My time off was usually spent at Alex’s place on Bainbridge Island, where we worked on her house. Jen and Becca had come over several times during the summer and fall to help with repairs and improvements. As it turned out, Becca was a lifelong horse owner and lover. She helped Alex get the barn and pastures ready and was trying to talk my sister into moving into the guest quarters so she could take an active role in the rescue and be in charge when Alex traveled.
I’d never felt more at peace in my life than when Alex and I were together on her ranch. For the first time, we had a really long stretch together to firm things up in our relationship. Looking out across the choppy waters of Puget Sound as the ferry headed toward the dock, the familiar feeling of anticipation gurgled up in my belly.
I couldn’t wait to surprise her.
Alex’s car wasn’t there when I pulled into the drive, which meant that I could carry out plan A. Letting myself into the house with my bag of goodies, I sprinkled pink rose petals from the door into the bedroom. Next, I set up a bottle of wine with two glasses. Finally, I pulled out my pièce de résistance, the Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars posters, which I tacked up on her wall. Not long after, I heard the crunch of tires on the gravel, so I quickly stripped off my clothes and jumped on the bed, reclining on the pillows.
Clomp, clomp, clomp. I heard boots heading toward the bedroom, and my dick lengthened into an iron rod against my belly.
“Oh, shit!” Becca winced when she peered in the door, turning away quickly. “I did not need to see that.”
“Oh God, baby J!” Jen covered her eyes with her fists.
Hastily I cupped my junk with both hands, mortified.
“Jace?” Alex peered over Becca’s and Jen’s shoulders. “Are you naked?”
“Yes.” I huffed. “I’m naked. Enjoying the show, ladies?”
Standing, I moved my hands away, so my bits were swinging free and opened my arms wide. Jen and Becca squealed and ran off. Alex laughed, closed the door behind her, and stepped into the bedroom. She leaned against the door, her arms crossed over her perky breasts, long, blonde hair tousled about her face. My cock swelled again. I needed her.
“Oh, wow!” Alex finally took in the scene. “You recreated our first time!”
“Yeah.” I could barely speak, overcome by desire.
I was so incredibly over-the-moon for my stunning girl. I’d been a carefree, sexual dude back when I was twenty-three and she was eighteen. I took her virginity because being around her all summer made me horny. It had been impossible to say no.
Somehow in those few hours, she’d gotten under my skin. I even fell in love with her. After we broke it off, I’d dreamed of her. Missed her. Knew that my own selfishness drove her away.
Now that I was thirty and she was twenty-five, I could admit that my love for her had deepened into something overwhelming. Scary. Necessary. I wasn’t going to do anything to fuck it up this time.
Alex crossed the room and confidently took my hard length in hand.
Finally reunited after I’d been away for three months, all I wanted was to make love to her. To taste her. To lose myself in her body.
“Come to bed.” I guided her to where I’d spread the petals over the duvet. She undressed quickly and lay back, her head reclining on the pillow with her hair fanned out. My breath stopped. The look on her face was nearly identical to the one she gave me so long ago before we first made love. No other woman had ever looked at me like that. Ever.
Like I was the only man who’d ever mattered.
Caging her in by leaning down over her on my elbows, my hair cascaded around her face and she caught my mouth with hers, slipping her tongue between my lips. Cradling her head, I canted my hips to drive as deep inside her as possible. Claiming her.
Gazing into her eyes as our bodies became one, I nearly crumpled from the emotion we both shared. I was a man who prided myself on my ability to control my feelings. With Alex, this wasn’t possible. And I didn’t want to anyway.
I knew I was going to lock her down. I wanted to be with her forever.
“I love you, Poppy.” I willed her to understand how much she meant to me.
Alex blinked and sought my mouth, kissing me deeply. Our bodies slowed. I clasped our hands together above her head. We watched each other. Savoring how incredible it felt to be joined.
Pleasure overtook us both at the same time and she shuddered underneath me. The only sound she made was a little squeal. So damn cute. Unable to hold back, I emptied inside her. Collapsing when my orgasm ripped through my entire being. Spent, neither of us could move.
When I was finally able to roll to the side and spoon her to me, she wrapped her arms around mine over her belly and intertwined our fingers.
“I love you too,” she finally answered.
“Thank God.” I squeezed her from behind. “You haven’t said it in a long time.”
“I know.” She glanced back over her shoulder at me. “But I do.”
“So—I need to tell you something. We came to a group decision after this long Asia leg.” I rested my cheek against hers. “We’re taking a year off.”
“Really?” Alex turned to me. “A whole year?”
“Yeah, Ty wants to get his foundation started. He has a meeting about it in a few days.” I sighed happily. “Well, we all have other things we want to do,
