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Sam’s body pressed into hers, solid and grounding. Her hands soothed over Natalia’s sides, a comforting warmth that eased the panic trying and failing to worm its way into her chest.

Each shift of Sam’s body was a lie she wanted to believe. Closing her eyes and focusing on the sensation of Samantha on her, Natalia pretended she was worth loving.

“You are absolutely perfect,” Sam muttered softly before running the tip of her tongue over Natalia’s bottom lip.

Tilting her chin up, Natalia found Sam’s mouth. It was the last stone crumbling under a relentless siege. She poured everything she was sure she would never say into the kiss. Her longing, her pain, her hope.

Sam shuddered under the weight of Natalia’s raw, unmitigated kiss and deepened it. Sure she was breathing through Sam, that she’d drown if they broke apart, Natalia’s muscles locked and trembled.

And then Sam’s hips moved faster, but grinding against her was woefully inadequate. She needed to feel her.

Without breaking their kiss, Natalia reached for Sam’s arm. Reading her non-verbal cue, Sam lifted her hand from the bed and let Natalia guide it over her hips and the gentle swell of her belly before slipping it between her thighs.

The moment Sam touched her, she lost the rhythm of their kiss. Abandoning her attempt to do both, Sam rested her forehead against Natalia’s and groaned.

“You feel so good,” Sam whispered, the very tips of her fingers gliding over Natalia’s arousal like she was testing the ocean’s temperature. “I missed you.”

Natalia didn’t recoil from the gentle confession. She didn’t urge Sam to go faster. She didn’t look away, watching every tiny change in Sam’s face while she touched her.

More exhilarating than Sam’s practiced fingers was the reverence etched into her face. Like she still couldn’t believe she was lucky enough to be here. Like it wasn’t Natalia who stumbled across the biggest prize.

“Tell me when to stop,” Sam whispered against the shell of her ear before concentrating her slow circles lightly over Natalia’s clit.

Shifting to Natalia’s side, Sam didn’t lose her place. Each swipe of her fingers was another pound of pressure building in Natalia’s body.

With a sigh, Natalia showed her where to keep her focus. Sam understood immediately, brows furrowing and dark eyes dripping with second-hand lust like she was the one on her back.

Never looking away from her, Sam quickened her pace. The sudden change was a spike of aching desire pulsing in Natalia’s body. She stiffened, fighting off the desire to take over.

Sam bit her bottom lip like she’d never seen anything better than watching Natalia struggle against herself. Pity probably spurred her to shift her attention, dipping into Natalia’s entrance. Sam’s groan and curse nearly sold her surprise at discovering how wet Natalia was.

Natalia dug her hips into the mattress, signaling for Sam to come back to where she wanted her. Sam obliged, but Natalia read the hesitation on her face.

Under her focused ministrations, Natalia moaned. Heart racing and pulse pumping in her ears, her eyes, her tightening jaw, Natalia forced herself to keep her eyes open. Forced herself to stay for Sam. For herself.

When Natalia started trembling, orgasm tugging hard and close to bringing her under, Sam’s lips parted. The silent question was deafening.

Don’t make me say it, Natalia nearly pleaded aloud.

Sam shifted her fingers away before her climax crested, for once misinterpreting Natalia’s desires. Couldn’t she see that Natalia was looking for an endless edging session?

“Stay,” Natalia panted, breathless and begging. She was so close.

Sam’s eyes brightened just before she finally got it. When she understood, she slid her fingers, slick with arousal, back to where Natalia wanted her.

Without breaking eye contact, she circled Natalia’s clit at a maddeningly slow pace, bringing her back to the edge. But this time Natalia didn’t stay there.

One hand clutching Sam’s back and the other making a fist in the sheets, Natalia couldn’t hold it in. Tossing her head back, she let go. She threw herself into the waves, fully expecting to be shredded by the rocks.

But Sam was steady, muttering her breathy encouragement and praise against her lips. She didn’t stop. Didn’t slow. Until Natalia reached down and put her hands over hers.

“Natalia…” Sam’s words were lost in the salty breeze that had returned through the hatch.

Natalia read the sentiment in her tone. She pulled her back on top of her until they were flush and she could hardly breathe and closed her eyes.

CHAPTER 49

Sam wasn’t a fan of driving the boat at night. She’d only done it once, and it had been a nerve-wracking experience. But laying naked with Natalia, she had no motivation to pick up the anchor.