Page 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Declan

After two margaritas, Cash joined me on my side of the booth, leaning in close enough for our shoulders to touch, one hand dropping to squeeze my thigh.

Hudson’s mother, Judy Nash, sat a few tables away with her boyfriend, Ansel. She smiled and leaned forward to say something that made him look our way, bushy eyebrows rising in surprise. Well, that meant the whole town would know about our date in no time. Ansel was the loudest mouth in Swallow Cove, aside from his buddy Chester, who was doing his darnedest to court Brooks’s grandmother.

Cash snickered. “We’re going to be the talk of town, Dec. You okay with that?”

“I didn’t bring you on a date to keep you a secret.”

“No? I’ve got a reputation in this town…”

I glanced down, surprised to see Cash looking at me with wide, worried eyes. “I know, love, but they don’t know you like I do.”

He smiled and nuzzled in close. “Say that again.”

“I know you.”

He chuckled. “No, call me love again.”

“Love,” I murmured in a soft voice.

He bit his bottom lip. “Damn, that’s so sexy.” He hurriedly tacked on, “And sweet.”

“You’re pretty sexy right now too,” I teased. “And sweet.”

I surprised a laugh out of him. “Yeah? You want to get out of here, so we can be sweet and sexy without an audience?”

“That sounds like a great idea.”

It was a beautiful night, dusk painting the sky in lavender hues as we left the restaurant. Water sloshed against the sides of the boat as we boarded it. Cash leaned over to shove off from the pylon on the dock. As soon as we had the space, I started the motor and headed for open water.

We were a couple of minutes from the B&B. When we got there, things could go one of two ways. We could sit on the couch, cuddle close, and soak up our affection for each other, which I always loved.

Or…

My heart skipped.

It wasn’t often I thought about that other option. Tonight was different. There was a thrum in my veins and a warmth in my chest that had begun to travel to other regions.

It unnerved me a little, this rush of heat. It wasn’t something I experienced every day—or hell, even every month. Cash’s easy acceptance of me, of loving me for exactly who I was and not just who he wanted me to be, made it easier to figure out what I actually wanted for myself.

Not what my boyfriend demanded. Not what society might dictate. But what I really desired.

Not sex for the sake of lust. But intimacy. Closeness. A bond that only we could share. I wanted those things with him.

“Shit,” he exclaimed.

I startled out of my thoughts. “What’s wrong?”

“I meant to order something for Kat.” He winced. “I haven’t thought about her all night.”

I got the impression that was unusual for him. “A family checked in today. There’s a teen her age. They were going to stay in with a pizza and watch a movie. They invited Kat to join.”

“Girl or boy?”

“What?”

“The teen her age? Are they a girl or a boy?” He paused. “Or something else?”

“A boy, I think. We didn’t exchange pronouns.”

Cash swore again, only more creatively this time with a string of fucks. “Drive faster.”

“Cash, his parents are there, too.”

“Don’t care. I know what guys his age are like. Drive faster. ”

Bemused, I pushed the throttle forward. As soon as we arrived, he hopped out of the boat to rush inside. I hurried to follow. It wouldn’t do for Cash to get charged with an assault on one of my guests.

The Jackson family was in the living room. Katelyn curled up in an armchair, and Marcus—the sixteen-year-old whose presence worried Cash—sat on the couch with his parents.

He was watching Katelyn more than the movie, so maybe Cash hadn’t been totally off-base, but to my relief, there would be no need for bloodshed.

“Hey,” Katelyn said when she noticed Cash. “I didn’t think you’d be back this soon? What kind of date night is that?”

“The best kind,” Mr. Jackson murmured.

His wife elbowed him, and he grunted.

Cash bent down to say something to Katelyn, and she turned beet red and slapped his arm. Then he turned a look on Marcus. “I’m Kat’s brother,” he said. “I’m very protective of her, and I’m right here in the same house. Understand?”

“Yeah, man.”

“Good. Hope you enjoy the rest of the movie.”

“We will,” Mrs. Jackson said. “And don’t worry. We’re keeping an eye on the kids.”

We left the Jacksons to watch the movie—and Marcus to apparently worry about what Cash might do if he stepped out of line—and went to my quarters.

As soon as I closed the door, I apologized.

“I didn’t realize you’d be concerned about Kat spending time with a boy. My sister’s older, and she’s been married for years…”

“That’s okay.” Cash wrapped his arms around my waist, bringing our chests together. “I probably overreacted. I just remember how I was at that age.”

“Dare I ask?”

“Let’s just say that I wouldn’t wish me on anyone’s little sister—or brother. I’m too fucking good at getting people into bed.”

“And yet we’re just standing here talking.”

“Well, that’s—” He stopped short, one dark eyebrow rising. “Is that an invitation?”

“Maybe it is.”

His gaze sharpened on me. “For cuddling, or…”

I swallowed hard. Pushed the words past the nervous tightening of my throat. I wanted to know all of Cash. Wanted to experience the passion he shared when he wasn’t holding back.

“I’d like to see that side of you,” I said.

“I need you to be really clear here,” he said, body tight and coiled. “I don’t want to misunderstand.”

He was so cautious about my boundaries, and it had allowed us to get here. But I didn’t want him tiptoeing around on eggshells for the rest of our lives. I wanted to know when he wanted more intimacy.

If I said no, he’d listen. But other times, times like now, I could say yes.

I cupped his face and looked into his eyes. “I want you to take what you want tonight.”

He wet his lips, still hesitating. “You want it too?”

“ Yes.”

The second the word left my lips, he was on me, fingers spearing into my hair, mouth latching onto mine. My back hit the wall next to the door with a thud, and I gasped as Cash’s dick—so hard already—ground against my hip.

This wasn’t like the other times we’d had sex, where Cash had let me lead and followed my cues. He’d been almost submissive in those moments, accepting whatever I gave him.

Now he was taking.

The force of his passion was impressive. Consuming. Just shy of being too overwhelming. But it was exactly the right amount tonight, because it shut down my brain.

I sank into the sensations.

His teeth nibbling gently at my bottom lip. His tongue following with teasing kitten licks. I opened up, inviting him in with a groan, and he thrust his tongue in, bold now that I’d given him what he wanted.

He broke the deepest, filthiest kiss I’d ever had to gasp out, “Still good?”

Was I? I felt stripped bare even though I still wore my clothes. A little shaky, but in a good way. Asking me for words now was asking too much, but I managed a nod of assent.

His lips curled up, eyes hot on me as he murmured, “This is going to be fun.”

I shivered at the dark, sensual tone to his voice. Damn. Cash unleashed was something to behold.

He moved his lips to my throat as he worked the buttons on my shirt. “I want to fuck you tonight. Is that?—”

“Yes,” I gasped, body clenching at the thought of someone inside me after so much time.

“Fucking hell,” he growled, yanking my shirt open with enough force to send a few buttons pinging to the floor. “I want you so much.”

“Take me, Cash,” I managed. “I’m yours.”

Everything moved fast then. He shoved my shirt over my shoulders, and I reached for his. Cash danced away from my fumbling hands. “This is Skylar’s shirt. Brooks will kill me if we yank all the buttons off this one, too.”

I laughed, reaching for my belt instead. Together, we undid buttons, pushed aside fabric, and finally came back together, naked. I was surprised at how comfortable I was. Too often, sex stressed me out. I ended up in my head the whole time, worrying about my partner’s expectations of me, worrying I wasn’t giving him the responses he wanted, worrying he’d get fed up and move on.

Everything with Cash was different.

I knew instinctively I could stop us in our tracks, and he wouldn’t get angry or resentful. That knowledge allowed me to relax and enjoy our closeness.

I didn’t fool myself. Cash hadn’t magically changed my sexuality. I would always be some flavor of ace. But he’d given me the space to enjoy our intimacy when it happened.

He kissed me, his hands coasting along my flanks, slipping down to squeeze my ass. “Want to take this to the bed?”

My stomach flip-flopped at the thought of what was to come. “Yeah, just…go slow. It’s been a while.”

Cash met my gaze, his smile slow and sweet. “Anything you want.”

He meant it. I kissed the sweet words from his lips, took them into my heart, and reveled in how damn lucky I was that Cash had kept trying even when I pushed him away.

We made our way to the bed, and when we were finally beside it, I shoved him down on the mattress. He bounced once, long legs hanging over the edge, cock swaying with the motion. His body was pale, his hair a contrast where it lightly fuzzed his chest and formed a trail down his abs to the thatch at the base of his cock.

But it was his playful grin that captured my attention.

“Who’s taking who here?”

I flushed. “Sorry.”

He smirked, spreading his legs in invitation. “No worries. I’m vers.” He paused. “Although, I did eat a rather large burrito.”

“Well, let’s not tempt fate, then.”

I opened my side table drawer to retrieve lube. Ace or not, I jerked off as much as the next guy and I had the supplies to make it more comfortable. I even used toys sometimes, though nothing like that gargantuan dildo Fisher had given Cash.

That thought made me pause.

“So, you’re vers, but do you have a preference?”

“Not really. I like it every which way, as long as I make my partner happy.”

“Good.” I tossed the lube onto the mattress and straddled his waist. “Because I want you inside me.”

He sucked in a breath. “Hell yeah, I want that too.”

“And all I had to eat was a salad,” I added.

He laughed. “I’ve never been so thankful for fresh greens.”

I hesitated. “Do we need a condom? I’ve been with no one but you since I tested two years ago, but…”

“A year for me,” he said. “I think we’re good, if you’re comfortable with that?”

“I trust you.”

“Good.” An evil grin spread across his face. “Now, back to the plan. I believe you wanted to see my take-charge side.”

He grabbed my waist and rolled. My back hit the mattress, pinned beneath him. He bent down to nuzzle my nose, then bypassed my lips to press an open-mouthed kiss to the pulse point in my throat.

I drew a breath as his teeth scraped. At the same time, his hands explored, slipping down to tug at my nipples. I arched with a gasp.

“That’s it,” he murmured. “I’m going to touch you everywhere for as long as you let me.”

He worked his way down my body, teasing out sensitive spots with his fingers, lips, and tongue. My head spun, overtaken by the sparks he set off in nerve endings unused to the attention. I felt like a live wire, full of electricity and ready to blow a circuit.

Cash sank his mouth over my cock, making me groan. He took me deep, his mouth so wet and eager. There was no hesitance, no inhibition in this man.

He seemed like such an odd match for me, and yet…his boldness complemented my reserved nature. Lick by lick, suck by suck, he broke down my barriers until I was gripping his hair and ordering him to finger my ass.

Cash grabbed the lube, happy to give me what I wanted. More than happy.

A slick fingertip circled my rim, teasing, prodding, gently flicking until I couldn’t take it and shoved my hips down with a growl.

He sank his finger inside me, tearing a needy groan from me.

“Fuck yes,” he murmured. “You’ve got a gorgeous ass.”

I gave a ragged laugh. “I doubt that view is gorgeous.”

“You’d be wrong,” he said. “I’ve been admiring this ass for years, and seeing your hole wrapped around my finger only makes me want to bury my cock so fucking deep in you.”

Heat blazed through my whole body. “Jesus, Cash.”

“Too much?”

“Less talk, more action.”

He laughed, not offended by the demand. He added a second finger, then a third, getting me nice and stretched. By the time he lined up his cock, I was trembling with need.

“Please, Cash, hurry.”

“I got you, sweetheart.”

He grasped my thighs, folding them back, and surged forward. My thoroughly prepped body only put up token resistance to the intrusion.

I stretched, reforming to his shape as his thick cock filled me inch by inch. Cash’s moan was so decadent that it lit up my body as if his enjoyment was my own. Hell, maybe it was. I sought out his gaze, latching on, needing that emotional connection.

Cash’s eyes were glazed with lust when they met mine, but there was so much more in their depths. Emotions swirled, flickers of warmth and wonder and so much fucking love.

He sank deeper, nudging up against my prostate, and I gasped.

“That good?” he rasped.

“So good,” I confessed.

He withdrew slowly, torturously, then rocked back in, angling for maximum pleasure. I cried out, hiking my legs around his hips and rocking up to meet his next thrust.

Cash hadn’t just had a lot of sex in his life. He was really good at it.

I wasn’t sure how he did it, but he read my needs expertly. When I craved more emotional connection, he instinctively slowed, holding me and whispering such sweet words of praise that I wanted to cry.

“You’re so amazing,” he murmured into my ear. “Every moment with you is a gift, do you know that?”

“God, Cash,” I gritted out, arms tightening around him. “You’re the gift.”

When I grew restless, wanting more, he held my hips in a bruising grip and thrust hard into me, angling to hit the bundle of nerves that lit me up with every stroke. Tension wound in me, tighter and tighter, until I thought I’d break apart.

He grasped my cock, giving it a couple of rough strokes between our bodies.

I shattered with a rough shout, all that tension snapping and releasing a tsunami of pleasure. My cock shot, my ass tightened around his dick, and he groaned out his own release, coming in pulses inside me.

I melted into the mattress like a pile of goo. It had been a very long time since I’d had an orgasm that intense. Most of the time, I was more than satisfied by jerking off, but damn if my body didn’t appreciate the mind-blowing release.

Cash slumped on top of me with a shuddery breath. “Fuck. That was so good.”

I smiled and wrapped my arms around him, holding him tight while our ragged breathing calmed.

He tensed, lifting his head. “It was good, right? For you?”

“Of course. You were inside me. You should have felt how very good it was.”

He smirked. “Well, yeah, physically, your body liked it. But that’s not always the issue, is it?” He tapped my temple. “Was it good, here?” He tapped my chest. “And here?”

I raised my hands to cup his face. “Yeah, Cash. It was good on all levels.”

He exhaled with a shaky smile. “Good. That’s what I hoped.”

“You don’t have to worry about that, okay? I’ll stop you if something doesn’t feel right.”

Cash nodded. “This was just a lot more intense and I know I can get carried away in the heat of the moment. I don’t want to hurt you, or pressure you to keep?—”

I pressed my hand over his mouth. “Stop it.”

His eyes widened in surprise.

“First of all, you checked in with me several times. Remember that?”

He nodded wordlessly.

“Secondly, I’m fully capable of speaking up for myself. I’m a big boy and strong enough to toss you right out of bed if I don’t want you there.”

He chuckled, his hot breath gusting against my palm right before he licked me. I pulled my hand away with a yelp and he swooped in to kiss me.

“I just don’t want to mess this up.”

“You won’t.” I smoothed his hair back from his face. Emotion swelled, threatening to burst out of my chest. “You said you were crazy about me, right?”

“I am.”

“Well, I’m crazy for you. I…I love you, Cash.”

His eyes warmed. “I love you too.”

He loved me. Fuck, I wanted to rejoice in that. Wanted to laugh and cry and hold him so tightly he’d never leave.

But first, I had to make sure we understood each other.

“We won’t have nights like this all the time. Not every day, probably not even every week. But when we do, I don’t want you to spend them trying to guess how I feel. I will tell you how I feel. What I want or don’t want. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Never be afraid to kiss me or touch me, okay? I can’t promise to always be on the same page, but I can promise that I love you even if I’d rather cuddle on the couch.”

“Hey, those couch cuddles are awesome,” Cash said. “I’ll never turn them down.”

I smiled up at him. “That’s what makes you such an amazing boyfriend.”

“Wow, I’m rocking this dating thing,” he said. “One day in and I’m already amazing.”

I gave a strained laugh, his weight pressing on my chest. “Yeah, but if you were really amazing, you’d move so I can breathe.”

“Oh, shit! Sorry.”

He scrambled off so quickly he nearly fell out of the bed.

I laughed as I caught his arm and tugged him back to safety. “Easy, I’m not on the verge of dying.”

“Are you sure?” he teased. “You’re pretty old.”

I shoved him out of the bed. He hit the ground with a gratifying thump. “Ouch. Guess I deserved that.”

“Damn right,” I said, leaning over to make sure he was okay.

He surged up to catch me in a kiss. When we parted, his eyes were full of renewed lust. “Want to go again?”

I chuckled. “Love the enthusiasm, but raincheck, okay?”

Even if I’d wanted to go again—and I really didn’t, not so soon—my body couldn’t have rebounded that quickly.

“Okay, I’ll just jerk off in the shower,” he said with a grin.

That, more than anything, reassured me this relationship could work. Cash was as horny as the next allosexual guy, but he was okay with taking matters into his own hands when necessary.

He reached down to squeeze his cock.

“I’ll be thinking of you.”

“Mm-hmm. Don’t be afraid to take that giant dildo from Fisher if you want,” I teased.

He laughed, eyes bright. “I think I’ll save that for a night when I haven’t indulged in a burrito.”

I snorted. “Probably a good idea.”