A Lot Like Love

by Jennifer Snow

  His train of thought seemed to echo hers.

  “Having a body this hot and a brilliant brain on top of it should be illegal,” he said, his hands working fast to ditch the cover-up and untie her silk robe. His gaze drank her in. “You are certainly intimidating, Sarah Lewis,” he said, massaging her bare breasts.

  She was intimidating? He was the one built like a god. He was the athletic one. The one good with his hands…in all kinds of ways. The charming and charismatic one. On top of that, he was an amazing father and driven to make a great life for himself and his daughter.

  If anyone should be intimidated, it was her.

  “I feel like I’m punching above my weight here,” she said, her hands caressing the tight six-pack and the broad, muscular shoulders. If someone had told teenage Sarah that one day she’d be lying naked on a bed with an equally naked Wes Sharrun, she’d never have believed it.

  This went further than just a teenage fantasy come to life. This was the most unexpected thing she could have predicted five weeks ago arriving in Blue Moon Bay, grieving the loss of her grandmother and conflicted over the future of the inn.

  He stared at her as though she’d lost her mind. “I’m just a small-town blue-collar worker trying to keep his head above water.”

  He was so much more than he gave himself credit for. Her feelings for him years ago were based on how cute he was, how nice, how popular and good at sports. He was the polar opposite of her, and she’d been intrigued by him. Now, her resurfacing feelings were based on so much more.

  She flipped their position so that she was on top. In control. And then lowered her body toward him, inching her ass farther down his body, until she could feel his erect cock between her legs. He closed his eyes, and a low moan escaped him as she slowly grinded her hips back and forth over him.

  It took almost nothing for her to get wet. Turning him on was proving to be a major turn-on for her. In the boardroom, online, at work, lost in a computer program, she knew what she was doing…but outside of that, in real life, she often felt like a fish out of water. Never quite good enough, never having just the right thing to say, not enough confidence to go after what she wanted.

  But with Wes in this moment, she felt empowered in ways she never had before. He brought out a side of her that she hadn’t known existed.

  With him she felt sexy and strong and confident… She wanted to feel the way he made her feel all the time.

  She lowered her mouth to his and kissed him hard. Pulling back slightly, she ran her tongue along his bottom lip, capturing it with her teeth as desire welled up inside her.

  His fingers dug into the flesh at her waist as he pushed her down closer on his cock.

  She lay back onto him, skin to skin, her breasts against his chest as she wiggled her hips back and forth over him.

  He reached a hand between them, his fingers sliding along the length of her wet folds, and he swallowed hard. “Damn, that’s hot. I love how wet you are.”

  Her breath caught as his finger dipped inside her body, and she clenched her muscles tight around it. It felt so good, but she needed more. Needed him to fill her. “Condom?” she asked.

  “In my wallet. In the shorts you stole on the beach.”

  She giggled as she climbed off him to retrieve the shorts.

  Wes leaned on his elbows, watching her as she opened the wallet and took out the condom. “You’re not even the least bit guilty, are you?” he asked with a grin.

  “Nope,” she said, climbing back onto the bed and straddling him as she tore the plastic open and slid it down over his erection. He lay back against the pillows, and his eyes closed at her touch. She raised her body slightly and lowered herself down over him. The sensation of him filling her, the tightness between their two bodies had her panting slightly.

  He cupped her ass and slowly, carefully lifted her up and down over him. “Sarah…Sarah…” The sound of her name on his lips only amplified her need for him. She could listen to him say her name forever. Feeling desired was a new, intoxicating sensation for her. Feeling desired by him was everything she’d ever wanted.

  She gripped the headboard with both hands as she continued to ride him up and down. Faster and faster until he flipped them suddenly, gaining the top position. He wedged himself between her legs. Taking both of her hands in his, he interlaced their fingers as he raised her arms above her head on the pillow. He lowered his mouth to her neck, and she turned her face to the side as he kissed and savored the taste of her.

  “You are so incredible,” he whispered in her ear as he plunged even deeper into her body. “I haven’t wanted anyone so badly in a very long time.”

  She knew the feeling. She not only wanted him; she craved him.

  She squeezed his hands tight as she felt her arousal mounting. His thick, big cock driving in and out of her body increased its urgency and her legs trembled on either side of Wes. She craved release as her muscles tightened and released over him with each thrust…but she didn’t want this feeling to end.

  “Wes, I’m so close,” she said, arching her back, driving her pelvis forward to get even closer to him.

  He reduced his pace to an excruciatingly slow rhythm, pulling the full length of his cock out to the tip, then slowly sliding back in…

  He raised his head to look at her, and his eyes locked with hers as he continued the teasing of her vagina with his cock.

  “Wes, please…” she said, her panting growing more desperate.

  “What do you want, Sarah? Tell me what you want.”

  Him. All of him. She always had.

  “I want you,” she said. How she felt about him was on the tip of her tongue, but while she gave her body completely, she held back on the emotions. For now.

  He groaned as though his actions were torturing himself as well. “Say it again,” he said, pumping slightly faster.

  “I want you, Wes,” she said. Gripping his hands even tighter as he started moving faster, harder. Diving into her body as though he couldn’t get deep enough…

  Her orgasm peaked, and ripples of pleasure had her calling out as her entire body trembled.

  He plunged in hard. Deep. And held it. He released his own grunt as he came; then his body relaxed on top of hers.

  He fell forward, his head dropping onto her chest as he released her hands and used his to support his weight above her.

  She cupped his head between her hands and kissed the top of his head, breathing in the scent of his slightly sweaty hair and enjoying the feel of their two bodies still connected.

  …

  An hour later, she slipped quietly out of bed and, wrapping her robe around her body, she went out onto the deck. Of all the upgrades she’d made to the B&B, the decks off the bedrooms were by far her favorite addition. But if someone had told Sarah three months ago that she’d be standing on one enjoying the view of the ocean waves at midnight while Wes Sharrun slept in a bed in the room behind her, she’d have told them they were insane.

  Yet that was her reality.

  She took a deep breath and stared out at the view. This place was truly incredible and the longer she stayed, the harder it was to think about leaving, giving up the B&B…and this time with Wes. But what did it mean? Their attraction had definitely been growing these past few weeks, her feelings for him were more real than ever, and now they’d taken their relationship from friends to…what?

  His arms wrapped around her and she jumped. She hadn’t heard him get up. “Hi,” he murmured against her ear. His warm breath against her skin made her shiver, and he wrapped his arms even tighter. The feel of his bare chest and abs against her back had her heart picking up its pace.

  He was real. His touch was real. This wasn’t just one of her fantasies, and she wasn’t dreaming.

  “Did I wake you?” she asked. She couldn’t sleep. Partially his fault and partially
the overwhelmingness of the whole situation. She’d had sex with her high school crush. She’d had sex with Wes Sharrun. No matter how many times she repeated the thought to herself, no matter how long she lay there staring at him, she could hardly believe it.

  “I wish you had woken me,” he said with a smile, turning her sideways to hold her and kiss her, while still enjoying the view of the moon reflecting on the ocean. His lips were the best thing she’d ever tasted. “You okay?” he asked, scanning her face as he pulled back slowly.

  She smiled. “Yes. Great… Just, um, this”—she gestured between them and to the unmade bed inside the room—“was unexpected.”

  He looked slightly nervous as he asked, “In a good way?”

  “Definitely in a good way.” She kissed him again and pressed her body into his.

  “If you’re done admiring the view, I’d like to take you back to bed,” he said against her lips.

  “I’m not sure,” she teased. “This view is kinda spectacular… Think you can compete?”

  The flicker of challenge reflected in his blue eyes and Sarah’s breath caught as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her back into the room.

  Chapter Twenty

  Wes’s knee bounced as he waited in the lobby of the bank the next day. He pulled at the tie around his neck and glanced around at the quiet office. He hadn’t realized how much he was hoping for this loan to come through until he was seated there waiting on the verdict.

  This could help change his future for the better. If he could get the office space, it would be the first step in expanding his company. Having a place—not in his home—to meet with clients and design new building developments would help motivate him to push forward with growing Sharrun’s Construction.

  And the night before with Sarah only confirmed how much he wanted to start building a new future for himself and Marissa. Taking that chance with her, putting himself out there and going after what he wanted, had been the best decision he’d made in a long time.

  Holding her, kissing her, making love to her had felt so right. Unexpectedly right. There was no remorse or doubt lingering in his mind. Which surprised him but also gave him a sense of relief. He wanted to be with Sarah Lewis. The high of this new connection with her was almost enough to ease his anxiety over the meeting.

  “Wes, come on in,” Shawn said, appearing in the lobby with his file in hand. He barely glanced at him as he entered, and Wes was desperate to read the guy. The last meeting, the man had barely been able to contain his fangirling. But that day, the manager wasn’t giving anything away as he gestured for Wes to take a seat, and then he sat behind the desk.

  Good news? Bad news?

  Wes sat back in the chair and crossed one ankle over his knee…then he sat forward again.

  “So, we’ve reviewed your application and all the supporting financial paperwork…” Shawn paused. His professional demeanor that day was freaking Wes out. Was the guy nervous about telling one of his former idols bad news?

  “Come on, man. Just tell me. Did I get the loan?”

  Shawn’s wide smile reappeared as all pretenses vanished. “You got the loan,” he said, sounding almost more excited for Wes than Wes felt himself.

  Wes’s heart pounded in his chest as he tipped his head to the right. “Sorry, you know I have trouble hearing in one ear. I thought I heard you say I got it?”

  Shawn nodded. “You heard right. Congratulations, Wes. I know you’ve been struggling to get things back on track in recent years, so I’m happy we were able to help you with this part.”

  Wes released a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

  “We just have a few trees to sign, and then you can be on your way,” Shawn said with a chuckle, opening the file.

  “None of this is electronic yet?”

  “Maybe in big city branches, but here we’re still old-school.”

  “I’ve been accused of that myself,” Wes said, accepting the pen to sign the documents.

  Twenty minutes later, he left the bank, feeling as though he were floating down Main Street. An amazing night connecting on a physical level with a woman he was crazy about and now the first real steps at achieving his career goals.

  He reached the office space for lease and, taking out his cell phone, he dialed the broker’s number on the For Lease sign. With any luck, he was getting his office space back, and this time, he wouldn’t lose it. No matter what sacrifices it took.

  Three rings and then voicemail.

  Wes left a message and then texted Sarah.

  Loan was approved! Be ready at six. We’re going out to celebrate.

  He beamed as he headed toward his truck. Life was certainly looking up.

  …

  Three hours later, the three of them sat at a table on the upstairs patio of Surfboards on the pier. The sun set on the ocean, and the light cast a warm glow reflecting off their glasses as they cheered a toast to Wes’s good news. Champagne for the adults, sparkling water for Marissa. Sitting there with them, being invited to their special celebration that evening, warmed Sarah’s heart. To be included, to feel like she belonged there with them, was a good feeling. She’d expected a little awkwardness the next day after their night together, a bit of questioning, an adjusting… But everything felt right that evening.

  Marissa was positively beaming as she glanced back and forth between them. “So…how was your night?”

  Sarah blushed and choked on the bubbles, and Wes grinned. “We made the best of it after you ditched us,” he told his daughter.

  The little girl just laughed, looking proud of her involvement in the two of them getting together.

  Sarah was more than a little grateful for the matchmaking skills of the nine-year-old. “When will you hear back about the space?” she asked Wes.

  “Hopefully by next week. The leasing agent is out of town at some real estate convention, but I’ve put in my offer, so we’ll see…”

  He looked excited but nervous, and Sarah reached across the table and touched his hand. “It’ll work out. I know it will.”

  His gaze locked on hers, and she immediately wished they were alone back in her room at the inn, but they’d already discussed their plan of not leaving the bedroom once Marissa left for camp the next day.

  So for now, Sarah shifted her focus to her. “Are you excited about camp?”

  Marissa shrugged. “Not really, but it’ll be nice to see old friends.” She toyed with the edge of her napkin; there was definitely something on her mind.

  “Is there anything we still need to buy?” Wes asked her.

  She shook her head. “I think I have everything.”

  “We should probably pack tonight,” he said.

  Marissa nodded. “Sounds good.”

  Wes glanced at Sarah, and she returned his concerned look. Marissa was obviously wanting to say something, and it was a rare occurrence for the little girl not to speak her mind. Sarah’s palms sweat a little. Was she concerned about the two of them together? She’d wanted it to happen before, but maybe now she was conflicted?

  Wes leaned toward her. “Hey, everything okay?” He paused. “Is this…the three of us having dinner together okay?”

  Marissa’s eyes widened as she nodded emphatically. “Yes! Definitely. About freaking time,” she muttered and Sarah relaxed. “I just wanted to ask…Friday is parents’ day at camp…” She turned toward Sarah. “Do you think you could come?”

  Sarah’s eyes widened, and she looked at Wes. Marissa wanted her to attend parents’ day at camp. She’d love to go and support Marissa, but she didn’t want Wes to think she was getting ahead of herself with regards to their relationship. They’d only spent one incredible night together…

  “I think it’s a great idea. If you’re free,” he said, his gaze filled with all the love and affection she’d always dreamed about. He sq
ueezed her hand across the table and looked almost as nervous waiting for her answer as Marissa did.

  He wanted her to go. Marissa wanted her to go. Her heart felt like it might explode out of her chest as she nodded. “Yeah. Absolutely. Wouldn’t miss it,” she said.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  A blast of wind whipped Sarah’s hair in front of her face as she walked along the nearly empty boardwalk toward the blown-glass hut the next day. What a difference from two weeks before, when locals and tourists had filled the air with sounds of summer. But the current rain and windstorm had tourists staying indoors.

  That upcoming long weekend would be the official shutdown for the season.

  On the ocean, the fierce waves appealed to only the most hardcore surfers, and even they looked to be calling it a day as the yellow caution flag was replaced with a red warning on the lifeguard tower down the beach. All the market huts had dragged their outside tables inside, and the dark-gray clouds made it feel as though it were evening despite it only being a little past noon.

  Since reading the latest journal entry, she’d been putting off picking up the decorations she’d ordered. It was odd knowing that this man had meant so much to her grandmother and not feeling as though she could bring it up or ask him about it. It was none of her business, but she was dying to know why he’d treated Dove that way. Walked away from her and the love they’d once shared. Yet she hadn’t been able to read further.

  Reaching the shop, she struggled against the wind to open the heavy door and hurried inside, shaking her wet hair away from her face. The forecast had predicted the storm, but she’d expected to be back at the B&B before it hit.

  Either way, she’d needed to pick up her order. She didn’t want Mr. Harrison to think she no longer wanted it.

  “Hello?” she called as she walked toward the back of the shop. “Mr. Harrison?”