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My jaw drops. “Malcolm, that’s too much! You shouldn’t have!”
My handsome date merely leans forward to drop a kiss on my nose.
“It isn’t too much, Leslie. I wanted to do this for you, and besides, Governor Monroe owes me a favor. He owes me a couple favors, actually, so this was nothing.”
I roll my eyes to the sky. “Well, I guess if you’re calling in favors, then a private tour of a lighthouse is a pretty good get.”
Malcolm chuckles and just pulls me against him as we stride up the gravel path. The tower is enormous when we reach the base, and the view of the ocean beyond absolutely beautiful, with gray waves crashing on the shore and seagulls cawing as they circle and soar. Malcolm opens the door at the base and then guides me into the darkness.
“Ooof, are you sure this is okay?” I ask.
“Definitely,” he replies before leading me over to a set of narrow steps. The circular stairs are a bit iffy, but Malcolm stays behind me, his big hands lightly resting on my hips, guiding my way. As soon as we’re at the top, I make a beeline for the windows facing the water.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” I ask my date. “Goodness!”
The billionaire’s eyes are locked on mine as he smiles and says, “Yes, very beautiful indeed.”
The air between us vibrates with energy and I can’t look away. As I watch, Malcolm closes the small space between us, bringing his hands to my hips, and pulls me in even closer until my curvy form melts against his broad frame. Then, his bright blue eyes morph into a darker shade that makes me gasp. He lowers his head until our lips are only a breath apart and whispers, “Absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart.” Then his lips are pressing against mine and he’s kissing me.
My heart flutters because this kiss is different from what we’ve shared in the past. Now, it’s more than attraction or pure, animal lust. Instead, passion soars between us as our hearts meet and then join, binding to one another. Ecstasy flows through my veins, making me feel all kinds of things I have no business feeling on a second date, and yet am powerless to stop.
Even more, if the way he’s kissing me is any indicator, Malcolm’s just as lost as I am, and it’s so sweet. And scary too because if this goes wrong, it’s going to hurt like all get out. But right now, I don’t care how much it will sting if this takes a wrong turn because nothing has ever felt more right than Malcolm.
We’re both breathing hard when he pulls back and smiles down at me. For a moment, the gleam in his eyes suggests that he’s going to tear off my clothes and take me right here, in the cold, dank tower. But then, he slings a heavy arm around my waist, turning us to face the view out the lighthouse window. “We better take in the scenery before our time runs out and they kick us out.” He looks sideways at me. “Even the governor can’t get this place to stay open forever.”
I smack his arm and we both laugh, but after a moment we grow quiet while absorbing the surroundings. The sky is blue but turning grey quickly, and steel-colored fluffs of cloud seem to be moving across the sky towards us. Meanwhile, Malcolm pulls me closer to his broad form, and I rest my head against his shoulder. I exhale softly, totally content. In all my years going to lighthouses, I’ve never had an experience quite like this one.
“I think I need to change my answer from earlier,” I murmur, staring out at the ocean.
“What’s that?” he asks, his warm breath tickling the top of my head.
“My favorite lighthouse. I think my answer has changed,” I say. Malcolm turns his head to look at me, and I stare into his eyes, the blue-grey stormy and bright at once. “My new favorite light house is Absecon because it’s wonderful here.”
Malcolm smiles and I melt against him as he brings his other arm around me, holding me tight against his solid form. I snuggle my cheek against his chest and look back at the ocean’s glory as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“I think this one’s my favorite lighthouse too,” he murmurs into my hair. “It’s perfect.”
I’m not sure how long we stay like this, holding each other as we watch the ocean making waves against the sand. I could stay like this forever, but the sky really is becoming more ominous. The wind’s beginning to whip now, sending shrill squeals through the cracks in the walls, and the horizon is now a grayish shade of blue. Suddenly, a crack of thunder sounds out up above and I jerk in Malcolm’s arms.
