Page 56 of The One for Forever

“Considered it. Max let me cut back on my hours. I still volunteered for Team Triumph, but I spent a lot of time here on the renovation. I did a lot of the work on my own.”

“I remember hearing you’d bought a beachside cabin, but I didn’t realize you were here so much.”

“This was when you and Cliff were in college. And then you had law school, and Cliff was starting out on patrol. You were both plenty busy with lives of your own.”

“That’s true.” But still, I feel like I should’ve noticed Rex being gone all the time. I guess I was focused on myself then. Discovering who I was and expanding my horizons. Growing up.

“It took me a long time to finish. I decided I wanted to keep this place, but I gave up the idea of renovating houses for a living. I was ready to get back to Bennett Security and using the skills I’d developed in the Army. It was good for me, though. Taking that break. Restoring this house helped me finally heal as well.”

“Thank you for bringing me. And telling me all that.” I’m overwhelmed at the story he just shared.

“I’ve never invited anyone else here except Cliff, and I’m glad you’re the first person aside from him to see it. I hope being here will help you heal, too.”

I blink away tears. One escapes, and he catches the drop with his thumb.

This incredible man. What can I do but kiss him?

I go up on my knees and wrap my arms around his neck. The kiss is tender. Deep. Lazy swipes of tongue, both of us in no hurry. I swear his kisses have healing power. My headache lessens and the dizziness fades whenever our lips are connected. I wind up straddling his lap and rocking myself against his swelling cock.

He pulls back and kisses my forehead instead. “We can’t. You need to get better, and I’m not going to risk being rough with you.”

I whimper. “But I really, really want you to be rough with me. Pretty please?”

He kisses the tip of my nose. “Be good, and I will. When you’re ready. I’ll show you to your room.”

Rex helps me to the master suite. It’s another stunning space, with patio doors overlooking the ocean and a dramatic king-size bed constructed of more weathered wood, like his other furniture. “I get to stay here with you?” I ask.

“No, I’ll be sleeping in the guest room.” He must see my disappointment, because he slides his arms around my waist.“We’re just getting started. We’re not going to rush. I want you to focus on healing.”

“You’re being annoyingly reasonable.”

His grin goes lopsided. Devious. “When we share a bed the first time, I plan to spend a lot of time exploring you. I don’t want any concerns about hurting you.”

“I’m sorry I’m not well enough for more.”

“Don’t you dare be sorry. Just having you here is wonderful. And it’s not about me, anyway. I’m taking care of you, not the other way around.”

“For now.”

Rex brings my suitcase into the room. He agrees to lie down on the bed with me to cuddle, after I make a convincing argument that it’s not the same as sharing the bed overnight.

I’m starting to wear down and get tired again. Yet I force my eyes open, not ready for this moment to end. “Kiss me some more?”

He shakes his head. “See? This is why we can’t share a room. You’re too tempting.” But then he’s dipping toward me, his tongue swiping across my lower lip to gain entrance again.

Finally, we have to come up for breath. I’m not ready to confess the true extent of my feelings for him. But I could show him. I want to be as close to Rex as possible, sharing every part of my body with him, as if the act of joining could seal our hearts and souls together too. That’s how gone I am for this man.

I sneak my hand between us and cup the bulge in his jeans. “I want you inside me. So badly.”

He groans. “Soon. I promise.”

On my fourthmorning at the beach house, I wake in Rex’s bed feeling more clear-headed than ever. I stretch out on his soft sheets. When I sit up, there’s a faint trace of fog in my brain. The doctor said the fuzziness might take a while to go away. But otherwise, I feel great. Like my old self. My headache has faded, and the dizziness and nausea are nearly gone.

Jumping out of bed, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and find myself grinning. My hair is wild and I’m in pajamas, but I stopped being self-conscious around Rex after that vomiting bout in the hospital. By comparison, I look glamorous right now. After brushing my teeth and washing my face, I head into the main part of the house. It’s quiet. The door to the guest room is open and the bed is empty, so he’s clearly up.

“Rex?” I ask. “Where are you?”

But he isn’t in the living room or kitchen. I find coffee in the pot and pour a cup, sighing as I take a sip. There’s a blueberry muffin on a plate, so I take a few bites.

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