Page 24 of Spring Break with a Billionaire

I smile softly, letting the question settle between us. He’s not pushing. He’s giving me space, choice. A future without demands.

“Surprise me,” I say finally, leaning my head against his shoulder.

He chuckles, low and warm, pressing a kiss into my hair. “Careful what you wish for.”

We sit quietly for a while longer, listening to the waves, the occasional call of a seabird. Everything feels softer now, more fragile and precious. Like a bubble we both know might burst if we move too suddenly.

“You scared me,” I admit softly, not lifting my head.

He tenses slightly beneath me. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“I’m scared now, too,” I continue, voice trembling slightly. “Of how much I want this. How much I want you.”

His arm tightens around me, pulling me closer. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

I close my eyes, breathing him in—salt and sunlight and something warm and uniquely Cameron. Together.

“I love you, Cricket,” he says with a smile.

“I love you, too,” I say.

“God, I love hearing you say that. It makes me want to take you back to the cottage and show you just how much you mean to me.”

“Then do it,” I murmur, closing the distance between us.

His kiss is everything I remembered—soft and wild and endless. His arms wrap around me, pulling me into his warmth.

When we finally break apart, breathless and smiling like fools, Cameron stands and lifts me into his arms.

“I’m not letting you go again,” he whispers fiercely.

“You won’t have to,” I whisper back, my heart steady for the first time in days.

He kisses me again as he carries me to the cottage. I can’t wait to feel him inside me again, and I tell him just that. His pace quickens, and he takes the stairs two at a time. Finally, we fall into my bed.

Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Cricket

I wake to the sound of soft waves crashing against the shore, the gentle hum of the ocean a constant lullaby that fills the air. The room is bathed in early morning light, and I blink slowly, the remnants of a peaceful night lingering in my body. For a moment, I just lie there, basking in the quiet, letting myself soak in the comfort of this space.

And then I feel it—his warmth beside me.

I roll toward him, smiling softly at the way he’s still asleep, his face relaxed, the faintest trace of stubble darkening his jaw. His lips are slightly parted, and for a moment, I just watch him, completely captivated. The weight in my chest that had been there for days—the weight of uncertainty and fear—is gone now.

When he wakes, I know he’ll smile, those eyes of his lighting up like they always do when he sees me. He’s been nothing but kind, understanding, and, most importantly, patient. He didn’t push me, didn’t try to force anything. And in return, I’ve let myself fall.

I love him.

I’ve been so careful for so long, holding pieces of myself back, afraid of the heartache I might face. But with Cameron, everything feels different. There’s a trust between us now, something real that I didn’t even know I was capable of. And as I stare at him, peacefully sleeping next to me, I realize how much I’m willing to risk.

Slowly, I slide out of bed, trying not to wake him, and quietly head to the bathroom to freshen up.

When I return to the room, I find him stirring, his eyes blinking open slowly, a smile spreading across his face when he sees me.

“Good morning,” he murmurs, his voice rough with sleep, but warm and affectionate.

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