never experienced the sort of connection we had before. There had been a few women in my past that I’d thought I’d had a deep bond with. But as I fell asleep with Chloe wrapped around me, the soft subtle smell of her filling my senses, I realized I’d been wrong.

I woke to the distant sound of a dog howling and, for a split second, was confused about where I was. Then Chloe’s soft body rubbed up against mine, and the memories flooded back.

“It’s Byron,” she said. She shifted away from me before I could pull her back. I leaned up and watched her quickly pull on her shorts and a shirt. “Your grandfather is probably sleeping, and Byron needs out,” she said over her shoulder. Then she smiled. “Stay in bed. I’ll be just a moment.”

I nodded, knowing exactly what I wanted to do to her when she returned. But she didn’t return for such a long time that I grew worried. I pulled on my own clothes and stepped out and saw the back door to the house wide open.

I glanced towards the beach pathway and listened. Maybe she’d taken Byron to the beach?

Then I heard Byron barking from inside the house. I followed the sounds, rushing down the stairs and through the back door.

Chloe and my grandfather stood in the hallway, just outside of Sherry’s room. When they heard me, Chloe glanced over at me, her hands covering her mouth.

“Lane, I…” she said, shaking her head.