Chapter 23 Tasha
twenty-three
tasha
We were practically sprinting by the time we reached the cabin, both of us giggling stupidly, crashing through the door in a blur of tangled limbs and urgency. Nate barely got the lock clicked before I was pressed against him, my fingers already sliding beneath his shirt.
"How long do we have?" I breathed against his lips.
"Hour and a half," he murmured, gripping my waist, pressing his mouth to mine. "Maybe two if we're lucky."
"More than enough," I said, pulling him closer until our bodies fit together perfectly. Every stolen glance from the weekend, every lingering touch and whispered flirtation came flooding back, propelling us forward in a rush of laughter and desire.
"You know," I teased as Nate's lips grazed down my neck, lingering just long enough to make me shiver, "I'm starting to suspect you planned this."
He laughed softly against my skin, his breath warm, his fingers already teasing at the ties of my bikini top. "Me? Manipulate circumstances just to get you alone in a secluded beach cabin? Never."
"Liar," I accused, then gasped as his mouth found that spot just below my ear. "Oh my God, we're totally those people now. The ones who ditch the kid for a quickie."
"We are not—" he started to protest, but I cut him off with a kiss.
"We absolutely are, and I'm not even sorry about it," I grinned against his mouth, feeling giddy and reckless and twenty-seven. "We're like horny teenagers at summer camp."
"Horny teenagers?" he raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Very horny teenagers," I confirmed solemnly, then dissolved into laughter at his expression. "What? You're the one who orchestrated an elaborate childcare scheme just to get me naked."
I laughed, swatting his chest, but my amusement turned into a sigh as my bikini top slipped away, baring me completely. Nate's eyes darkened, his gaze heated and hungry, roaming over my exposed skin with unmistakable desire.
"You’re gorgeous," he murmured, voice thick with admiration.
We left a trail of discarded clothing as we stumbled through the tiny cabin, Nate kicking aside his shorts and my cover-up falling forgotten.
The afternoon sun streamed through the cabin's windows, painting golden streaks across his bare chest and highlighting every taut muscle, every faded scar.
He caught me staring and smiled softly, reaching out to cup my cheek.
"I love you," he whispered, his thumb brushing gently over my lower lip.
"I love you too," I replied, my heart racing as I pulled him onto the narrow bed. We laughed breathlessly when we bumped into the wall, the bed creaking beneath us. "Very smooth."
"Always," he chuckled, shifting beside me, propping himself up on an elbow.
His eyes locked on mine as his hand traced a slow, deliberate path from my collarbone down between my breasts, fingertips trailing heat in their wake.
My breath hitched, anticipation sending goosebumps scattering across my skin.
"I've thought about this all weekend," he admitted, voice rough with desire.
"Only the weekend?" I teased breathlessly, my own fingers tracing down the hard planes of his chest, exploring the tight muscles of his abdomen, enjoying how his breathing quickened under my touch.
"Longer," he confessed, leaning in to kiss me deeply, hungrily, his mouth coaxing mine open as his tongue teased and explored.
Our playful touches quickly shifted into something deeper, more urgent. His hands moved down my sides, fingers tightening on my hips as he pulled me closer. I moaned softly as his mouth explored my neck, his kisses growing hotter, more possessive, each one igniting a fresh spark deep inside me.
When his mouth moved lower, his tongue tracing the sensitive curve of my breast, I arched into him, my fingers tangling in his hair. "Nate," I whispered urgently.
His eyes flicked up to mine, dark and playful. "What do you need, Tasha?"
"You," I breathed, pulling him back up into a fierce, heated kiss. "Now."
He shifted over me, every movement deliberate, every muscle tensed as he slid slowly inside me.
I gasped sharply, overwhelmed by the intensity of the connection, the sensation of being filled completely, perfectly.
Our rhythm began slowly, tenderly, savoring each other as if we had all the time in the world.
But patience soon gave way to passion. Our hips met with increasing urgency, bodies slick with sweat, hearts pounding in sync. Nate’s hands roamed possessively, mapping every inch of my skin, gripping my thighs as he pulled me closer, deeper, sending waves of pleasure crashing through me.
"God, Tasha," he groaned, voice thick with raw need, his forehead pressed against mine. "You feel incredible."
My nails dug into his shoulders, breathless whispers and heated sighs filling the air between us. Pleasure built steadily, relentlessly, driving us both closer to the edge. His movements became more insistent, each thrust deeper, harder, his breath ragged against my ear.
"Come with me," he urged, his voice a husky plea.
His words tipped me over the edge, my climax hitting with a force that left me trembling and gasping his name. Nate followed immediately after, burying his face against my neck, his body shaking as he found his release, whispering my name like a prayer.
We lay entwined for several moments, hearts racing, breathing unsteady. Nate brushed a gentle kiss across my forehead, his thumb tracing lazy circles on my hip.
"That was worth the wait," I murmured softly, smiling up at him.
"Every second," he agreed, voice warm with satisfaction.
Eventually, laughing and touching, we stumbled into the tiny bathroom.
The shower was warm, steam curling around us as we stepped beneath the spray.
I ran my soapy hands over Nate’s chest, marveling at the slick warmth of his skin under my palms. He pressed me gently against the tile wall, his body a comforting, solid weight against mine.
He paused, wrapping his arms around me tightly, holding me in a tender embrace beneath the cascading water.
“What are you doing?” I asked softly, smiling up at him.
“Feeling every inch of you,” he whispered, his voice reverent. “Making sure this is real.”
My heart fluttered wildly. Playfully, I tipped my head back. "Nate, have you ever seen ‘Top Gun’?"
He blinked, amused. "Of course."
I leaned in, lips brushing his ear. “Take me to bed or lose me forever.”
He grinned, eyes bright with delight. “Yes, ma’am.”
And he did—slowly, luxuriously, until the water ran cool, our bodies moving together effortlessly, indulgently. This time was about exploration and connection, about tasting and teasing, hands caressing slippery skin as our mouths found new ways to claim each other.
When pleasure took us again, it was slow and deep, Nate capturing my cries against his lips, our bodies pressed so close it was impossible to tell where he ended and I began.
Clean and presentable once more, we headed back to collect Paige, who was proudly displaying her vividly tie-dyed shirt.
"Look what I made!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing with joy. "We learned color theory! Did you know red and blue make purple?"
"Revolutionary," Nate said solemnly, examining the shirt with exaggerated awe. "Definitely your new favorite."
"What did you guys do?" Paige asked, stuffing her creation into her beach bag.
Nate and I exchanged a secret glance, both fighting laughter.
"We checked out some local attractions," I said smoothly.
"Explored some interesting new areas," Nate added casually, his lips twitching.
"Sounds boring," Paige declared. "You should've tie-dyed. It was way more fun."
We laughed, Nate ruffling her hair affectionately. "We managed to entertain ourselves."
The rest of the day was filled with poolside lounging, packing up, and exchanging contact information with Paige’s new friends. That evening, we gathered around our last campfire, making s'mores as Paige recounted every detail of her day and her ambitious plans for future crafts.
"Can we come back every year?" she asked hopefully, cuddling against my side. "Make it a tradition?"
"I think that's a great idea," I said warmly, glancing at Nate.
He nodded firmly. "Annual Crawford family beach trip. Sounds perfect."
Family. The word resonated deeply, filling my heart with a sense of belonging and love I'd never imagined for myself.
Later, as Nate carried a sleeping Paige to her bunk, I banked the fire and waited for him on the porch, the cool night air soothing against my skin.
He joined me shortly after, sliding onto the seat beside me and taking my hand. "She's out like a light."
"Good tired," I murmured. "The best kind."
We sat quietly, listening to the waves and the distant murmurs of other campers. Tomorrow we'd return home to everyday routines and responsibilities, but for tonight, it was just us—our own little world, perfect and complete.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"For what?"
"For this. For including me, for showing me how good this can feel." I gestured around us, encompassing the cabin, the beach, and everything we’d shared. "I didn't know I could have this."
"Thank you for being here," Nate replied softly, squeezing my hand. "For wanting us."
We lingered there until exhaustion gently drew us back inside, falling asleep wrapped around each other, the steady rhythm of Nate's heartbeat beneath my ear.
____________________________________________________________
Tuesday morning brought the bittersweet business of packing up and checking out. Paige dragged her feet through every task, clearly hoping to delay our departure as long as possible.
"Do we have to leave today?" she asked for the fourth time as we loaded our sandy, sun-faded belongings into the car. "Can't we stay just one more day?"
“I wish, kiddo," Nate told her gently. "But we all have to get back to work."
"Work is stupid," Paige declared with the fervor of someone who'd never had to pay rent. "Beaches are better."