Page 84 of The Comeback Summer

“What did you do to look likethis?” I say, the words leaping out of my mouth. “You’ve always been gorgeous, but damn.”

He quirks up one eyebrow, clearly pleased. “You want to hear about my training program? Chest and back on Mondays, arms and shoulders on Wednesdays—”

“No! Never mind! I’m desperate here.”

And at that, he slides into me and we both let out identical sighs of relief. This,this... it’s everything, fullness and stretching and glorious closeness. He laces my fingers with his, pulling my arms overhead, pinning me in place as he begins to move. The rest of the world ceases to exist except for this space, the gentle rolling of the boat, the muffled sounds of water lapping against it.

“I missed this,” I say.

“Me, too.” He’s panting already. “But god, Hannah, I’m notgoing to last. You’re so... fuck. No. You’re coming first. I didn’t do all that research as a horny teenager for nothing.”

He pulls out and crawls down my body until he’s between my legs, and then he’s tasting me, winding me tighter and tighter until I’m up on that tightrope again, my legs trembling with need.

“I’m so close,” I whisper. “So, so close.”

“I’m not in a hurry. Take your time.” His hands reach up to my hips, and the feeling of them—big and rough—grounds me. I close my eyes as the familiar tingles work their way up my legs.Yes.But then a flash of panic rips through me; these feelings are too big, too scary. I’m going to split right down the middle. I want to bolt but I want to stay and I’m so damn terrified and so turned on I can’t breathe.

I’m writhing, my feet scrabbling helplessly on the towel. His grip on my hips tightens, holding me in place, like he knows just what I need.

“Josh, I can’t...” I babble. “I don’t... Josh... no, no, nononono—”

My legs spasm and my back arches and I’m not even in my body; I’m an explosion of light somewhere overhead, and then I descend back into myself, crying out and rocking back and forth.

Before I’ve even come all the way down, he’s building me up again, but this time it doesn’t take as long. Soon I’m crying out, reaching down to run my hands through his hair as I shake. This climax is sweeter, like I’m bathed in golden honey, and I sigh in pleasure, letting my body relax into the soft surface beneath me.

“Thank you,” I whisper, closing my eyes.

“Glad to be of service,” he says. Then he nudges my legs apart with his knee, roughly. “But I’m not done with you.”

My eyes fly open at the heat in his voice. Before I can respond he’s inside me again, and this time he’s not holding back. He’s all long, deep, rolling thrusts, each one a relentless tug and pull deep in my core.

“I missed this—no,you,” he says. “I missedus.”

And I know what he means: these kisses, these touches, reminding ourselves of what we love about each other’s bodies—those are wonderful. But what I missed most was bigger than all those individual parts; it’s the entirety of him, of us together, all the years of our history, the friendship and passion and trust.

He lifts one of my legs to rest my ankle on his shoulder. With this new angle, he hits something different inside me, and I gasp.

“Hannah, Hannah,” he chants, pressing his cheek against my calf. Then he lifts my other leg to his shoulder and the next thrust is so deep I whimper. He makes eye contact, checking in, and I nod.Yes. More.And he obliges, closing his eyes, his face tilted upward like he’s praying, like he’s trying to hold on as long as possible until—

Another climax hits me out of nowhere, and I cry out. Finally, Josh lets himself go, pulling me down until we’re both drowning, then resurfacing, gasping for air in a world that finally makes sense again.

•••

AFTER, HE PULLSme against him, my head resting on his chest in the spot that has always felt made for me.

“I’m still sorry I forgot dinner,” he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“Josh, it’s really okay—”

“I know, but things have been stressful at work for you, and I wanted you to relax. To feel taken care of. For an evening, at least.”

My heart warms like glowing coals. “I do feel relaxed. And you took care of me quite well. Triple well, one might say.”

His chuckle vibrates between us. “I have a lot of time to make up for.” He goes quiet. “Not to push this, but... where does this leave us?”

“Leave us?”

He runs his hand across my stomach, drawing lazy circles around my appendectomy scar. “You said before that you wanted to finish your challenge. And that’s fine, I just—”

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