Page 17 of Unholy Confessions
When we get to the dock, we check in, sign the releases, and pay for our experience. As they're hooking us into the harnesses, I can't help but admire Montgomery's curvy hips, and flat stomach. She looks fucking hot in her bikini. Not able to help myself, I lean over and steal a kiss.
"You ready for this?" I ask as the boat captain explains the safety procedures for the third time.
"I'm ready for anything as long as I'm with you," she replies, and damn if that doesn't make my chest tight with emotion.
The boat starts moving, and soon we're being lifted into the air, the parachute catching the wind above us. Montgomery lets out a whoop of excitement that makes me grin. Below us, the Gulf of Mexico stretches out in every direction, the water a brilliant turquoise that seems to go on forever.
"This is incredible!" she shouts over the wind.
I look over at her—hair whipping around her face, eyes bright with excitement, that huge smile that I fell in love with the first time I saw it. "You're incredible," I shout back.
We're up there for what feels like both forever and no time at all. The view is amazing—the coastline stretching out below us, other boats looking like toys in the distance, dolphins jumping in the wake of a fishing vessel. But honestly, I spend most of the time looking at Montgomery. The way the wind catches her hair, the pure joy on her face, the way she reaches over to squeeze my hand when we hit a particularly good gust of wind.
"I love you," she calls out, and even though we're hundreds of feet in the air with the wind howling around us, I hear her perfectly.
"I love you too!" I call back, and I mean it with every fiber of my being.
When they start to reel us back toward the boat, Montgomery pouts. "I don't want it to end."
"Nothing good ever has to end, baby. We'll do this again."
"Promise?"
"I promise. This is just the beginning for us."
Back on the boat, we're both high on adrenaline from what we just experienced. Montgomery can't stop talking about how amazing it was, gesturing wildly as she describes the view to the boat captain, who grins indulgently at her enthusiasm.
"You picked a good one," he tells me quietly as we head back to shore.
"Don't I know it," I reply, watching her lean over the side of the boat to trail her fingers in the water.
When we get back to the beach house, it's eerily quiet. No music playing, no voices calling out greetings, no sound of the TV.
"Where is everyone?" Montgomery asks, looking around the empty living room.
I check the kitchen—there's a note on the counter. "They went to that seafood place downtown for lunch, then shopping. Says they'll be back around five."
Montgomery checks the clock on the microwave. "It's barely noon."
We look at each other, and I can see the same thought reflected in her eyes. Five hours. Alone. Finally.
"Come here," I say softly, and she doesn't hesitate. She walks straight into my arms, and I lift her up, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carry her toward the stairs.
"Are you sure?" I ask as I set her down in my bedroom, even though my body is practically screaming with want.
"I've never been more sure of anything," she breathes, reaching up to cup my face. "I've missed you. I've missed being alone with you."
I kiss her then, deep and slow, pouring all my love and longing into it. Her hands tangle in my hair, still damp from the salt spray, and she tastes like sunshine and adventure. We fall onto the bed together, a tangle of limbs and quiet laughter and whispered words of love.
I'm just starting to untie her bikini top when we hear it—the unmistakable sound of car doors slamming in the driveway.
"Shit," I breathe, my forehead dropping to her shoulder.
"They're early," Montgomery says, but she's already sitting up, retying her top with quick, efficient movements.
"We're back!" my mom's voice calls from downstairs. "Hope you two had fun!"
Montgomery and I look at each other and burst into frustrated laughter.
