Chapter 4 #2
“Are you kidding me?” she asked, followed by a small laugh.
“You are saving me from myself. I made the decision to come here to the resort without an actual plan. Honestly, I should have just come up for the day, scattered mom’s ashes, and left, but for some reason I booked our usual vacation.
Well, half our usual vacation. My therapist said it was a good idea and I felt like I could handle it.
So really…I should be the one saying you shouldn’t feel pressured to hang out with me .
Obviously your trip was well-planned with your family for your grandparents’ anniversary.
I’m just like some kind of intruder who’s tagging along. ”
Jayce came to an abrupt stop and hauled her in close.
Even in the moonlight, she could see the fierce expression on his face.
“First, you are not an intruder,” he stated gruffly.
“We have known each other since we were five years old, Kelsey. Hell, you’ve spent more time with my family than most of my relatives.
And as for tagging along, do you not get how much we want you with us? How much I want you with us? With me ?”
“Jayce, I…”
Strong hands gripped her shoulders, giving her a slight shake.
“Kelsey, do you have any idea how much I regret the way things ended between us? How many times I’ve kicked myself for not coming back here and seeing you?
Or…” Muttering a curse, he released her, immediately raking a hand through his hair.
“I should have called you! I should have let you know how much you meant to me!”
As much as she appreciated what he was saying, she couldn’t let him take all the blame. “I could have called too! This wasn’t a one-way relationship,” she countered. “We used to call and text and then…we didn’t. We’re both to blame here.”
His hands were back on her. “Don’t you think it’s fate that we’re both back here at the same time? I mean…what are the odds of that? This place is closing, neither of us have been here in years, and we both show up on the same day?”
Her heart was racing as she nodded. “I…I thought so too, but I’ve been consumed with so many other things that I was almost afraid to let myself think too deeply about it.
” She hungrily took in the sight of him—the dark hair, the stubbled jaw, and the lips that she desperately wanted to kiss.
“So much of my life lately has been about either sadness or survival that I can’t seem to let myself believe that something good is possible. ”
His expression softened. “I can’t even imagine how hard things have been for you, but I am promising you right here, right now, that while we’re here together, everything’s going to be amazing.”
She didn’t mean to roll her eyes, but she did.
A little.
“You can’t promise that.”
Nodding, he leaned in, resting his forehead on hers. “Challenge accepted.”
“That wasn’t a challenge,” she said, unable to hide her amusement. “I’m just saying…”
“And I’m just saying,” he countered. “I’m a firm believer in the power of positive thinking.” Placing a kiss on the tip of her nose, he added, “And I’m positive that we are going to have an amazing vacation together.”
“I want to believe that…”
“Then do it. Believe it.” Taking her hand, they continued walking until they reached his cabin. “We can start on the amazing right now. Last night, it was pure torture to be the good guy and keep my hands to myself.”
“No one asked you to. If memory serves…”
Placing a finger over her lips, he silenced her.
“We both know it was the right thing to do. Tonight, on the other hand, I’m a little more open-minded.
” His hand caressed her cheek before smoothing over her jaw, along her throat, and down her arm.
It was the barest of touches, and yet it felt much more powerful.
“What do you say? Would you like to join me inside, or…?”
She was already shaking her head. “No or,” she whispered before swallowing hard. “I wanted you last night and I still want you.” Boldly, Kelsey raked her hand through his hair. “I’ve always wanted you.”
His sharp intake of breath was his only reaction before he turned and quickly opened the cabin door and tugged her in behind him.
The door slammed shut and Jayce pulled her into his arms, instantly claiming her lips.
Kelsey wrapped her arms around him and pressed her body as close to his as possible, and after that, she was done thinking and talking.
She wanted to feel alive. She wanted to feel something other than sadness.
Last night, Jayce thought she only wanted sex.
But she didn’t.
What she wanted was intimacy—to be touched, held, looked at, seen as a desirable woman.
She wanted someone to smile at her, laugh with her, someone who made her feel safe and warm.
But more than anything, she wanted to feel like someone really understood her.
She wanted it so much it was more like a craving.
But tonight it was all of those things, plus sex.
Jayce Nash was a man she felt safe with, but he was also a man she felt a deep connection with.
After years of friendship and teenage dating, it felt natural for them to be together like this.
She’d dreamed about it for years, and right now she wanted to experience it for real and not just in her mind.
“Make love to me, Jayce,” she whispered against his lips.
Lazily, he lifted his head and stared down at her. “Are you sure? Because…”
This time she was the one to place a finger over his lips to silence him. “I’m very sure. No regrets.” But then a thought occurred to her. “Unless…this isn’t what you…?”
Pushing her hand aside, he cut off her words with a kiss that bordered on brutal. It was exciting and arousing and if this was just the beginning, she couldn’t wait for what was going to happen next.
His hands were everywhere, his lips were wildly sensual, and everything about him turned her on.
The cabin was small, so it was a short—and slightly awkward—walk to the bedroom.
The space was crammed and neither wanted to break the kiss, so they carefully made their way from the living room until they were beside the bed.
Breathlessly, they finally broke apart and Jayce’s hands slid under her shirt to cup her breasts. It felt so good that her head fell back as she let out a very throaty sigh before humming, “Yes.”
The next thing she knew, they were on the bed, with Jayce’s body covering hers.
It was a gloriously satisfying feeling, the weight of him settling against her.
So many thoughts were racing through her head—she was happy, turned on, giddy, nervous…
it was total sensory overload, but she decided to simply hold on and enjoy the ride.
If they were going to have the next week together and have this…
fling, then she was going to savor every moment.
Every touch, every kiss, every sigh…she would take it all and commit it to memory, so when they went their separate ways and back to their regular lives, she could remember it all.
Bracing himself above her, he studied her face. “You are so beautiful, Kelsey. I always thought that, but the woman you’ve become simply takes my breath away.”
She could feel herself blush even as she fought the urge to squirm.
Before she could comment or even properly think of something to say, he was kissing her again, and this time, it was deeply erotic and sensual, and she knew there weren’t any words necessary.
After years of thinking about him and going through all of the “what if” scenarios, she was finally going to find out.
Wrapping herself around him, Kelsey gave herself over to the moment and was confident that this was exactly what she wanted and needed.
And she was going to love the hell out of it.