Page 72 of The Exception

His grin turned mischievous. “I knew you were checking me out.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I just would have noticed.”

“I didn’t want to lose them in the lake.” He did a push-up on the bed, lowering until the tags brushed her nose. “Or take one to the face on a wave.”

She laughed and he spun the tags around to his back. The scent of sunscreen and cocktails cocooned her as Trav let his full weight press her into the mattress. He wasn’t gentle, a hand to her throat as he tipped her mouth into a better angle, and a thrill bloomed inside of her.

She never had any complaints about her sex life with Marcus, but it had always been a bit bland. In retrospect, she could see all of the problems with that. With them. With it not beingthis.She couldn’t blame her ex for the things she never thought to ask for, though. It was possible she hadn’t known who she was or what she wanted until right now.

As much as she didn’t recognize the rough, commanding way Trav touched her, she also didn’t recognize herself because she was becoming greedier for it by the minute.

He pulled away and eyed the bra she still wore like it insulted him. “I’m going to take this off, okay?”

“Mm-hmm.”

One little flick of his thumb and finger and the front clasp gave way. Trav brought his fist to his teeth, biting, and she laughed.

“You’re like a painting.” He started at her collarbone, dragging the pad of his finger downward over the curve of her breast. “So beautiful.”

She already knew she’d be just as enthusiastic. “Pants,” she said, reaching for his fly.

He pulled to his knees and unbuttoned them, and her hand reached out before she could stop herself. She cupped him over his boxers and his head fell backward with a loud groan.

“I hope you’ll take this as a sign of how much I planned on respecting our friendship,” he said, “but before we get too far, I should tell you I don’t have anything with me.”

At the mention of protection, her breath rushed out with both relief and embarrassment. How was she going to explain this one?

“Um. I’ve got it covered.” She rolled to her belly and stretched to reach her overnight bag on the floor, pulling out a condom from the front pocket.

“Okay, then.” He chuckled, taking the condom from her and setting it on the bed beside them. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely happy with this turn of events, but I gotta ask—was this your plan all along? Because I would have been all-in without the ruse.”

“No! I mean. I don’t think it was. Dani gave that to me.” She covered her eyes and sighed. “I think everyone might have known before I did that this was going to happen.”

Silence lingered, and she peeked through her fingers to find Trav chewing on his lip. “What’s wrong?”

“Do you want this as much as I do, Sonya? Because I don’t want to wake up tomorrow feeling like I took advantage here.”

Their eyes locked in the dim light of the moon peeking through the curtains, and her heart pounded. It was impossible to hide it now, with him straddling her thighs, biceps caging her on either side, but maybe it was time to admit this wasn’t a new epiphany, how much she wanted him. It was only that her excuses and denials had completely run out of steam.

Honestly, they never had a chance after seeing him shirtless on that boat today.

“I do want this,” she breathed. “I’ve wanted it since I accidentally kissed you.”

His cheek twitched in amusement. “Maybe it wasn’t an accident.”

She groaned. “Right. I guess since before that, then.”

His smile was more relieved than cocky, despite her admission, and it only made her want him more.

“Good,” he said. He sank down, his tongue finding the valley between her breasts, making her gasp. “Because I’m going to make you want a repeat before we’re even done.”

“Promises, promises—” His fingers between her legs put a quick end to her smart retort, the words melting into a moan.

“For what it’s worth,” he said, lips traveling down her belly as he slid her underwear over her hips and down her legs. “I would have accidentally kissed you a hundred times before that if I didn’t think you’d fire me.”

“Technically, I can’t fire you.”

He shook his head. “Shhh.”

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