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He swirled his tongue around her rosy nipples. She gasped and wiggled in his lap, which, fuck , made him want to cut to the chase. But she needed to hear the next part loud and clear.

“I love watching your face when you come, and I plan to see it many times tonight.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got that much stamina?”

“With you? No doubt.” With his hands clamped around her, he swiveled and placed her on her back. “But I said you’re coming many times tonight.”

“What about you?”

“It makes me happy to make you happy,” he said, shimmying her pajama-onesie thing from her body, then shedding his clothes. He tugged her hips toward the double lounger’s edge, then coaxed her legs apart. “You have such a pretty—”

Julia laughed and covered her face. “Don’t say it.”

“Why not? It’s true.” He lapped at her delicate flesh with languorous strokes, like licking the sweetest ice cream on Earth. He alternated with fluttery swirls around her clit.

“Yes.” She wriggled under his mouth. “There. Keep…going.”

Heaven was between Julia Stone’s legs.

She gently bucked her hips, begging for more, and he was happy to oblige. He loved the eager way she responded to him. She’d been wet to start, but now she was ripe as an August peach.

His physical advantage as a ballplayer had been his big hands and long fingers.

Good for snatching baseballs from the air.

Also good for coaxing orgasms. He eased two fingers inside Julia.

Her core squeezed as he adventured forward, his tongue never letting up.

He curled his fingers up slightly, feeling around for the—

Aha. There was the ridged patch.

Carson rubbed it gently. “How’s that?”

She raised her head. “What are you—oh.” She dropped back to the lounger. “Oh.”

With his other hand, he pressed the gentle hill above her vulva. Inside, he kept massaging her spot, picking up speed. Above them, lightning flashed, followed by a thunder crack. Rain pounded the cabana’s canvas roof.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“This,” she gasped. “But harder.”

He followed her orders. God, she was beautiful as she chased her pleasure. The muscles in his forearm were starting to burn, but he’d rather get carpal tunnel than stop.

“Oh, fuck… I’m about to—”

Her inner muscles squeezed his fingers as she raised her hips. Carson waited until the echoes faded before withdrawing. He laid next to her.

Catching her breath, she laughed. This was the secret Julia, the utterly unfettered version no one else got to see. He didn’t take the privilege for granted.

After her giggles died down, she asked, “What was that?”

“An orgasm, I believe.”

“I’ve had orgasms. That was… I’ve never—I don’t…how?”

She was incoherent. A sign of a job well done.

“That was a g-spot orgasm. Or so I’m told.” He feathered his fingers along her smooth skin. “Figuring out how to deliver one takes practice.”

“My gratitude to your former lovers.” She threw her arm over her eyes, then heaved a deep breath. “Could you get me a water?”

He kissed her elbow. “I don’t want to get arrested for indecent exposure.”

“Not from the resort bar.” She gestured vaguely toward the corner. “Mini fridge.”

“That makes more sense.” He flipped open the mini fridge door. The tiny freezer stocked with ice cube trays gave him an idea. “Here you go.”

Julia took the bottle. After guzzling, she offered it to him. “Want some?”

“Nope. Turn over.”

She set the bottle on the side table, then flipped to her stomach. The speed of her compliance was beyond hot.

“Like this?” she asked.

“Yes.” He knelt next to her. “Guess the letters I draw on your back.”

She peered at him. “What do I get if I’m right?”

“I’ll make you come again.” He plucked a cube from the tray. “If you’re wrong, I’ll still make you come again. This is a win-win for you.”

As he drew the first letter, she shivered. “F.”

“Correct.” He traced another letter.

“U.”

Another letter. She giggled. “ C. Carson, are you trying to make me say fuck ?”

“Yes.” He licked the water glistening on her back. “You never swear. Curse words coming from your mouth in bed is my kryptonite.”

“If you like dirty talk, you don’t need to play games. This whole tell-me-what-you-like thing is a two-way street.” She batted her eyes. “Could you fuck me senseless, please? Oh, unless you want me to suck you dry?”

Carson groaned. Her mouth on him would be glorious, but that wasn’t what he had in mind.

“Maybe later.” He positioned himself behind her, straddling her legs, then tugged her hips upright. He palmed her ass, circling the flesh before skating his hands up the column of her back.

He glided his cock against her opening, teasing her, drunk on her inviting slickness.

She backed against him, encouraging.

He slapped her bottom gently. “Impatient.”

“Carson, please.”

The please was sweet in his ears.

“I’ll give you anything, everything you ask for.”

On a groan, he sank into her until his hips met her ass. As they moved together, a wave of affection overwhelmed him. No, not a wave—a tsunami that swept him off his feet and whirled him into the deep.

This wasn’t plain affection. He adored Julia.

She reached back for him, and he locked his grip around her forearms. He held her steady as he entered her, again and again and again.

Julia was wild in his grasp, enthusiastically meeting each thrust. They stayed locked together like this for an eternity and no time at all.

Thank God for the rain and thunder drowning out their moans.

Soon, tingling tension coiled around his balls.

“What do you want?” He ground out. “I won’t last much longer.”

“I want you to come for me.”

He let go of her arms, and she planted her hands on the lounger. After three strokes, the base of his cock contracted, and he was gone. With each throb, the pressure inside him was eased. He rested his face against Julia’s back.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

“Empty,” he said into her sweat-slicked skin. After a few deep breaths, he kissed her shoulder blade, then eased himself from her and fell back against the chaise.

Julia laid her head on his chest. Her hair smelled amazing. Coconut and citrus. Shoot it into his veins, whatever it was, because he was already high on her.

He traced lazy circles on her shoulder. For several minutes, they lay in the dark, nothing in the air but the sound of their breathing and the rain pelting the cabana.

This was peaceful.

Ten years ago Julia met the worst version of himself. Today she was in his arms. Proof he’d become the man he’d aspired to be—a person worthy of her.

“I did not have this on the itinerary today,” she said.

“Glad I could tempt you away from the almighty list.” He kissed her head. “What else is on there? Time travel? World peace?”

“Mostly getting a job.”

That he could help with. “You’ll get snapped up in a day by someone in my network.”

“Sleeping my way right to the top.” Julia lightly tugged at his chest hair.

“You shouldn’t apply to entry-level gigs. You should be running shit.”

She snuggled into him. “Who’d take orders from me?”

“Anyone with a brain. I’ve been taking orders from you for a week, haven’t I? You learned about this wedding less than a week ago, and it’s done . Planned. Boom. You make it look easy because you just…handle things.”

“Okay, now I’m full stoplight blushing.” Julia covered her eyes with her hand.

He peeled it free, then threaded his fingers with hers.

“You’re great at this, Julia. Own it.”

“Okay, okay. Owned.”

Carson loved their casual conversation with her in his arms. Some people enjoyed this every night of their lives, which blew his mind. He wanted that, and he wanted it with her.

“Have you reconsidered LA?” he asked. “You and your sister have the drive to start something big. My dad can infuse the development with cash. LA could be a soft place to land while you figure it out. And I can help you.”

Her deep swallow gently rocked his chest. A moment passed, then two, then three. Yep, he’d pushed, and now she was spinning, figuring out how to say no without disappointing him. He wished she’d answered with an enthusiastic yes, but that was about him, not her.

He kissed the top of her head.

“I can hear the lists you’re drafting, Jules. Don’t answer now, okay?”

“Okay,” she said. “Can we lie here and listen to the rain?”

“You’ve got it.” He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the itchy sensation in his heart.