He undid the button on his paint covered white pants and started to tug them down, but cursed.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice sounding breathless.
“I don’t have a condom,” he hung his head, smiling sheepishly he added, “this wasn’t about sex.” He gestured to the twister mat and paint. “I really did want us to do something fun.”
“Well, now it is about sex.” My voice was full of want and desire. “Just forget the condom. I’m on birth control and I’m clean. I got tested after…well, after.” He knew what I was talking about.
His whole body shook when he inhaled a breath. “Are you sure? I’m clean too.”
“I trust you.”
I trusted him completely—with my life, but not my heart.
He nodded once and removed his pants and boxer briefs.
My eyes immediately dropped to his erection. I couldn’t help myself. I reached out, wrapping my hand around him and rubbing up and down. Air hissed between his teeth and he let out a curse.
“I need to be inside you,” he murmured, grabbing my hands and pinning them above my head. He captured my lips with his and thrust inside.
I gasped at the intrusion and then my body began to relax. Pleasure zinged through my veins. I’d never known how potent and special sex could be until Ezra. I had thought I’d known, but I’d been oh-so wrong. Everything from my past paled in comparison, and I feared that anything after would never live up to this. But from the first time I let him touch me it had been a risk I was willing to take.
His hips rolled deliciously slow against mine and a breathy sigh escaped me.
He stared into my eyes, the feelings and moment far too intimate for two people that were only supposed to be friends with benefits.
I stared right back, unflinchingly.
I don’t know what he saw in my eyes, but his darkened with heightened passion and he pulled his bottom lip between his teeth.
Letting go of my hands he skimmed his down my sides and then back up to palm my breasts.
My naked body was covered in paint, as was his, but I didn’t care.
He lowered his head, sucking my bottom lip into his mouth. I moaned and his tongue swirled against mine.
My body began to shake as I soared to that place high among the sky.
When I fell his lips silenced my small cry.
I wrapped my fingers around his neck, holding him to me. I kissed him back with every ounce of desire that my small body possessed.
His thrusts quickened and he rested his forehead against mine, still looking into my eyes.
I knew I should look away, that watching him like this would only make me fall harder for him, but I couldn’t let this moment leave. I wanted—no, needed—to see if any part of him cared for me the way I did him. Even if it was only a fleeting look, I would treasure it forever, because for that single suspended moment in time we would be one.
He groaned, his body shaking as he found his release.
I held his face in my hands, refusing to let him look away.
And then I saw it—that look, so full of love and longing.
I held onto it, tucking the moment into my heart where I could treasure it forever.
I knew I had to let him go, but I raised my head and kissed him again.
His lips were a brand against mine. His fingers fisted in my hair and he kissed me with fervor, like he needed me to survive.
He broke the kiss first and pressed a single, tender kiss to my forehead before pulling out and rolling onto his back.
We both lay there, covered in paint, unmoving except for the heavy rise and fall of our chests as we struggled to get enough air into our lungs.
So much hung unsaid in the air between us.
And it would remain that way.
“WOOO! WE’RE IN MIAMI BITCHES!” Maddox yelled, grabbing up Emma and tossing her over his shoulder. He ran straight for the blue-green colored ocean water. She beat at his back, laughing wildly at his antics.
“We’re not even in Miami!” Hayes hollered after him, shaking his head. “Fucking psycho.”
“Do you think we could, um maybe keep the cussing to a minimum?” Arden asked, covering her daughter’s ears.
I’d ended up closing down my shop for the week and after talking to the guys, Emma, and Remy to see if it was okay, I invited Arden and her daughter Mia to go on vacation with us. I knew it had been forever since she’d had a break—being a single mom was hard—and I felt bad that I’d blown her off a few times when she asked to get lunch or something.
“Oh, right. Sorry.” Hayes smiled sheepishly at her. “That might be difficult between the two of us.” He tossed a thumb in Mathias’ direction.
Mathias rolled his eyes and finished unloading the suitcases from the trunk of one of the SUVs we’d rented for our stay.
I glanced up at the gigantic mansion we were staying in.
It had four stories—the bottom story was a massive garage, but the other three still remained a mystery. The siding was a pale blue and it had windows everywhere. It was just starting to get dark, but the house glowed from within making it obvious someone had been there earlier to get it ready for our stay.
On the outside palm trees and an endless amount of sand surrounded it.
I breathed in the crisp, salty air.
This was exactly what I had needed.
Glancing over at Ezra as he finished unloading the car we’d rode in I couldn’t help thinking about how difficult this week would be for us.
While Maddox and Emma played in the water—meaning he dropped her in the ocean on purpose and she retaliated by dunking him—the rest of us carried our bags into the house.
“Oh my God,” Arden gasped.
My gasp echoed hers.
The house was stunning.
Actually, that was an understatement.
Magnificent was a more accurate description.
The walls and furniture were all white with pops of turquoise and hot pink in the form of pillows and vases. It was so simple, but beautiful.
But the view? That was to die for.
I dropped my purse by the set of stairs and walked straight ahead to gaze out the windows. The ocean glimmered in the last of the setting sun and below on the beach Emma ran away from Maddox. He caught her around the waist and spun her around. It was a picture perfect moment.
Ezra stepped up beside me, his arm brushing mine. Body heat radiated off of him and I found myself leaning closer to him. I itched to be wrapped in his arms, but I fought off that urge.
On my other side Arden stood with three-year-old Mia on her hip. “Wow,” she gasped, “it’s so beautiful it doesn’t seem real.”
I nodded in agreement.
“Thanks for inviting me.” She glanced at me with a smile. “All of you.” She glanced at the guys and Remy.
“Of course,” Hayes huffed, setting down a heavy bag by the stairs. His face was red and he looked like he was starting to sweat. “What was in that bag?” He addressed me. “Fess up fashion Queen. It’s yours right?”
“Not mine.” I shook my head.
Beside me Arden’s cheeks flamed red, making her freckles appear even more vividly. “Uh…it’s mine,” she admitted. Hayes began to laugh. “In my defense,” she held up a hand, halting whatever he was about to say, “that’s my only bag and it has all of mine and Mia’s stuff.”
Hayes’ eyes sparkled with barely contained laughter. “I guess I can forgive you for that.”
She smiled at him, tucking a piece of bright red hair behind her ear.
I eyed the two carefully, trying to hide my smile. I turned away and back out at the beautiful view.
“I’m starving,” Mathias declared, heading over to the kitchen. He swung open the stainless steel refrigerator doors and cursed. “Motherfucker.”
“Language!” Arden admonished, covering Mia’s ears once more.