The salty spray hits my face as we speed across the waters of the Gulf on the jet ski, the brightness of the full moon lighting our way. I’m holding Knox tight, and I relish the feel of the hard wall of his abdominals beneath my grasp.

We approach Sand Island, the small uninhabited strip of land with a thick line of trees blocking the view across the expanse of it. Knox slows the jet ski as we near the shallow waters before he kills the engine and hops off. After helping me down, he reaches for the small anchor and walks the jet ski up the shore a bit before ensuring it’s secured.

When he lifts up the seat and reaches inside to withdraw a folded beach mat, I’m overwhelmed with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

Knox holds out a hand for me and when I take it, his gentle, yet firm grip helps to soothe some of my nervousness.

Once he unfolds the large mat and places it on the sandy shore, we lie back upon it and admire the night sky glittering with stars.

“I hoped the weather would cooperate for tonight.”

At his hushed tone, I turn to face him, only to discover that he’s already watching me. My breath hitches at the combination of affection and tenderness in his eyes.

“You planned this?” I inquire softly.

“I wanted tonight to be perfect.”

It’s our last night together before he leaves for Auburn early tomorrow morning.

I shift to my side and face him fully. “You know what everyone’s saying, right?”

He turns his attention to the starlit sky above us, and his jaw clenches and unclenches. “They’re wrong.”

I release a small sigh and whisper, “But what if—”

His head turns abruptly, and his eyes lock with mine, shimmering with a fierce intensity. “Do you believe that I love you?”

“Of course.”

“And do you love me?” He searches my features, and I wonder if he’s worried that I don’t.

Rising to rest on my arm, I lean over and place a soft kiss to his lips before I whisper again, “Of course.”

“Then nothing will happen.”

I duck my head, averting my eyes, unable to resist voicing my main worry. “But the girls at college are prettier and more…experienced than I am.”

His hand cups my cheek, lifting my face up to force me to meet his gaze. “You are my everything, Emma Jane.”

I’m overwhelmed by my insecurity over our future and sorrow at the fact that he’ll soon be hours away from me. Those emotions, intertwined with my love for him, propel me to act. Slinging my leg over his body, I straddle him and press a tiny kiss to his lips. “I love you, Knox.”

His lips curve beneath mine. “I love you back.”

When he takes my lips in a kiss, it starts out gentle and oh so tender before rapidly turning hotter and passionate. His fingers tangle in my hair, and he angles my head to deepen the kiss. Knox grows hard beneath his board shorts, and my own bikini bottoms provide no real barrier against the feel of his arousal.

I rock my hips, and a low groan rumbles through his chest before he tears his lips from mine. My chest rises and falls as I draw in ragged breaths, and I peer down at him, wondering why he stopped. Knox’s hands move to my hips, applying a little pressure as if he wants me off him, but I resist.

“What are you doing?” I frown.

“EJ.” He tips his head back against the mat and his eyes fall closed with a wince. “I don’t want things to get too out of hand.”

“You don’t”—I swallow past the sudden lump in my throat—“want me?” The confusion is apparent in my voice.

His eyes flash open. “I want you too much. I just—” He breaks off to drag a hand over his face with a sigh. “I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.”

I place my hands on my hips, and the movement causes me to shift where I’m still straddling him, eliciting another groan from Knox. “Listen here. I love you and I want this.” I wave a hand to indicate our surroundings. “It’s a perfect night. Beautiful. What more could you ask for?”

“A bed.” Knox answers this matter-of-factly. “Not a freaking beach mat.”

“Well, I love you and I love this mat.” I lower myself and begin to press tiny kisses along his jawline. “And I want you to make love to me on this mat.” I press my lips to the base of his neck, and he makes a rough sound in the back of his throat.

“I didn’t bring anything,” he whispers. “I didn’t plan this, EJ.”

“It’s okay. I trust you.” I nibble on his earlobe and revel in his sharp intake of breath. “You can, uh, pull out,” I offer shyly.

His hands frame my face, and he steers me back slightly to peer up at me. “Are you sure?”

He knows I’ve never done this before, and I understand why he’s hesitant. But he needs to realize how much I love him, and that I want to end this chapter of our lives—post high school, pre-college—like this.

“I’m sure.” I punctuate this with a brush of my lips across his.

With a gentleness that’s utterly breathtaking, he proceeds to love me, to carefully and slowly love my body with his hands and mouth before he takes my virginity. And I realize something’s changed.

Knox owns my whole heart, but now he’s ingrained in my soul, too.