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26

Blaise

“Maddox, this is wonderful.”

We’re lounging on a bed beneath a cabana. The ocean is a stone throw away. After we made love in the alley and then again back at the penthouse as a show of his apology for making love to me in the alley, Maddox jetted me off to his private island in Belize.

“And you shouldn’t have indulged me. Fuck, Blaise, your first time shouldn’t be in an alley.”

He pours me a glass of cider. I reach for his mojito and take a sip. He tsks.

“You’re not legal to drink yet.” He takes back his drink, and putting his mouth where my lips were, he drains his glass.

“What’s five weeks, anyway?” I ask, watching him as he watches me over the rim of the glass.

“The difference between twenty and twenty-one, legal and illegal.”

I slide down my sunglasses and peer at him above the rims. “I bet you didn’t follow the rules.”

“You’re right; I didn’t.”

“But you’ll hold me to them?”

“Jesus, Blaise, let it go already.”

“Only if I can have a drink.”

“Is that wise?”

“Wisdom has nothing to do with wanting a fruity alcoholic drink.”

“Fuck’s sake, baby, you could be pregnant. We didn’t use a condom our first time, and I certainly haven’t gloved up every time after that.”

Which is a lot.

We’re the only two people on the island. The staff made sure the fridge was well stocked before they left. The seaplane won’t be returning for us until the end of the week. On our flight here, Maddox let slip his plan of putting together a birthday bash for me. He was so excited, he also let slip that he’ll be surprising me on my birthday.

“What is it?” I asked, pulling him in for a kiss and kissing him so ardently, I hoped he would slip some more. But he caught on fast. “Not telling,” he said. Then he proceeded to take me to the bedroom on the plane and kiss me from head to toe. After he made love to me, he declared we are now officially a part of the mile high club. That guy of mine.

“You’re right,” I say, feeling stupid for not thinking over the possibility of a pregnancy. “I’ll call my doctor’s office. It’s not too late to get on birth control.”

“Is that what you want?”

He sits, and swinging his legs over the side of the lounge chair, he waits for my answer with his hands tented over his mouth. A lock of dark hair falls forward and brushes his dark brow. I sit and, facing him, swipe aside the piece of hair with my fingertip.

He grasps my hand and drops a kiss dead center on my palm.

“I like that you ditched the gloves when around me.”

Only with him do I put aside my pieces of armor.

“Like when you touch me skin on skin.”

“Only with you, Maddox.”

“Exclusive?”

“Isn’t that what marriage is? Or do we still have a business arrangement?”