“I guess that’s why it’s better to see them from up here.”
“You got it.”
As we continued our tour, I studied Paxon as much as the scenery. There was something different about him since he left Colorado. If anyone asked, I wasn’t sure I could describe it. He seemed lighter, certainly happier. I wanted to ask him what had happened wherever he went, but I knew I couldn’t. The other thing was, I didn’t want to bring it up for fear I’d remind him of something that would make him sad again.
“Are you flying over the castle?” Paxon asked.
“Nope. Gotta get you to your lodging while there’s still enough light for you to see it.”
The same thing happened to my stomach when I felt the helicopter descending as it did when it took a sharp turn. “It’s so different from an airplane,” I said, grabbing Paxon’s hands like I had when we left Butler Ranch.
When he brought one to his lips and kissed my palm, I felt a surge of heat spread right through me and settle between my legs.
I knew Paxon was right when he’d said we should wait before he left on his mission. It hadn’t been easy, though. Every inch of my body longed to feel his touch.
I’d read enough books to have an idea of what it would be like when we were finally together. What I hoped it would be like, anyway. It wasn’t like I had any girlfriends I could ask how accurate those books were.
I guess I could’ve asked Stella, but she was marrying my brother. That would be way too embarrassing. Or Nina and Lucy, but I hardly knew them.
There was only one person I could think of that I trusted enough to talk to about sex, and he was sitting right beside me. I knew, without any doubt at all, that he’d tell me in a way that didn’t make me feel stupid or inexperienced, just like he’d talked to me about everything else.
He slipped off my headset, took his off too, and handed them both to Naughton while we waited for the blades of the helicopter to stop spinning.
“I would love to know what you were thinking about a minute ago,” Paxon whispered in my ear.
“I can show you.”
“Yeah?”
I took his hand and kissed it, pressing the lines on his palm with my tongue like he had to mine. Paxon’s eyelids half closed, and he leaned forward and kissed me.
“Hey, you two,” said Naughton. “It’s gonna be dark in about three minutes, and you’re going to have to wait until tomorrow to see your view.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled, following Paxon when he climbed out. “Where are we?” I asked, spinning in a circle.
“This area used to be where Hearst warehoused all the stuff he brought in from around the world to put up in his castle on the hill. A couple of years ago, my mom bought this place and had it turned into a little seaside getaway for her and my dad. His mother and father met when they both worked for Hearst.”
“That’s so romantic,” I said, looking first out at the ocean and then at the little house that looked like it had been right here forever, lovingly cared for by people like Laird and Sorcha.
“Come on in, and I’ll show you around.”
“Do they just leave it unlocked?” I asked when he pulled the sliding door to the side.
“Nah, Kade was here a little while ago, dropping off your stuff.” He pointed to bags I recognized as Paxon’s.
“Wow,” I said when he turned the lights on. “It looks so cozy.” It was decorated similarly to the house we’d visited at Butler Ranch, with mission-style furniture.
“My wife, Bradley—you didn’t meet her, because she’s at a wine festival this week. Anyway, she helped my ma decorate.”
“It’s lovely.”
Naughton picked up a set of keys that were sitting on one of the end tables in the living room that looked out over the ocean. “This one is for the front door. You lock the slider from the inside, and this one is for the car you’ll find in the garage. Be right back.” He ran out of the house and over to the helicopter.
“Can you believe this?” I asked Paxon.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me into a hug. “I can’t think about anything besides your tongue on my hand, Flynn. Nothing. My mind is blank. We could be on top of a volcano, and I wouldn’t know it.”
“Almost forgot this,” said Naughton, bringing in a basket. “It’s your breakfast, and there’s more in the refrigerator. I stocked the place with beer and wine too.”
I nudged Paxon when it looked like Naughton was getting ready to leave.
“Thank you so much. So, we can stay here tonight?” I asked.
“You can stay here as long as you want.” Naughton walked to another room and turned on more lights. He motioned to what looked like a dining room table. “I told my mother that you’d probably just look stuff up on the internet, but she insisted I go pick up brochures and maps from the bookstore in Cambria.” He picked up an envelope and handed it to Paxon.
“Thanks.”
Naughton put his hand on Paxon’s shoulder. “You okay, man?”
“Yeah, uh, just kind of overwhelmed at the moment.”
“That’s from my brother. I’m sure it’ll explain some of it, at least.”
“Thank you so much,” I repeated when it didn’t appear Paxon had found his words yet.
“I’ll head out now. Have fun!”
“Paxon,” I whispered, bumping him with my hip.
“Right. Uh, you have fun too.”
Naughton shook his head and laughed as he walked out to the helicopter.
“I can’t even believe how beautiful—”
Before I realized what was happening, Paxon had me in his arms. “What are you doing?” I giggled. “Put me down before you hurt yourself.”
“I need to be next to you. All of me next to all of you. Think the bedroom is in this direction?”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
He carried me down a hallway
