Chapter 24
Luna
“Ah, the sea and sky. They’re like a blank canvas, waiting for you to paint your dreams.”
—Eloisa Hobby
Paul parked the golf cart in front of his house, and they tumbled out, grappling for each other, arms and mouths intertwined.
Luna’s body boiled for him. She was focused on getting this man naked and into bed. He kissed her. She worked the buttons of his shirt. He pushed his fingers through her hair.
In her peripheral vision, she saw the golf cart was still moving, slowly rolling toward the ocean. “The golf cart!”
“Crap, I forgot to put it in park.” He left her side and jumped for the cart, running alongside it as the vehicle picked up speed down the incline headed for the cliff above the ocean. He dove inside and set the brake.
Luna laughed.
He emerged red-faced and grinning. “See what you do to me?”
She beckoned, wiggling a come-hither finger. He looked at her as if she were some forgotten treasure he’d dug up from the sand.
Paul reached Luna, bent, and scooped her into his arms.
“Ooh.” A giggle bubbled from her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on.
Muscles bunching, he carried her across the lawn. She rested her head against his shoulder, felt the quick thump-thump of the pulse at his neck.
On the porch, he set her on her feet. She pressed close to him, slipped her arms around his neck again, tilted her chin and stared into his deep blue eyes. “Take me.”
Letting out a soft groan, he cupped her face between his strong, calloused palms and kissed her. The smell of honeysuckle, from the vines on the fence, washed over them, filling her nose with sweetness. How she needed to be with this man!
He seemed as desperate for her as his hard body pushed against her pelvis, fully erect. Paul traced his rough but gentle fingertips over her cheek, sending hot electrical tingles straight to her brain.
I. Want. This. Man.
Simple and direct. She hungered to explore their full potential. Her body softened everywhere, willing and warm. Eager for him.
Luna parted her lips.
Shadows from the afternoon sun playing peekaboo with the clouds fell across them, enhancing their intimate connection.
Paul lowered his head.
Luna held her breath, waiting, pulse sprinting. Her mind spun with fragments of memories from their past. Freeze-frame snapshots of who they used to be. Sharing nervous laughter and stolen kisses underneath the bleachers at homecoming. Two-stepping at school dances, late-night skinny-dipping at Julep Lake, endless phone conversations, shy glances, and hand-holding. The adrenaline rush when Paul first asked her out. Getting butterflies while waiting for him, wondering if he’d try to kiss her . . .
Luna remembered the way he’d sling his arm around her shoulder at the Julep Diner as they shared a meal. She recalled how he wove their fingers together at the movies, stroking his thumb over her knuckles. Her memory served up the nervous exhilaration of their first time making love on the water tower, tender and tentative. Of Paul whispering how beautiful she was, his eyes shining with awe that she was with him. Of curling up together under the stars, baring their hopes and fears and dreams for the future.
The future they had not had together.
A short-lived romance, ruined by circumstances and misunderstandings. But a love so deep it left an indelible mark that remained even after two long decades.
His smile deepened and he moved closer, inch by tantalizing inch. The years melted away as Paul’s mouth claimed hers once more.
Luna marveled at how easily they fell back into each other.
His featherlight touches set her skin sizzling. When he leaned in, Luna fluttered her eyes closed. This time, his kiss was soft as butterfly wings.
He pulled back a smidge.
Luna swayed closer, wanting more but not rushing it. Paul’s powerful hands grasped her waist, keeping her steady. His warm breath lingered as he paused, drawing out the thrill.
“You okay?” he asked, his tone thick with feeling.
“I will be if you stop asking if I’m okay and just kiss me.” Luna closed the tiny gap, melting against him.
The next kiss exploded like pyrotechnics.
She tangled her fingers in Paul’s thick hair as she met his tongue with hers. His groan vibrated through her body. They kissed and kissed and kissed until forced to come up for air.
Panting, they broke apart, her lips buzzing from his zeal.
She opened her eyes and found Paul watching her, the stark need in his eyes plain to see. Her cheeks burned and her nerve endings hummed. She wasn’t ready to let go of him and curled her index fingers through his belt loops, holding him in place as he’d done with her earlier.
Paul smiled softly and swept her hair back off her forehead. “We have plenty of time. No need to rush.”
Happiness flooded her heart. Paul’s thumb brushed her swollen lip. She playfully nibbled the pad and drew a chuckle from him.
That familiar sound delighted her. She wanted to hear him laugh more often. Luna boldly started their next kiss, thrilling to his enthusiastic response.
She tried different pressures, discovering what got Paul’s engine running these days. He seemed to prefer medium. Not too light, not too hard. Just right, Goldilocks. Gently catching his bottom lip between her teeth, she stroked it with her tongue.
“Careful,” he said with gravel in his voice. “You’re playing with fire, Moonbeam.”
She searched his face.
His blue eyes smoldered, belying his restraint.
Feeling brave, Luna trailed her nails down his neck. The cotton of his shirt slid beneath her fingertips.
Goose bumps rose on his skin, and he shuddered against her. “Luna, you’re killing me.”
“Good.” She pulled him into another deep kiss.
Paul’s hands tightened at her waist, but he let Luna keep leading this sweet dance. She loved that he kept his masculine power leashed for her, letting her decide just how far to take things.
Gradually their kisses slowed again, though their lips were still throbbing with passion. When they parted, the ocean breeze cooled her heated skin.
Paul touched his forehead to hers, the simple intimacy swelling her heart. No words needed in this perfect moment.
Whatever this was, it ran soul deep. Paul’s eyes made promises she knew he was willing to keep. Was she ready for that? Ready for him? His hand found hers, and he threaded their fingers together.
Yes, she would go wherever their passion led.
“Let’s go inside.” He opened the door.
“Orion,” he called. “You home?”
No answer.
“One of her friends from Everly was coming over on the ferry for a visit. Did Artie tell you about that?”
“Artie was still asleep when I left this morning.”
“They’re probably together. They’ve been inseparable since you guys got here.” He smiled and let out his breath.
Inside Paul’s bungalow, Luna felt awkward. What would he think of her body that had aged twenty-two years since he’d last seen it? Would he see the stretch marks across a belly that had nurtured two children? Would he miss the breasts that had once been high and perky?
“You’re gorgeous,” he said.
“How did you know I was—” She caught herself rubbing her thumb over her knuckles. “Oh. Am I that easy to read?”
He pressed a finger between her eyebrows, smoothing out the furrow. “Shh,” he said. “It’s going to be fine.”
He dipped his head and kissed her lips, fanning the coals of her simmering sexuality.
She closed her eyes and sighed.
“What is it?” he asked against her lips.
“Is this the right thing to do?”
He stepped back. “Open your eyes, Moonbeam.”
Slowly, she lifted her lashes and looked at him.
“It’s me. Paul. You used to trust me, remember?”
Yes, but that was before she thought he’d been drinking and driving with her dad in the truck. A lie that caused her to turn on him. Guilt pinched her.
“Do you want to do this?” he asked. “Because if you don’t, that’s fine. I want you more than I want to breathe, but there’s absolutely no pressure. You are in the driver’s seat, Luna. You call the shots.”
“Should we talk first?”
“Sure, we can do that. Would you like something to drink? I have water, lemonade, coffee, iced tea . . .”
“Water will be fine.” She sat down on his comfy couch while Paul got two glasses of ice water from the kitchen and brought them back to the living room.
“Thanks.” She took a long gulp, not realizing how thirsty she’d been. When she finished, she lowered her glass and saw Paul studying her.
“What would you like to discuss?” he asked.
“Protection?”
“Oh. Right to business.” Amusement lit up his eyes.
“Well, you know, I haven’t done this since my husband died. I haven’t even gone on a date, and I feel like a fish out of water.”
“Please don’t feel that way. You’re with me, Luna. I’ll put your pleasure at the top of the list. You come first.” He reached up to cup her cheek and peer into her eyes. “I mean it.”
Relief spread through her body. Paul was such a good man. She couldn’t believe she ever let herself think otherwise.
“For the record, I haven’t had a sexual partner in forever. I’ve been too busy raising Orion and working to worry about dating. I spent time with an attractive tourist a couple of years ago, but nothing since. Six months ago, I had a full physical and got a clean bill of health and I have a box of condoms in the back of my medicine chest.”
“I had an HIV test done after my husband died and I found out he’d gambled away all our money. If he hid a gambling addiction, what else might he have been hiding, right? But I tested negative.”
“What about birth control?”
“I had a hysterectomy after Artie was born for medical reasons. No danger there.”
“Sounds like everything is copacetic. What else is troubling you?”
Feeling vulnerable, she hauled in a deep breath. The truth was, her life was in disarray and Paul seemed so darned perfect. Too good to be true and Luna was leery of the unbelievable. There had to be something wrong with him. What was she missing?
“I’m afraid of getting in too deep too soon. If we have sex—”
“Make love,” Paul corrected.
“If we have sex,” she emphasized, “it will change things.”
“For the better,” he said.
“You don’t know that.”
“It will deepen our connection.”
“Which might be a problem.”
“Okay.” He scooted away from her. “It’s too soon. If you’ve got this much doubt, you’re not ready.”
“But I want to be with you in that way.”
“I know.” He got up and held his hand out to her. “Come with me. I have something else in mind.”
“Wh-what?” She hesitated, her fears kicking up. In high school she’d been the proverbial good girl. Paul and Herc had been her only lovers. Her experience was limited for a reason. She was a woman who enjoyed her comfort zone.
“Something I longed to do for you, when we were dating, but you were too shy to let me try.”
Uh-oh, was he talking about oral sex? Goose bumps danced up her arms.
Herc had never been a fan of going down on her, even though he’d loved getting blow jobs. Her late husband was so bad at oral sex she lied and told him she didn’t like it, because with him, she hadn’t.
But now? With Paul?
A hard shiver knocked down her spine. She swallowed as she tried to get her breath. His hand was still extended . . . inviting her on an adventure.
“Come along, Moonbeam. It’s time for you to relax and let me make you feel good.” Goodness, he was talking oral sex.
“That’s not fair to you.”
“Don’t you worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
That brought a provocative image to her mind, but she shook her head. “It feels too one-sided. Too selfish on my part.”
“It’s time you were a little selfish and let someone else take care of you for a change.” He cooed her name, low and seductive. “Luna, c’mon. It’s time for you to get pampered.”
Oh gosh, his words were sweet music to her ears. She had carried the world’s weight for so long. Letting go of her burdens seemed impossible.
Paul held her gaze. “Yes?”
She nodded, and he led her not to his bedroom as she expected, but outside to a wide lounge chair underneath a cabana on the deck that overlooked the ocean. The view was spectacular. To think he lived here and woke up to this view every day. Jealousy curled inside her stomach. What she wouldn’t give to have this lifestyle!
They settled in the middle of the lounge chair, big enough for them both. He drew the billowy canvas curtains around the cabana closed, sealing them from prying eyes.
Another shiver ran through Luna. She couldn’t believe she was doing this. It felt so daring.
Paul tugged her into the crook of his arms and kissed her, slowly warming her up again. The heat of his breath and his spicy cologne made her feel lightheaded, intoxicated.
His hand moved up her side and cupped her breast over her shirt, exploring with his fingertips. She felt as if she were floating in a sea of cotton candy and vanilla ice cream—sweet and soft.
She shared this perfect moment with her first love, no responsibilities, no kids around, no worries about home foreclosures or debt collectors. Her mind buzzed with excitement. What a lovely place to be.
Paul reached up underneath her skirt, took hold of her panties, slid them down her thighs. His warm fingers moved against her, slipping between her legs as he planted hot kisses against her skin.
She closed her eyes tight and grabbed the waterproof fabric of the cushion in both fists. His lips on her inner thigh sent a wildfire blaze burning through her veins. His tongue ignited her, match to gasoline, and she was engulfed before he ever reached the spot where he was headed.
Luna wanted this, even if it was almost unbearable. Wanted him. Yearned for Paul with a deep thirst that twenty-two years away had not extinguished.
His wicked mouth did lovely things to her.
And when at long last she was panting and begging for him, he slid his tongue inside her.
Her body jerked involuntarily, and a startled gasp escaped her lips.
“You like that?”
Her words came out high and faint. “Uh-huh.”
“I think I can do better.”
“Oh my.”
He was all fingers and tongue and suction. And holy cow! What was he doing now? She thrashed against the cushion, bucked her hips.
“Ahh, I’m getting warmer,” he murmured.
This time, she couldn’t push any words over her lips. Had no directions to give. He was unerring. Knowing right where to go and keeping at it until she was breathless and writhing against him. What in the world had he done to her brain? It had simply stopped functioning, shut down, and sent all sensation to her pelvis.
She had never felt this good. Or so she believed, and then he found that sweet button and zoomed her to a whole new level of sensation.
And she was just gone, jettisoned into oral sex outer space. Floating. Vibrating with the stars.
Paul turned her inside out and upside down and she wondered where he’d learned those incredible tongue gymnastics. He slipped his hands underneath her hips and lifted her up to his mouth and ate her like she was a Thanksgiving feast.
Luna strained against him, wanting more, aching for everything he had to give. She felt the tension building inside her until she couldn’t take it anymore. She moaned his name, and the ocean breeze caught it and threw it out to sea.
Paul. Paul. Paul.
She couldn’t take it one more second and then he drove her just one millimeter further, pushing her completely over the edge.
Luna let out a yelp of intense pleasure as he stroked her with his tongue, again and again. And then everything dissolved in one hard shuddering orgasm. The likes of which she never experienced.
Total wipeout.
When at last he finished, she lay addled, every muscle in her body quivering.
Tenderly, he slipped her underwear back over her thighs, lifting her hips for her so she didn’t even have to make that small effort. He planted sweet kisses on her bare belly, dropping them like gifts, and she shivered again. He smoothed down her skirt, covering the goose bumps spreading over her thighs.
Luna scooted over, making room for him to land beside her, pleasantly exhausted. She looked over at Paul, her high school sweetheart, sprawled out next to her. He looked a bit smug, but he had every right to own his cockiness.
“So it’s you,” she murmured.
He grinned. “Yep, just little ol’ me.”
Her expectations had been thoroughly met, leaving her replete and content. She could simply relax in the warm afterglow, drifting mindlessly on a cloud of bliss.
She lost herself in his comforting embrace. This was new. This sweet selfishness on her part. Luna could definitely get used to it.
“You okay?” he asked.
“That was . . . you were . . . spectacular.”
“I know,” he said without a hint of modesty.
“So . . .” Luna slanted him a coy glance. “Isn’t this where you mention something nice about me?”
His chuckle came out low and intimate. “And why’s that, darlin’?”
“I threw caution to the wind for you. This was a big step for me. Letting go of my fears, giving you full control.”
“You were very brave.” He winked.
“Oh, you.” Playfully, she swatted his shoulder.
He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his fingers trailing lightly down her jaw. “You’re one hell of a woman, Luna Montgomery. Too damn irresistible for your own good.”
Montgomery, not Boudreaux. But she wasn’t that girl anymore. She’d been married and widowed, and her world was filled with complexity and complications.
“What time is it?” she drawled.
He pulled back the curtains of the cabana and squinted at the sun midway to the western horizon. “I’d say it’s around four.”
Luna scrambled to her feet, dispelling the sweet laziness. “My gosh! Is it that late? I have dinner plans with Artie and Mom at seven.”
He stood up, looking disheveled and impossibly sexy. She blushed, remembering what he’d just done to her.
She ran a hand through her hair and smoothed her clothes. “Would you and Orion like to join us?”
“Really?” He looked pleased to be invited.
“Unless Orion is busy with her friend.”
“No, the last ferry to Everly leaves at five. Her friend will be gone.”
“We could tell our girls about us at dinner.” She paused. “If you’re ready for that.”
“I was ready from day one. I was just waiting for you to say the word.”
“Okay, let’s do it,” she said, hoping it was okay with Jeanie and Artie. “We’ve made a reservation at the French restaurant in Crafters’ Corner. I can call ahead and add you. See you there?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” He dangled the golf cart keys.
“You want me to take your golf cart?”
“It’s not mine. The golf cart belongs to Hobby Island.”
“How will you get around?”
“Remember, Orion and I maintain the golf carts. There’s half a dozen more in the freestanding garage.” He pointed to the building in question.
“Oh yes, right. Thanks for today.” She leaned over, kissed his cheek, then took the golf cart key. “You were magnificent.”
“I aim to please.”
“Thank you again,” Luna whispered and hurried away, a huge smile spreading across her face. What a day!