Page 66 of Landon

He stepped closer, his hand lifting to cup her cheek. “Noel, what we have is more than a one-night stand. As much as I love having sex with you, right now, that’s not what you need. And I'm not such a horndog that I can't take a shower without us having sex.” His lips quirked on one side. “I can't guarantee that biology won't kick in, and my cock will be good and ready as soon as I see you naked in the shower. But I have control over my actions. And we are not going to have sex now. When in the shower, we’ll take care of each other, pile up on your couch, finish our beer, watch a movie, and then head to bed and sleep. I know you need that, and I want to take care of you.”

His words moved through her, settling deeply inside, finally resting near her heart. She breathed in, then let it out slowly, her gaze never leaving his face. “You do realize that makes you almost perfect, don't you?”

He lifted a brow. “It doesn't make me absolutely perfect?”

“I like to leave room for improvement.” She laughed.

He chuckled and rolled his eyes. She grabbed his hand and started toward the hall, skidding to a stop. Looking over her shoulder, she scrunched her nose. “I just realized you don't have your bag. Go get whatever you need from your vehicle, and I'll start the shower.”

“Good thinking. I totally forgot about my bag after thinking about you naked in the shower.”

She playfully slapped him on the arm and watched as he darted out of her apartment. By the time she'd carried her bag to her bedroom, dumped the dirty clothes into her laundry basket, and grabbed a T-shirt, sleep shorts, and clean panties, he was already back.

She had not falsely claimed about the limited space bathtub shower. He didn't seem to mind as he helped wash her hair, and she sudsed his body. He also hadn't lied when his cock stirred and looked ready to play. Her gaze wandered over his entire body, marveling at the naked beauty presented in front of her. Lean muscles. Hard abs. And an impressive erection. “I can… um… take care of that, you know,” she offered.

He shook his head but grinned. “I can't believe I’m turning down the chance for a blow job from you. Any man with a gorgeous woman, especially one as sweet as you, would consider themselves lucky to have your lips wrapped around their cock. But the relationship we’re building will be one of trust.”

She considered protesting, feeling more refreshed after her shower and more than a little tempted to put intimacy back on their evening agenda. But as she combed through her damp hair, a yawn escaped. Landon was right—exhaustion clung to both of them. And the thought of a quiet, cozy evening, snuggled up with him, simply talking and unwinding in front of the TV, sounded unexpectedly perfect.

They settled into the living room, finishing their beers and adding a simple snack of cheese, crackers, deli meats, and crisp apple slices to share. Their conversation drifted to light, easy topics, both of them too tired to wade into anything deep. She was delighted to find out he loved not just action films but had a soft spot for old mysteries.

“When I really want to relax,” he admitted with a grin, “I put on animal documentaries.”

Her jaw dropped in mock surprise. “Oh my God, me too! I think I might’ve just fallen in love with you and decided we need to have all the babies!”

He laughed, tugging her close to brush his lips over hers. The kiss was warm and lazy, stealing her breath and makingher consider a shift in the night’s plans. But he pulled back, his thumb tracing her cheek. “Let’s clean up and get some rest.”

They tidied up their snack, and he took a moment to check that the apartment was secure. When they finally climbed into bed, she flipped on the TV, finding an animal documentary on Caribbean wildlife. As soothing footage of crystalline waters and vibrant fish filled the screen, Landon turned toward her, his eyes thoughtful.

“Would you ever want to go back?” he asked softly.

She looked over at him, a little surprised. “Go back?”

He nodded toward the screen. “To the Caribbean? Maybe Jamaica or another island if that holds too many memories?”

She traced her lower lip with her tongue. “I’d like to,” she said at last. “It was breathtaking, and I only had a few minutes to soak it in—the white sand, the warm water on my feet. The color of the ocean…” She paused, remembering the perfect blue that had stretched endlessly before her. “It was like the Montana sky on the clearest day, that brilliant shade you can hardly believe is real. Looking out over the water, I felt… peace.” She let out a soft laugh. “So yes, I’d like to go back someday. But who knows when or if I could afford it.”

He watched her with a quiet intensity. “Would you go alone? Or would you want company?”

She met his gaze, holding it as she weighed her answer. The warmth in his eyes, the way he was looking at her—it was impossible to be coy. “If I had someone I cared about, then yes, absolutely. But if it were just a tour group… no. I prefer the company of someone I trust, someone special.” She let her words hang in the air, feeling them linger between them like a whispered promise. “But I’m not afraid of being alone, either.”

He didn’t say anything, just pulled her closer, his arms circling her as if to silently convey everything he felt. It was finewith her; she’d rather savor the moments they had now than dwell on a future that might not come.

They lay together, comfortably entwined, watching the soothing scenes of coral reefs and dolphins until her eyelids grew heavy. She barely registered him turning off the TV and switching off the bedside lamp before he curled around her, his arms holding her close. Her last memory was his soft, deep voice, murmuring, “Good night, sweet Noel. I’ll catch you in the morning.” She drifted off with a smile on her lips, feeling safe and cherished as sleep claimed her.

She woke, feeling cocooned in warmth. She smiled while still blinking her eyes open to the early morning light. Landon’s arms were wrapped around her, one holding her breast and the other pressed against her tummy. His erection was nestled against her ass, and she immediately felt her core clench.

She started to speak, but as his hand on her breast kneaded the flesh and his fingers rolled her nipple, no words came forth. Her brain had emptied with all the electricity firing along her nerves.

“Morning, baby.”

His deep greeting sounded next to her ear, and she felt the rumble from his chest as it pressed against her back.

She leaned her head back and twisted slightly, giving his lips access to her neck.

He accepted her silent invitation and began kissing from her jaw down over her neck, sucking gently at the fluttering pulse. His hand on her breast now moved between the two, still kneading, tugging, eliciting moans. “Morning,” she managed to mutter between groans.

The hand he had pressed on her tummy slid lower, and she was grateful she’d slept without panties. His thumb circled the swollen nub as his fingers glided through her wet folds. She lifted her leg, giving him easier access.

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