Page 57 of Out Of Time

“I don’t think I’ll be able to walk back to the house after that,sir,” Remi teased, her eyes still closed and her hands still gripping his thighs.

“I’ll carry you,” Max offered, causing Remi to smile one of her effortless smiles—even in the dark, it felt like sunshine when she looked at him that way.

“I can’t believe we just did that on the beach.” She laughed.

“No one ever comes out here. It’s pretty sad really. We all pay for these beachfront homes and these views, and none of us appreciate it. I know I sure as hell didn’t appreciate it until recently.”

“Hummus always helps people see the beauty of things.”

“You call it hummus, I call it good company,” he said.

Remi sat up and turned to face him. Her legs wrapped around him as she leaned in to kiss him, the smile on his face causing his end of the kiss to feel a little stiff, but for good reason.

“You know, I think you’re getting pretty good at this talking stuff,” she said.

“Thank god, because I’m trying really fucking hard,” he admitted.

“I don’t think you were ever bad at it, not with me anyway.”

“I guess I just needed someone to feel safe with,” he said, leaning down to place a kiss on the top of her head.

Remi leaned back and looked around, taking in the vastness of the ocean and the infinite stretch of sand.

“What do you see? Tell me,” Max said, because truth be told, he couldn't make out anything past the blanket, his night vision loss seemingly the worst part about retinitis pigmentosa so far.

“Nothing worth looking at besides you,” she said, leaning in to kiss his lips gently. “Close your eyes,” she said sweetly.

“Why, I can hardly see as it is,” he teased, causing Remi to laugh while shaking her head in disbelief. “What? Too soon?” he asked.

“Listen,I’mdefinitely not ready to make vision jokes, but knock yourself out, big guy. Whatever helps.”

Max smiled and scrunched up his nose before doing as she asked by closing his eyes.

He felt her breath on his lips first, and then the gentle graze of her tongue along his bottom lip, his body shivering at the simple sensation.

Then, the tip of her nose gently ran along his jawline, pressing against his beard, causing his body to cover in goosebumps.

Her fingers gently rose into his hairline, starting with a delicate touch before quickly turning into a firm grip, pulling his head back.

His body was overwhelmed with sensation, and then it dawned on him, he could feel all of these wonderful things with his eyes closed.

He was going to be okay.

Thiswas going to be okay.

His eyes shot open, finding Remi’s deep blues intent on him, her eyes just as wild as his. “I want you,” he said.

“Here?” she asked, slight panic lining her face as she scanned the beach again.

“Here,” he said.

“Are you sure no one comes out at night?” she asked.

“I mean there's always a possibility,” he said, because he couldn't lie.

“Your career would be over,” she said.

Reaching down, he pulled her cotton shorts to the side exposing her. “It already is. I might as well enjoy the boat ride if the ship is going to sink anyway.”

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