Page 41 of Starting Our Chance

Raising my eyes, I met her gaze. A soft smile played on her lips, and she gave my fingers a small tug. Loretta suggested, “Let’s go walk on the shore and watch the moon on the waves.”

She didn’t have to ask me twice.

Once we were away from the group, I tugged on her hand. Instantly, she stopped, and those crystal clear eyes turned up to meet mine. “What do you want, birthday boy?”

You—all of you. Your laughter, your tears. Your body and your soul. I want every fucking piece of you. But I didn’t say those things—I didn’t want to scare her away. “A kiss.”

Her laughter was like the tinkling of a thousand little bells. My heart stirred at the sound, but my body was already thrumming from her presence.

“A kiss?” Loretta stepped closer, melding her body to mine. “I can handle that.”

The thrill that shot through me was earth shattering. I leaned down, eager to close the distance. Her gray eyes glowed as she watched my approach. I paused, hovering right above her lips. There was no rush, and I wanted to take my time tonight, so I grazed my lips across hers.

I watched her face—searching for signs of flight while also relishing the lust oozing out of her eyes. Those beautiful orbs were still locked on my face, which meant I wasn’t rocking her world enough to have her under my spell. I opened my mouth ever so slightly and took her bottom lip in between my teeth. Her sharp intake of breath was telling. And God Almighty, I loved that sound she made.

I love her.

There it was. Plain and simple.

Her body pressed into mine, telling me she wanted more contact. That was all I needed. I closed my eyes and lost myself to her kiss. Her little moan of pleasure sent desire coursing through my blood. I hadn’t kissed many women—and never had I felt anything like this before. My body couldn’t get enough of this woman. I was addicted, having fallen so hard for her so quickly. In hindsight, I’d spent many years in a spiraling nose dive for Lore.

I broke away and whispered, “I bet your skin looks glorious under the moonlight.” A dirty fantasy involving Loretta, the beach, and the passionate movement of our bodies was playing through my mind. And I wanted her on board.

Loretta ran her hands up my chest and wrapped them around the back of my neck, but while her hips suggestively ground against my erection, her mouth evaded my kisses. “Duke, listen,” Loretta breathed, rubbing those glorious tits against me and making it hard to focus on her words. “I know it’s your birthday. But I have to tell you what’s been on my mind ever since we got here, and I started thinking about us.”

“I’m listening,” I growled into her hair, pressing my eyes tightly together and trying to focus on what she was saying.

“I don’t want you to be disappointed in me—in any aspect of this relationship.”

I wasn’t sure what she was going to say. Maybe wish me happy birthday and strip right then and there. Maybe tell me to sneak in the front door and go to the room I had dumped my luggage in, so we could make good use of the bed. Instead, here she was, the woman I had been waiting on since we were kids, showing some vulnerability. “Come again?”

“When you admitted on my mama’s couch that you’ve carried a torch for me all this time, you said now that we had gone off and done our own thing, grown and persisted through all the trials, and now we’re back in the same place, same time, that it was chance to explore this . . .. Well, I’m a hot mess right now. You put yourself together while I burned up . . ..” Lore’s voice trailed off as she froze in my arms. Every glorious inch of her was plastered against my body, and she remained that way—hesitating and at a loss as to what to do next.

“I could help you, Lore.”

“No.” Lore jerked against my arms. “I’m not saying this to garner pity or charity. I’m just in the presence of five accomplished adults, and I feel a little like a kite in a hurricane.” Lore shrugged. “I couldn’t bear it if I was a disappointment.” Her face dropped to my chest, and I could no longer look into her eyes.

“You think I’m going to be disappointed? In you?” I just couldn’t fathom what she was saying.

“Yes!” she squealed. “You need to know how much you mean to me.” Her eyes peeked up at me, uncertainty flooding through them.

Suddenly, I felt a wet spot on my chest and realized that she was so worked up that she was crying. “Loretta Jane, you listen to me. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You helped me survive as a lad. And today, you’re still the kindest, most thoughtful person I know. You’ve overcome so much before, and I know you will again.” Wrapping her up in my arms, I pulled her off the sand so that I could sit with her on my lap. “And you are sexy as hell—what you did in the truck . . . fuck, Gorgeous, you’re undoing me. I cannot wait to get you into bed.” She nodded, and I squeezed her tight, my voice laced with passion. “I want this like I’ve never wanted anything else in my life.”

Lore hiccupped, but the tears had stopped. A soft smile played on her lips, and I could see that she had taken what I’d said in a good manner as she said, “I’m just so floored that you want me that I am all up in my head with doubting today.”

“Look—” I bent down and nipped at her bottom lip again. “I—” My lips brushed hers. “Want. No . . . need—” This time I lingered enough to flick her with my tongue. “You.” Then her hands were in my hair. She forced her warm little tongue into my mouth. I was high on these feelings she evoked in my chest. I was an addict, about ready to take another hit. I fucking love you, Loretta Jane. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t want to say it now with her tears on my shirt. Later.

The kiss lasted for a long time. Meanwhile, our hands explored each other, and I wondered if there were places on her body that I would be the first to explore. Regardless, this felt so right. She wanted me—not the other dudes. And I needed her. When the kiss broke, it was because I stopped it before we could go further, knowing full well that my bros would come searching, and although I couldn’t care less if they saw me naked and doing the deed, there was no way in hell I was ever going to let another man see Lore without her clothes on—or compromised in such a position.

“I wish we could stay out here all night,” Lore sighed.

“It will get chilly tonight.” I didn’t mind the cooler weather, but it wasn’t conducive for sleeping on the beach. “We can come back next summer if you fancy sleeping on the sand under the stars.”

A brilliant smile lit up her face. “Next summer,” she whispered. “Yes, it’s a plan.”

I put her little palm in mine and gave it a tug. “We should get back.” Although she nodded in agreement, it pulled on my heart that she’d rather be alone . . . with me. We stood and began the walk back to the beach house.

Walking back to the fire, I saw the smirk on Marcus’ face. Felicity raised a questioning brow and held out her hand for Loretta. I scowled at the exotic woman, but she didn’t notice. Neither did Loretta. My girl slipped from my grip and secreted herself away with her friend to giggle and whisper.

That was until Sammy came back to the bonfire.

“You never shut the fucking cooler,” Samantha spat, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at the other woman. “The ice fucking melted.”

“I’m sorry.” Lore popped her head up like a deer in the headlights and took everything Sammy was dishing out. “I’ll go get more ice right away.”

“Don’t bother.” Samantha went to squat down by her husband. “I took care of it. Like I take care of everything else. All the time.”

Lore stood up. I was about to bark at Samantha to shut up, but before I could, my girl spoke up. “Sammy, I’m sorry. For everything. But here’s the thing: I’m not going anywhere—you can’t chase me away. I’m back for good. So, we are going to have to learn to co-exist with each other. And when you are done dishing out all your hurt feelings at me, I’m still going to be here. Because I never stopped being your friend.” Loretta’s voice hitched but she took a shaky breath and finished strong. “I lost sight of what was important, and I was punished for it by those fucks up north who I thought were my friends. They screwed me good. You never screwed me, Sammy, and you never will. And when you are done being mad, let me know so that we can move forward.”

Everyone was silent. For about five seconds. Then someone started clapping. Felicity stood up, barely able to stand without wobbling, and clapped Loretta on the shoulder. “Well said, now I’m off to bed.”

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