Hope
During breakfast, had taken a risk and had asked to join the men on their golf adventure. They’d been ecstatic, even after she’d revealed how horrible she would be. With the sun beaming down on them, she watched Daniel closely. He was explaining how to stand and swing properly. Samual and Aron stood to either side of her with beers in their hands. Decan had stayed behind with the woman, supposedly making sure they didn’t get so drunk that they burned to a crisp.
“So, what do you think?” Samual asked, studying her with a curious expression. “Is Decan a keeper?”
His father shot him a stern glare. “Samual, knock it off.”
“I just want to know if she wants him or the luxury vacation.”
“Him,” she said firmly, but trying not to make it sound bitchy.
“And you don’t care he’s in a wheelchair?”
“Fuck, man,” Aron groaned, giving her an apologetic look. “She clearly doesn’t. Have you seen the way she looks at him?”
“He always gets excellent parking,” she quipped. “Oh and that bedroom? Super spacious. ”
And with that, Samual fell quiet. She did awfully at golf, missing the ball more often than not. When she did hit it, it wasn’t anywhere near where it needed to be. She didn’t understand the point system either, but she had fun and that was all she cared about. The three men adopted her, helping her get the ball close enough for her to get at least one into the hole—or whatever one would call it. But she had to admit that the golf cart was the best part of it all. Daniel was sweet and thought it was funny that she’d been able to get Decan to adopt a cat without even trying. He’d only recently retired but was still dabbling in the trenches of stocks, having a good gut feeling about trades. Samual worked in finance, while Aron worked as night shift nurse in a small emergency room.
When they returned for an early dinner, she dropped herself onto Decan’s lap and laid her arms around him. Like a magnet, his lips found hers, pulling her into a deep embrace that left her dizzy and breathless.
“You’re in a good mood.”
“Only because the guys were more than patient with me,” she laughed, running her fingers through his hair. “Have you been at the pool all day?”
“Yes, with a book in one hand and one eye on my mom and sister.”
“I think she did great for her first time,” Daniel said.
“You’re too kind.” She gave him a nervous laugh. “I’m sorry about the club.”
“You have a wide swing; I should’ve learned the first time.”
They found a table at a different restaurant—apparently the re sort thought it to be too boring to just have one—and started dinner with a bottle of wine being popped open. With her hand on Decan’s thigh, she let her thumb smooth the denim of his jeans.
He leaned in for another kiss to her cheek, his lips brushing over her ear. “I was hoping we could try out that tub on the balcony tonight.”
Lilly spoke up before could answer. “Oh! Show the videos Marco sent you of Mr. Grumps.”
Decan pulled out his phone and showed her a video of Marco unsuccessfully trying to goad Mr. Grumps into playtime “He stayed all day. He says Mr. Grumps felt lonely but I think he just wanted to play my video games.”
“Because your TV is bigger than his?” she asked.
He nodded, pausing the video and pointing at the Xbox in the background. “Pretty sure he’s going to hunker down and eat all my snacks.”
“Who needs enemies when they have a best friend like that?” Aron laughed.
Decan gave her the phone so she could scroll through the other pictures Marco had sent. “At least neither of them will be alone.” With the last scroll, a photo of herself popped up. One of her by the pool with her ass on display.
“That one is for my eyes only.” Decan chuckled with a kiss to her ear.
After dinner, Decan let the tub fill with water while she stocked them up with refreshments from the minibar.
“Do you need help getting in?” she asked as he pulled his shirt over his head.
“I might. ”
felt awkward that someone might see them naked, but then the thrill of it sent a shiver down her spine.
“Can you hold me under my arms and make sure I don’t slip?” Decan asked.
“Of course.”
Stripped down to her underwear, she stepped inside and sat on the rim while he positioned himself next to her. He let his pants hit the floor and then used his gorgeously strong arms to transfer onto the rim and slowly sink himself into the steaming water.
“Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything,” she said, kissing his hair. She quickly lost the rest of her clothes and settled between his knees, biting back a moan from the temperature of the water.
Decan reached around her, adjusting his legs and wrapping his arms around her shoulders. He began to speak, his lips finding that sweet spot on her neck. “You make me feel safe. I can ask for help without feeling inadequate. Being around you feels like being home, even out in public.”
She leaned into his touch, blanketing his arms with hers. She had no words to tell him how good his words felt—how soothing they were to her soul. She could only hope that she poured the emotion into everything she gave him.
“I always wondered what it would be like to not be able to hold my woman’s hand. But your hand finds my neck as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. Not once have you ever made me feel as if I was less independent than you—less of a man because I can’t stand tall next to you.”
“You need to stop talking because I’m going to cry if you don’ t.”
Decan’s lips sealed around her skin and gently sucked as he tightened his arms around her. “But how would you know how I feel about you if I never told you?”
She rolled her head back and closed her eyes, soaking in the warm water, his touch, and his words. “I wouldn’t.”
“How would you know that you make me feel special? That you make me feel warm and fuzzy. You wouldn’t know how much I trust you or how much I relish your simple company.”
“Decan…” she breathed, her heart swelling with love from every word coming from his lips.
“Yes, little thief?”
“You made me cry.”
“In a good way?” But judging by his tone, he already knew the answer far too well.
“In the best possible way.” She tilted her head and found his lips, claiming them in a tear-stained kiss. “But how am I supposed to match those beautiful words?”
“Do you feel safe and sound in my arms, little thief?”
“Yes.”
“Do you feel respected and adored?”
“I do.”
He kissed her again. “I’m thankful you do, and I hope you always will.”
They stayed in that bath, watching the sunset until the water was cold and their skin started to prune. She made sure to dry his hands and the rim of the tub so he wouldn’t slip, then helped him onto the rim. Again, she didn’t have to do much. His workouts definitely did more than help him keep h is gorgeous figure. With the windows open and the sounds of the ocean waves crashing, they fell asleep, tangled up in each other.