After the intense kissing war we had with our lips and tongues in the jacuzzi, I had to withdraw fifteen minutes later because I was truly—excruciatingly—having the most difficult time not finishing her there, right for everyone to see. So it was for the best when I didn’t tempt fate and withdrew from her moistened heat.

Much to Stella’s dismay. “Damn you, Cal.”

It was time, past bloody fucking time, to test the waters. “You’re staying with me for the entire time. I won’t have it any other way,” I announced before I took her hand and pulled us out of the water.

Not bothering to look at anyone else, I took us downstairs, back into my room.

Her belongings were already in the closet as I had asked the crewmembers earlier. “Your things are all unpacked in the closet. You can go ahead and use the shower first. I’ll merely check some business while I wait for my turn,” I addressed, but I avoided locking gazes with her because I was nervous. On top of that, I was already having a hard time fighting myself not to throw her on top of the bed and fuck us both senseless.

“You sure? I don’t mind if you go first.” She moved a few steps and then halted. Unsure. I merely nodded as I watched her bikini clad body retreat into the bathroom. A long awaited sigh came from me the second the door closed.

What if she decided not to do anything? After all, I didn’t really tell her the words I love you…

Twenty minutes later, she emerged clad in skimpy, see-through sleepwear that ended right around the curve of her butt and was paired with a little scrap of underwear.

I bolted right into the shower like a retreating fool. If she meant to tease and torture me all night long, I had no one to blame except myself. As much as I wanted her body, I craved her soul so much more. Without that, possessing her body wouldn’t be as meaningful.

I wanted forever… and for me to get to where I wanted us to be, I needed my woman to come to me.

Doubts washed over me as I took a shower, and forlorn, I came out of the bathroom, heading towards the closet, when I heard Stella.

“Callum?”

I looked up, my eyes landing on her. The moon from the window basked her aglow. Nothing and no one looked more beautiful then, stealing my breath as she watched me pensively.

All reason… all meaning… all that I was, completely left me when I saw her slowly come to me, eyeing me with naked hunger. Once she reached me, she paused with her eyes roving all over me. “How much do you want me?”

Eyes hooded with desire, I pierced into her eyes. “Dying. I’m dying for you,” I rasped out, baring my all.

“Enough to promise me that you’ll always be mine?” she dared ask as she came close, nose barely touching my neck as she went up on tip toes and inhaled me, similar to how I used to do it with her. “Is this the smell of a man who is willing to be with me?”

The temperature in the room was cool, but I was sweating buckets. Stella… in control… was the sexiest thing I had ever seen. I had been rendered utterly thoughtless. Speechless.

A groan rumbled from my chest when her finger played with the edge of the towel that was loosely wrapped around my hips, costing me ten years of my life.

“Have you stroked yourself thinking of me, my love?” she asked, finger teasing me to oblivion.

Everyday. Every night. “In the shower, every time, without fail.” She purred at that, nipples hardening before my very eyes. My tongue gathered saliva as if those pebbled buds were already in my lips, tasting them.

“Did you touch yourself just now when you showered while I was out here thinking about you?”

When I said without fail. I meant. Without. Fail. Ever. “Yes.”

With a quick tug, she had my towel pooling around my feet. Without glancing at my throbbing shaft, I simply focused on her face, burning her into my memory.

“Is this how you do it, husband?” Innocent eyes stared back at me as her hands wrapped around my length, leisurely stroking it up and down, hardening me until I was blue and purple.

“Yes.” I became a one-word, total sap. Enthralled and hypnotized by the spellbinding sensations my wife was bestowing upon me, but most of all, the empowered look she had… simply engulfed my senses.

How I want you, Stella… how I bloody fucking want you, I yearned some more as I watched in vain…

Waiting.

Still.

“What do you think about me doing when you touch yourself, Callum?” Stella asked, biting her lip before she upped her audacity. “Do you ever think about me… doing this?” She was on her knees as I watched with fascination while her mouth took me whole.

Fuck me.

I was glued to the sight of her pleasuring me, but when I thought I couldn’t handle any more of it, I pulled her to her feet before I took her to bed, throwing myself above her.

She had finally come to me…

The heady recognition of what that meant held me captive. “Am I still in your heart, Stella?”

“Always.” She kissed me gently. “I’m yours… even if I didn’t wish to be.”

Did she still wish not to be mine? Her words hung above my head as I kissed her back.

“Tell me you love me, Stella,” I begged as I ripped her sheer nightwear off before I ripped her underwear into smithereens, too. “I need to hear you keep saying it.” The animal in me was seizing me entirely. The need to mate and be with my woman was beyond primal.

“I love you, Callum.” She writhed against my cock, clasping her legs behind my back. “Make me yours. Show me how much you’ve missed me, my love.”

Snap.

Something broke, like a blasted damn, and everything became a blur as I made love to my woman.