Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
He cleared his throat and twirled a finger. “Turn around.”
Fine.
I had a feeling I knew what he wanted. I turned around and grabbed the railing.
“Good boy.” He smacked my ass.
I rolled my eyes and ignored the twinge of fuck-me-that-stung. Apparently, he just needed to go near my ass for it to hurt.
“You’re gonna have to set the limits when it comes to playing with others,” he said, quieter now. And I suddenly didn’t like the topic. “If it were up to me, we’d be 100% monogamous, and all play with others would be nonsexual.”
I furrowed my brow and looked at him over my shoulder. “I’m not poly, Reid. Nor am I interested in sharing you. Nonsexual play with others sounds great, but nothing more.”
He flashed an uncharacteristically bashful smile. “Yeah?”
I nodded once, thinking back on all the times we’d had someone between us. Talk about bittersweet. I’d taken what I’d been given, at the same time as it’d pained me more to see him fuck others.
I winced through a wave of both relief and hurt when he poured water between my ass cheeks. Thankfully, he was careful. His fingers brushed over my opening, and I shuddered. One part wanted more, and the other was far from ready.
“Are you done inspecting my ass? I kinda wanna cuddle,” I said.
I knew the seating area could be converted into a sunbed.
“Kinda wanna?” He smirked into the kiss he pressed to my spine. “That doesn’t sound like worship to me. I wanna hear you beg to be near me.”
I grinned to myself, and a fuck you was resting on the tip of my tongue. Along with an “I regret everything.” But he’d see that coming. So, no. I turned around instead, and I gathered his arms around my neck.
His smirk was still there.
“Please, Reid.” I leaned in and kissed him chastely as I reached down and palmed his ass. “Please share that sunbed over there with me—and spend the night convincing me that my lost dream is about to come true. That this is really happening.” I smiled when his cockiness faded. “That’s all I want. A life with you. Always being close to you, always sharing everything with you. Calling you mine.”
Not a trace of humor lingered in his eyes.
I kissed him again, and he managed a nod.
“I guess I can do that,” he murmured.
Perfect.
Zero was the number of friends who were surprised to hear about Reid and me the following morning.
If they’d “seen this coming” and “wondered for years,” why couldn’t they have told us? Clued us in?
Whatever. It worked out for the best. Everyone was comfortable, and Reid and I hadn’t made the news, so it was incredibly easy to disappear into another bubble with him, without having to worry about how others might react.
Since this was our last full day in Florida, we made our way back to Naples early. The boat was returned, and we started driving back through the Everglades toward Homestead.
Sam drove our car. We had LC and Joey too, and I was stuck in the middle seat next to Reid. Tired as hell, I leaned against him and dozed on and off on his shoulder.
I couldn’t wait to take a shower.
Reid absently ran his fingers through my hair, and I let out a long breath and looked forward to when I could stretch my legs out properly. A shower back at the house, maybe a nap, and a lot of wandering hands. That was all I wanted.
“So when are you moving back to DC, Sam?” Reid asked.
I yawned and slipped a hand onto his thigh.
“I’ve actually thought about it, but I don’t know,” Sam responded pensively. “I can’t picture myself going back to private military, and I have a solid job at home. Plus, my old man needs me more now that Ma’s gone.”
The reason he’d moved home to Portland, if I remembered correctly. His mother had fallen ill, and she’d passed away a couple of years ago. And rather than returning to the East Coast, he’d joined his father’s logging business.
“Makes sense,” Reid replied. “I’d forgotten you went private after the Army. Where did you work, at UnitySec? The Hillcroft Group?” He mentioned a couple of the many private security businesses in DC.
“Hillcroft,” Sam confirmed. “Sure as fuck not going back there. But I do miss DC at times… We’ll see, I guess. What about you? What’re your plans now that you shut down your community?”
Reid pressed his lips to the top of my head. “I reckon I’m gonna close myself in with this overthinker for a while and make sure he doesn’t get any ideas.”
I smiled and chuckled sleepily. “I think you’re safe at this point.”
I was his. He’d told me.
For once, my mind was at peace, and I wasn’t going to ruin that.
Jesus Christ, the perfect way to wake up.