Page 69 of Rum & Coke

“Right?”

“It’s amazing,” she gushed as she ran her hand along the side where the tub was.

“Right?” I repeated.

She turned to me. “How is this why you don’t quit S&R?”

I sat on the ledge near the tub and reached for her, bringing her between my legs as I wrapped my arms around her waist. “Because one day, sweets, I want to own a place like this, and working for S&R gives me the means to be able to save for it. Granted, each year I tend to go on trips and spend some of the money, but one day I will own a place like this one.”

“You make that much going on dates?” She wrapped her arms around my neck.

“That and my teacher’s salary, which isn’t nearly enough on its own.”

“So, you don’t want to quit?”

“I’m not saying that. I’m telling you why it took me so long to pull the trigger, so to speak.”

Tessa looked around the room. “So if you quit, you won’t ever be able to afford a place like this?”

I shrugged. “Just means it will take a little longer than planned.”

“Are you sure? You’re making it sound as though I’m crushing your dreams by asking you to stop escorting if we start dating.”

I kissed her lips softly, loving that I was now able to do it. “My mom used to tell me that once in a lifetime you meet someone who will change everything. And you, sweets, are changing everything in my life, and honestly, I’m diggin’ it.”

She stared at me with her blue eyes. “How is it that you’ve never had a girlfriend before? You know all the right things to say.”

“It’s the job, but with you, it’s everything. I want you to be my actual girlfriend.”

She smiled. “I want to be your girlfriend.”

“Good. Now, we’re all alone up here. Kiss me like you mean it.”

She licked her lips and tilted her head down, brushing her lips against mine before I took over, deepening the kiss and making her moan like she did with our first one.

“Tess …”

“Hmm?” she asked against my mouth.

“I want you.”

“You have me.”

“All of you,” I clarified.

She broke her mouth from mine. “It’s been a long time.”

“How long?”

“Over five years.”

I balked. “That’s—”

Tessa sighed. “I haven’t had sex since the night Colt was conceived.”

“Damn, sweets,” I breathed. “That’s a long time.”

“I know.”