Page 97 of Away We Go

Even if she was hurting me, feeling her close to me was like a balm for all my pain. Nothing feels better than this.

“I’m good.”

Breathing out a sigh, she sinks into me. Thrilled to have her here, I put one arm around her waist to hold her in place and reach over to pull a table out in front of us. She angles her tablet so we can both see the screen and presses play.

“I can’t believe I’m watching this,” I drawl, my lips brushing my ear. Her slight gasp is almost a moan, and my arm tightens further around her.

“Shh, it’s quality viewing.”

I bite my lip hard to keep my hands from exploring her body the way they desperately want to and focus on watching the ladies of 90210 light up the screen in front of us. Despite myself, I am quickly absorbed and amused by their shenanigans, somuch so that when I feel Cherry slacken against me and find her asleep, I let the next episode run, kinda interested to find out what happens next.

After that episode ends and goes straight to the next one, I shift Cherry in my arms, pulling over a blanket to cover her as the sun disappears behind a cloud. I do this carefully, hoping she won’t wake up and end this embrace.

“What? What’s happening?” she mutters twenty minutes later, yawning as she tips her big blue eyes to look up at me.

“You fell asleep.”

Wordlessly, she looks around. Her previously wet hair has dried into wild, tangled curls around her face. Her cheeks are flushed a light pink and the dusting of freckles along her collarbone has darkened under the morning sun. She’s utterly gorgeous.

“You’re up to episode three?” she gasps with an accusing gaze.

I smother a laugh, and shrug, like it’s no big deal that I’d just watched two episodes without her. “What can I say? The ladies love the drama. And apparently, so do I.”

She giggles, her whole body shaking against me, and I revel in it. I hope I can keep her here, just like this, in my life for always.

“I can’t believe you’re ahead of me.” She wiggles her bum like she wants to sit up and my arms tighten around her.

Not yet.

Sensing my resolve to keep her where she is, she gives in, relaxing back into place.

“So, what’s planned for the rest of the break?” The question’s been plaguing me. It’s not like we’d discussed her spending this time with me; it just sort of happened because of my crash. In the back of my mind, I’m waiting for her to skip off to some pre-planned holiday with Serena.

Or Patrick.

She looks up at me. “What do you mean?”

I hesitate before taking the plunge. “I wasn’t sure if you’d made plans for the break. Maybe with Serena? Or…”

She twists her body more fully to look at me, torturing me slowly in the process. “No, I’ve made no plans.”

A relieved breath rushes out of me. “Well, then. Do you want to go somewhere with me?”

“Yes.” Her answer flies out of her mouth and I feel it in my chest.She wants to spend her time with me.“Where?”

I pause, deliberating. On the one hand, we’ve been so comfortable here in our little bubble together, so insulated from all the things that can derail us out there, that I’m not sure it’s even a good idea to go anywhere. But on the other hand, Cherry deserves to be treated to something special.

“I was thinking we could spend some time on my boat.”If I move this out of my house, hopefully in the process, I can move our relationship forward as well.

“Your boat?” She huffs. “Don’t you mean your yacht? The one I’ve heard so much about from Matt?”

The excitement radiating off her in waves warms me, and I nod. She’s right, it’s not just a boat, it’s one of the many luxuries I have in my life that I have little time to actually enjoy. Until now.

“It’ll be just likeBelow Deck Sailing Yacht,” she breathes.

“I don’t understand any of what you just said.”

“Never mind.” She shakes her head, grinning so wide I can see all her teeth. “Are you sure you’re up for it? Don’t you have other plans you need to keep?”

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