Page 80 of Dr. Stone
I peeked into the bedroom—crisp navy linens, built-in shelving, and the faint scent of cedar and ocean. A skylight letthe sun spill in above the bed. Of course, my mind immediately went to the mistake of imagining us in that bed, making up for everything Duke was working so hard to prevent between us.
“This is the guest berth,” Jace said, opening a door to a smaller cabin. “I figured if Brandon needed a nap or got overstimulated, we could set him up here.”
I turned to him and smiled. “I appreciate you taking that into consideration,” I said, stunned by his thoughtfulness and how truly beautiful his boat was. “This is so lovely.”
“Well, I figured if I wanted you to come out here with me again, I would need to keep both of you well taken care of,” he said with a wink.
I stood there momentarily with one hand braced on the doorway as the boat rocked gently beneath us. The sunlight dappled across his face, and I felt a calm warmth settle inside me toward this man who was genuinely trying. Seeing that in him was deeply comforting.
Out here, surrounded by the sea, I let myself wonder what it might feel like to trust him with more than just a morning out on the water. To believe that maybe there was hope for an amazing relationship that I never thought possible after what Jonathan did to me.
We didn’t have time to get lost in the moment or each other once Brandon started getting fussy and grumpy.
“I’m going to take advantage of your lovely guest room and put him down for a nap. He’s teething again, so he needs some juice and a snooze, and then he should be back to his happy self again,” I said.
“Sounds great. Do you need any food or anything?”
“I’m good. I’ll get him down and meet you on deck once he’s out.”
It took nearly twenty minutes before Brandon was knocked out, the rocking of the boat working better than any rockingchair. What I expected to be a short nap could easily turn into an hour or more.
I went up to meet Jace, loving how the boat sailed so smoothly and steadily, with the wind filling the mainsail like the boat was alive. It cut through the water effortlessly, and Jace engaged the autopilot now that we were past the traffic near the cove.
“Did you get him to go out?” Jace questioned with a flirty grin.
“The boat had a hand in it,” I chuckled, happily welcoming his advance when he walked up to me and brought me into a warm hug.
“Good. Now, I have better plans, which I’ve had in mind for you since I arranged this sailing trip.”
“Oh?” I arched a knowing eyebrow at him. “What if Brandon interrupts your efforts this time? I mean, you’re asking for a lot by trying to date a single mom with a one-year-old and a dog that hates you,” I teased.
“If Brandon wakes up, and I can’t take your ass like I’ve wanted to since our first night together, then all of this buildup will add to the explosion of when I finally get the chance,” he said, kissing the tip of my nose. “Follow me, gorgeous.”
I followed Jace down the companionway, the faint scent of salt and teakwood surrounding me. The cabin light of the room was warm, and it filtered through the skylight above, casting a soft gold across the linens on the bed.
Jace turned to face me, one hand braced above the doorway, his eyes locked on mine like he was waiting for permission, or for me to make the first move. I didn’t even remember crossing the small space. One second, I was watching him breathe, then I used my hand to grip his hoodie and pull him in closer to me.
“Don’t make me wait any longer,” I breathlessly whispered.
Jace leaned in, brushing his lips against mine like the answer didn’t matter. “That’s my girl,” he said, using his strong arms to pull me into his firm chest.
His mouth found mine again, hotter and hungrier than I remembered his kiss being. My breath hitched as his hands slid along my waist, fingers slipping beneath the hem of my tank top. The boat swayed beneath us, a rhythmic, steady push and pull that made everything feel more alive, like the ocean was part of our reunion.
I let Jace guide me toward the bed tucked beneath the forward hatch, hearing the wood floor creaking softly beneath our feet. He laid me back carefully like I might break, but his body told a different story. He lingered over me while his lips ran a fiery hot trail down my throat, using his steady fingers to unfasten the button of my shorts with maddening precision.
Every sound was amplified: the wind, the boat’s sails, and our breathing. I softly moaned when Jace’s lips moved over the top of my tank, his teeth gently grabbing my hardening nipples. He moved with restraint at first, almost as if he didn’t want to rush this. It’s when I moaned softly again that his restraint ended. His hands slid down my thighs, then back up, pushing fabric aside like all he wanted was to feel my scorching hot skin.
He pressed his body firmly into mine, a jolt of raw energy tearing through me, reminding me that this man never held back when it came to taking me. He was aggressive, dominant, and deliberate—and I needed every bit of that right now. We moved together like muscle memory, as if our bodies still remembered the way we’d lost ourselves in each other all night long.
My hands fumbled at the button of his shorts, finding him already hard and slick in my grip, pulsing with the need to bury himself inside me.
“Fuck yes,” he growled, his voice rough against my ear. “I could come just from your hand, gorgeous.”
In the next breath, my shorts were gone, stripped away in his frenzy, and then his thick length was pushing into me as he yanked my shirt over my head.
“Jesus Christ, I’ve missed this,” he groaned, driving deeper, precise and hungry.
My body welcomed him, clutching tight around every deliberate thrust, my climax threatening to spiral before I could stop it.
