Chapter 11
Over the next two weeks, Dante and Marti spent the majority of their time together.
After his morning swim, they would get together for coffee, either at his home or hers.
In addition to spending time on the beach, they enjoyed activities such as biking, hiking, and walking along the seashore.
He even rented a boat and then took her out to teach her to fish.
They went horseback riding on the beach a few more times, and he had taken her into town to catch a movie at the Wild Rose Point Theater. The Salty Dog Diner had become their favorite lunch spot if they were out, and they rotated cooking duties when they stayed home.
Their nights belonged to them, and not one night passed that they didn’t share a bed.
He told Marti about buying the third house in Lasco Cove, and she agreed it was a wise investment.
And it meant they didn’t have to worry about anyone intruding on their privacy.
Then she had teasingly told him not to get any ideas about making an offer for her place.
Because she had no intention of selling—especially after this month.
She loved Wild Rose Point and had every intention of returning next summer. So he’d better be ready for her.
As Marti stood by the window in Dante’s bedroom, watching him as he swam in the ocean waters, she realized she would have no problem restarting an affair with him next year if he returned here.
And she had a feeling that if she told him she’d be here, he’d find a way to be here, too.
She knew she wasn’t alone in enjoying every moment of their affair.
Never had she met a man who was so loving and giving in the bedroom. His lovemaking skills surpassed those of anyone she’d been with before him. And he was very good with his hands. Even now, all she had to do was close her eyes, and she could almost feel them on her skin.
She’d never been with anyone like him. And even though this was a short-term affair, she knew she’d never forget how incredible it felt to have him inside of her, his shaft pounding endlessly into her, while her inner muscles clenched him for dear life, as if trying to extract everything from him.
He would make the sound of a deep growl right before he came--though that never happened until he made sure she was pleasured first. He was the most unselfish lover she’d ever known, and she would definitely miss him when she left in two weeks.
Two weeks…
She felt sad at the thought of leaving but knew all good things eventually had to come to an end.
Her time with Dante would be one of them.
But then she would remember their agreement--No regrets ─ and knew that was the only way for them.
The words love or forever were not in their playbook.
That ship had pretty much sailed, and another one wouldn’t be coming to shore.
She turned away from the window when she heard her phone ring.
Crossing Dante’s bedroom, she picked it up off the nightstand as soon as she recognized the ringtone.
It was Kara. Her sister called her at least once a week at different times, and her first question after saying hello was always the same--Have you met anyone yet?
And Marti’s response would always be a resounding, “No.”
Hmm, her response this morning would be different. She intended to twist the truth a little. “Hello, Kara. How are you, Virgil and the girls?”
“We’re all fine. I went to the doctor yesterday. He told Virgil and me that our son is doing well. He’s going to be a big baby. You can’t believe how fat I’ve become--like a blimp. I look like I’m having twins again.”
She knew her sister was exaggerating. Kara had looked gorgeous while pregnant. “And the folks?”
“They are doing fine, too. I understand they broke their rule of not bothering you and called anyway.”
“They did, but that was okay. I’m surprised they held off so long.”
Her parents were the best, and although they meant well, they could be a little overprotective.
It had been a huge switch in their relationship.
In the past, they’d aimed their overprotectiveness at Kara, who’d been the youngest. But now, it was Marti who was the recipient of all their parental concern.
Marti knew their current parental attitude stemmed from the fact that she’d had to seek medical care for stress and anxiety attacks during the time of the rift between her and Kara.
Although that was all in the past and she and her sister had mended things, her parents sometimes acted as if they thought she might break, since she didn’t have what they considered ‘a real life’, complete with a husband and kids.
“Now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way, are you still enjoying your time in London? Have you met anyone yet?”
“Yes.”
The phone went silent for a moment. Then Kara asked in what sounded like a cautious voice, “Yes, to my question of you enjoying your time in London, or yes, to you meeting someone?”
“Yes, to both, actually.”
“Hallelujah! Tell me about him,” Kara said, her voice switching from cautious to excited.
Marti walked back to the window. She’d already missed a few minutes of ogling Dante, and she could certainly talk to her sister while checking him out at the same time. “You actually met him before,” she said.
“Really? Who is he?”
“Dante Avera.”
As if he could hear his name on her lips, Dante glanced up at his window at that moment and smiled. He had known she would be there watching him. He waved, and she waved back.
“I don’t know any Dante Avera,” Kara said, reclaiming her attention.
“I’m not surprised that you don’t remember him. It’s been years. Twenty-nine to be exact. You, Dante, and I were kids at the time.”
“Marti, we never traveled to London when we were kids.”
“I know that. I ran into him here in London. We originally met that summer in Wild Rose Point.”
“Wow, that was a long time ago. It was the first and only time you went there. I’m hoping that now, since I signed my share of the house over to you, it will become a place you begin visiting again.”
She had no doubt that she would, Marti thought, watching Dante maneuver his body through the water. “Maybe I will next summer.”
“I only remember him vaguely,” Kara said.
“That’s understandable, since you were only around five at the time.”
“How on earth could you have remembered him after all these years?” Kara asked.
“It was he who remembered me,” Marti said. “Our Goshay silver-gray eyes gave me away.”
“Wow. Although I really don’t recall him, I’m sure he looks different after all this time. Is he good-looking?”
“Oh, yeah… And we’ve been spending a lot of time together.”
“Hot diggity! He lives in London?”
“No, he lives in Arizona and was visiting his family in Italy. He decided to make a stop and spend some time here. Lucky for me that he did.”
“I bet. What else do you know about him?”
“He’s single, never been married, five years older than me, and he works as the general manager of a resort in Sedona Valley.
” Marti figured that should satisfy her sister’s nosiness for a while.
But to be certain, she added, “We’re getting reacquainted as nothing more than friends, Kara.
” It was hard for Marti to keep a straight face with that lie when she and Dante had slept together almost the whole time she’d been here.
“Yes, but that could lead to more, Marti. The way the two of you ran into each other after all these years, and with him recognizing you… It sounds like fate. If I were you, I wouldn’t close any doors.”
If only her sister knew. When it came to Dante, she’d already closed the door to any possibility of there ever being more between them. However, she wasn’t closing her legs. She always looked forward to the times he was between them. “I’ve got to run. He’s on his way here.”
Marti could say that with a straight face since Dante had gotten out of the water and was headed toward the house. And she knew what to expect when he got there. They would shower together and make love, then share coffee.
“Okay then. Goodbye, Marti. I’m so happy for you. I got good vibes about you and Dante Avera.”
She had news for her sister. She was getting good vibes too, but for a totally different reason. With only two weeks left before she left Wild Rose Point, she was going to do everything in her power to make sure he would not forget her and would be glad to see her again next summer.
“Goodbye, Kara. Give the girls a hug from their favorite auntie.”
***
Water cascaded over Dante and Marti as they stood beneath the showerhead.
This had become a ritual that he enjoyed immensely after his morning swim.
Knowing she would be here waiting for him was something he would definitely miss when she left.
But there was no need to think about the future right now.
He was going to enjoy every moment of the present.
Dante reached out and cupped the side of Marti’s face, and then he leaned in and kissed her.
He just couldn’t get enough of her. Before their shower ended, he would have touched, kissed, and licked every inch of her naked skin.
She tasted as hot as he felt and more delicious than anything he’d ever eaten.
Marti Goshay was all female. Irresistibly so.
And whenever they came together, day or night, she could pull everything out of him—passion, desire… raw, sexual need.
Like she was doing now.
And what was so amazing was that she was always as hot for him as he was for her, and she had no problem showing it.
With them, nothing was rushed but was always so damn satisfying.
And she refused to let him hold anything back ─ not that he thought he could.
She gave him the freedom to lose himself in her arms without worrying what it meant.
Releasing her mouth, he stared down at her as water continued to pour down on them.
“One of these days, Dante Avera, we’re going to drown in here.”