Chapter 43
Cynthia
50 years ago
Jonathan’s fingers trailed down Cynthia’s arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. She tried to hold on to her shiver, but his touch set her skin alight. They hid themselves away in a dip in the dunes, naked as the day they were born, soaking up the summer sun.
“I can’t believe the summer is nearly over for us. In two weeks, you’ll be teaching at Copper Island High School, and I’ll be at the port offices,” Cynthia said.
She flipped onto her back, stretching her arms above her head and closing her eyes. Jonathan’s hand cupped her breast with his thumb, toying with her nipple until it hardened.
“I’m still shocked they let someone from the mainland get a job teaching mathematics,” he mumbled into her neck.
Jonathan dipped his head and licked her nipple, then blew on it. Cynthia arched, pushing her breast closer to his mouth. He took the hint and sucked hard on the underside. She hoped it would leave a mark, so she had something to admire later, a reminder that this man wanted her.
“You were the best man for the job. Spending a year teaching pupils in the evenings has done wonders. I’m so glad you came to Copper Island last summer. I never thought I’d find my forever love.”
Jonathan’s hand came to her hip, then her thigh, and then his fingers slipped between them. Cynthia’s automatic response was to part her legs and tilt her hips. His fingers found the perfect spot to rub while he sucked on her breast. Cynthia was lost in the sensations as he worked her body up into a hot mess of lust.
“It was meant to be, Cyn. Fate brought us together,” he murmured over her chest as he kissed his way down her body.
“And you really don’t care that I’m nearly thirty?” she asked, threading her fingers through his hair. It was short enough to comply with a respectable teacher’s image, but long enough on top that she could clutch on when he swiped his tongue between her legs. Like he was doing right at that moment.
“I don’t want to marry a girl. I want to marry a woman. I don’t care if you’re older than me. Four years isn’t that much of a gap. You’re everything I want in my life. I need everything to fall into place so I can get you to the church and marry you.”
“You haven’t proposed yet,” Cyn said and moaned as he took another long lick.
“I need the job to start, and then I can get the mortgage on the little house we chose. When I have those two, I will be worthy of going to your father to ask permission to marry you.”
He stopped what he was doing and came up and covered her body with his. Her legs parted wider to accommodate his thighs between hers.
“I don’t care what my father says. I want you as my husband,” Cynthia said, pushing her chest against his. Then, desperate to feel his weight, she curled her hand around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss.
Cynthia canted her hips to move him where she needed him, and he dropped his hand to get the perfect angle. Then he pushed inside her body with a long exhale, leaning his head on her shoulder. She moaned as he pushed in as far as her body would let him, feeling him fill her perfectly.
Jonathan stayed still but kept talking. “I’m not a local, and I don’t think your family has accepted me as a local. I probably wouldn’t for another fifty years. So I must do everything right by you. You’re too precious to skip formalities, especially with the Turner Family’s name everywhere on this island.”
Jonathan moved. Slowly at first, then with faster and shorter thrusts as he used his hips to get them there.
“It’s all nonsense.” Cynthia panted out all pomp and ceremony as she closed her eyes to the dizzying pace Jonathan was setting.
“Still-” Jonathan said, squeezing her breast with one hand and rearing up on his other hand to get a different angle. He slammed into her hard, watching as Cynthia’s eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she let go with a muted cry as he dropped his head to kiss the corner of her mouth.
“Thank God you don’t want to follow all traditions,” Cyn said and sighed, raising her hips.
Jonathan glanced up at her face and gave her a dazzling smile. She would never tire of his gaze, scruffy hair, and soft smile.
“I love you so much,” she said.
“And I love you too,” he replied, thrusting until he tipped over the edge and grunted into her neck.