Page 21 of Too Far

His deference warms me. It’s taken a few hard lessons, but I think he finally understands that giving me a choice is truly the way to my heart.

“I’d love to go out on the boat with you.”

He smiles against the sensitive skin of my neck, then his massive, talented quarterback hands cup my ass and lift me up. I hold on tight as he wordlessly carries me from Kendrick’s room.

Even once we’re in the hall, he doesn’t let me go.

I consider sassing him—I’m tired, but that doesn’t mean my legs don’t work.

But then he hoists me a little higher, holds me a little tighter, and hums, low and deep, into my neck, like I’m the most precious thing in the world.

Ugh. My heart.

I like to rile him up. Tease him. Make that damn jaw tic work overtime.

But I love him like this. Sticky-sweet and soft, just for me.

His next words are heavy and set in a deep timbre that wasn’t there a moment ago. “It’s still dark outside. There shouldn’t be any cause for concern… but just in case, I’ll go down first and prep the boat, then you can follow a few minutes later.”

Nodding, I brace myself as he carefully descends the stairs. When we get to the sliding glass door of the upper deck, he finally sets me on my feet. Reluctant to unwind my body from his, I loosen my hold but don’t release him.

Grinning like he’s eating up the way I’m clinging to him like he’s my favorite pillow, he grasps my wrists and tugs until I’m forced to let go.

“You’re underdressed,” he states, his brow furrowed with worry.

“You pulled me out of bed, Cap. Not sure what you were expecting. You’re lucky I love Kendrick’s scent.” I bring the collar of the shirt I slipped on last night to my nose. “Otherwise I’d still be naked.”

His scowl deepens, so I decide against mentioning that I’m wearing Kylian’s boxers.

“Here,” he huffs, yanking his hoodie off. Before I have time to object, he works it over my head. “Count to one hundred, then meet me on the dock,” he orders. Without waiting for a response, he slips out the door and into the cool morning air.

I push my arms into the sleeves, then wrap myself in a hug as I silently count in my head.

Shivering, I pull the cuffs of Decker’s sweatshirt down past my wrists and let the too-long arms flop by my sides. If it’s this cool inside, I can only imagine the chill that will hit me when I step outside.

I slip my feet into a pair of shoes as I watch Decker untie the ropes anchoring the boat to the dock and make his way aboard. Still shivering but warming more by the second, I bring my hands to my face and inhale deeply and shamelessly while I wait.

The hoodie is thick, butter soft and super warm, and suffused with not only notes of amber and sea salt but also the heat of Decker’s body.

Is there anything better than an oversized, preheated hoodie?

The low hum of the pontoon’s engine starting up is just audible through the glass.

I give it another ten seconds before I exit the house and follow after him.

The path that leads from the upper deck to the patio, then from the patio to the beach, is one I’ve taken so many times I can practically do it with my eyes closed.

Which is a good thing, considering it’s pitch-black outside.

Decker has his phone light switched on, and I home in on it like a moth to the flame.

My feet find purchase on the pebbles that make up the shoreline around the lake, and I slow my steps, ready to hit the wooden planks of the landing.

By the time I’m at the end of the dock, he’s offering out a hand to help me climb aboard.

With a grin, I scan the pontoon and tip my chin. “What? No love nest today?”

He closes his eyes, shakes his head, then hits me with a facsimile of his signature scowl.