Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 52813 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52813 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
The hike is mostly through jungle, the path well-cleared and opening up occasionally to allow ocean views. Stella is in front of me, the back of her bikini top visible through her white t-shirt making me think about how amazing it looks from the front.
I know I should keep enough distance to allow her time to process what happened with Owen and what’s happening with her mom. But when she’s right beside me all the time—so close I can smell her perfume on her skin—it’s fucking hard.
We can hear the roaring waterfall about half a mile before we can see it, and when it comes into view, it’s spectacular. The water drops down hundreds of feet into a bright blue pool with black rocks spread out in groups around its border. Stella immediately takes several photos and sends one to her mom.
When she takes off the coverup, I watch her like a hungry wolf looking at a potential meal. She’s a work of art in that suit, and the sexiest part about it is the confidence in her expression when she meets my gaze. I owe Sean some playoff tickets for his help with that.
After we’re all in the water, Marco does his hand clapping bullshit, like he’s calling a meeting to order.
“Every couple, find a comfortable spot in the water for our exercise.”
“Can’t we just swim?” Braden asks.
“Sounds good to me,” I say.
Marco ignores us. “Dr. Packard has a wonderful exercise that will be helpful to you in your marriages. I’m going to hand it over to her now.”
Stella and I are at the edge of the pool, water gently lapping against her breasts. If only I could tear off that top and lap at them myself.
“Arguments are inevitable even in a healthy relationship,” Dr. Packard says. “I want you to practice something I teach my clients that can help heal without words.”
“Blowjobs?” Tre asks from behind me.
Laugher ripples around the pool.
“I want everyone to take your partner’s hands and close your eyes.” Dr. Packard actually checks to make sure our eyes are closed, so I comply with her instructions. “Now, there’s no talking at all during this exercise. Whichever partner is younger in your relationship, I want you to put your palms on your partner’s chest.”
Great. Another day, another raging erection. As soon as Stella’s hands are on me, my cock surges to attention, constricted by my swim trunks.
“Feel your partner,” Dr. Packard says. “Their shoulders, their arms. If they have them, their breasts. Just touch the skin of the person you’ve chosen to spend forever with and focus on how it feels.”
Stella’s breathing hitches as she moves closer to me so she can reach all the way up to my shoulders and over my arms. It’s like we’re back in the pool again, and I’m just as turned on as I was then.
“Go beneath the surface of the water if you want to. Reach for your partner’s face and cradle it. Love your partner with your hands.”
I hold back a groan as Stella moves her hands down my back, over my ass. I’m not sure I can survive her loving me with her hands. I slide my arms around her.
She’s so close I can feel the rise and fall of her chest. It’s still not close enough. I rejected her yesterday because I always have to be the guy who does the right thing. The safe thing. I want to protect her from my feelings for her, because she has no idea. This attraction isn’t brand new for me. I’ve loved her from afar for so long that I can’t imagine anything else.
She’s right here, though. In my arms. And for once in my life, I’m going to make the reckless choice. Fuck the consequences. I want her so damn badly.
I cup her cheek, feeling a tiny gasp from her, and lower my mouth to hers, kissing her softly. Tentatively. I have to make sure she still wants this.
Thank fuck, she does. She leans into me, tightening her hold and parting her lips.
With a groan, I deepen the kiss, wrapping my free arm around her waist. Her light lemon taste is everything I never thought I could have all to myself.
Here, though, I can. In this fantasy world, I’m just a man kissing his beautiful wife beneath a waterfall.
Chapter Thirteen
Stella
* * *
I’ve never been kissed like that.
Without saying a single word, Ben made me feel more desired than I ever have. Not like an afterthought, but his only thought. Steady, stoic Ben stole my breath and crushed every reservation I had about my feelings for him.
He feels it, too. This trip has shown both of us that there’s a spark between us.
A spark that feels like a growing inferno as we hike back to the trailhead with the rest of our group. My expression might be a benign smile, but inside I’m reliving that kiss.