Chapter 65

Michael

I woke the next morning with the best feeling inside of me. A ball of hope and happiness filled my insides. I couldn’t remember the time I felt this much at peace with someone other than Cynthia. Her memory was still strong within me, but Rainey was a new chapter of my life, and I had to allow her to take precedence over my previous wife. I had to. It was the only way I could commit to her completely. I said a silent final farewell to Cynthia, knowing that we were both in a better place. Me, here with a perfect woman, and Cynthia in a place without pain and suffering.

I slowly turned over, careful not to wake Rainey. She looked peaceful. Her thick blonde eyelashes fanned over her eyes, and her mouth was open slightly as she breathed deeply. She was still sound asleep. I doubted she would wake if I touched her, but I didn’t dare test that theory. She deserved to rest. After everything we put each other through and the heavy fucking session we participated in last night, I wanted her to wake refreshed instead of annoyed that I woke her.

Instead, I watched her. Each breath she took made me smile even more. God, she was perfect.

I wasn’t letting her go ever again. I was in love with her. That knowledge never faded, only retreated into a hidden place inside of me that I locked away when I found out about the lies she kept from me. I now understood why she kept Tanner a secret. Having someone hold your heart as the way he did hers, and the way she did mine was a big deal. If anyone messed with that, the result would be severe heartbreak. She loved her son just as much as I loved her. I wanted to be the man that understood that.

After a few minutes, Rainey started to stir.

A smile spread across my lips, and when her eyes fluttered open, they met mine. She blinked twice before realizing where she was.

She grinned. “Good morning.” Her voice was hoarse from sleep. Could she get any sexier?

“Morning,” I said.

“Were you watching me sleep?”

“Yes,” I said.

She turned around, groaning slightly, and I wrapped my arm around her waist pulling her to me. Her body fit mine as if we were made for each other. I kissed her neck, and she relaxed in my grip.

“Did you sleep well?” I whispered into her ear. I felt her shiver under me.

“Yes,” she said. “For the first time in a long time.”

I propped myself up on my elbows and moved her body under me. She turned, and I kissed her. God, she tasted good. I rubbed my morning wood against her leg, and she moaned into my mouth.

“I think if you keep doing that, we’re never going to leave,” she said.

“Who says we have to go?” I asked then kissed her again.

“I think I’m ready to go home,” she said.

I lifted my head up and looked at her. Was she retreating again?

She shook her head as if reading my thoughts. “I miss Tanner. And we can’t stay here forever.”

We could stay there forever, not popping the small bubble we formed over the past twelve hours. But she was right. If we were going to test this relationship in the real world, we’d have to go back to said world at some point.

“We can leave whenever you want,” I said, rolling over. I sat up and faced her. Her hair splayed out around her head like a halo. “But I don’t want things to return to professional only. I want us to be together. Officially.”

She sat up and twined her fingers with mine. “I want that too. But—”

“No buts,” I said, pressing my finger to her lips. “We can work out the details as we go. But I’m not letting you go every time you get scared. I’m in this for the long haul, okay?”

She nodded, but I wasn’t sure I convinced her. What did she want from me? A ring? I would give her one if that’s what she wanted, but it wasn’t the right time. If anything was going to scare her away, it would be a ring after we were official for less than a day.

“What about Tanner?” she asked. “We’re a package deal, but I don’t want to rope you into something you’re not ready for.”

I kissed her on the forehead, my lips lingering there for a moment. “I want to get to know him better. I want to get to know your entire family.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said. “So stop asking. Okay?”

She sighed. “Okay.”

“We should make plans to get together with Tanner for a day out soon,” I said.

“That would be nice,” she said.

“Do you want to leave today?” I asked her. This place was paradise, and it felt over too soon.

“Can you book a later flight?” she asked. “I want to have one more sunset with you. Let’s spend the day on the beach and have our first official date for dinner.”

“I can do anything you want,” I said, kissing the tip of her nose.

“Great,” she said. “I’m going to call my Mom and tell her we’ll see them early tomorrow.”

I grabbed her arm. “Not yet.”

She giggled as I pulled her back down onto the bed. I pressed my body into hers, showing her how much she turned me on. “Let’s do this one more time before we leave.”

“You don’t need to ask me twice,” she said and pulled me down for a kiss.