Chapter 20 #3
“You play way too much.” She eased onto my lap. “Yes, maybe I judged you too harshly in the past.”
“Or maybe you judged me correctly, and I’ve changed,” I quipped.
“See, being honest about Emme, and when you talk right like that, it makes me hot.” She dragged her tongue against my lips, and my dick responded. I shifted away to keep from sexing her. Kensie’s smile disappeared, and she tried to move off my lap.
I gripped her waist. “Nope . . . nope. We’re going to have an amazing time tonight.
Don’t get all cold on me with hurt feelings because I stopped you.
You’ve stopped me from day one, and I don’t take it personally.
” I purposely focused on her mouth. “I do want you. You know I do. After what happened between us last night, I can’t wait much longer either and want to amend our agreement too. ”
Her brown eyes brightened. “What do you propose?”
“If I beat my best time next week, we’re doing an early celebratory fuck fest to be continued after I win my first Formula One.”
She rewarded me with a soft kiss on my neck. “And if you don’t beat the time?”
“We’ll stick to the original plan and won’t have sex until I win the race. The plan you devised, remember?”
“And what if you don’t win that one?” She tried not to sound desperate, but she failed.
I quirked an amused brow. “For a woman who insisted that she keep her legs closed to me, suddenly, the idea that we may not ever have sex again bothers you?”
“Maybe I regret last night or making that promise.” Kensie rested her forehead on mine.
“You shouldn’t. I don’t want to coerce you or demand sex from you. I want you to want me with no reservations, doubt, or guilt. Is that possible, knowing that Emme feels like you betrayed her?” My lungs held on to the air I needed to expel, waiting for her answer.
Residual doubt marred her face and tinged her reply, “I think I can.”
I firmly shook my head. “Not good enough. We’ll enjoy dinner and this yacht tonight, and when I beat my time on Saturday, if you’re down, I’m down.
” Pointing in the distance, I admired, “Isn’t it beautiful?
There’s Freeport over there. Miami is back there, and if we use binoculars, you can see the lights of Cuba.
We’re in the middle of three countries. Crazy, right? ”
“Mad crazy.” She gazed at me before looking out at the rising moon, her pretty face filled with awe as we appreciated the lights of the islands in the distance and the Miami skyline. “I didn’t realize how close everything really is. I’ve traveled, but this is fucking amazing.”
“And we’re going to enjoy dinner in the middle of the ocean underneath the stars,” I announced.
Kensie impulsively hugged my neck and gazed into my eyes. “Oh, I will be so down when you beat your time on that track.”
I rested my head on hers again and stared at our clasped hands.
Kensie Garrett was slowly seeping into every crevice of my heart and soul.
As much as that scared me, I was too sprung to push her away like I’d done countless women.
I’d debated whether to be truthful about Emme since Emme texted me, and my gut decided for me.
I wanted to be honest with Kensie. I wanted to be different with her and treat her like a trusted friend.
Treat her the way I’d seen my Pops treat Mama G.
These last seven weeks of being with her had been almost indescribably comforting.
Her independence actually worked in my favor.
She didn’t expect anything from me and seemed content with whatever time I returned to the villa.
She would wait up for me, eager to hear about my day, and I wanted to know more about hers.
I was surprised that she established a schedule for herself and didn’t constantly need my attention or time, unlike the women I dated in the past. So, when she lit into me about coming back to the house late last night, I was annoyed and caught off guard.
Well, at least until she reminded me about the live that I had honestly forgotten.
The hurt Kensie thought she had masked with anger was evident, and my irritation dissipated into remorse for causing her any pain.
I never wanted to be the man who broke her in any way and vowed that I wouldn’t even if it meant leaving her alone.
Away from Miami, I finally had a moment to think freely about Kensie without guilt.
I loved that she wore glasses at night while reading or writing in her journal.
Or that she would tell me fascinating stories about the people she met while in the city.
Or she would always find something on my plate to fork and eat as if it were required.
Or that when we fell asleep on opposite sides of the bed, she ended up curved against my back by morning.
Pretending to be a couple created deep emotions.
Ones that I wanted to explore. I needed to prove to myself that Kensie wasn’t a distraction.
I needed to beat my best time not only for my career, but also for my heart.