Jace waggled his brows.
“Don’t give me that look.” She snagged the black lace-up tank from the Leather and Lace line and slipped it over her head. “We are leaving this room today.” Yesterday, in one of their quiet periods, Dixie had searched for historical sights on the Cape, and she’d found a few she thought Jace might like to see.
“What if I don’t want to share you with the outside world yet?” he asked, stalking toward her.
Her heart soared, but yesterday Jace had confessed that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d taken a vacation, and not to take it personally if he became edgy with too much downtime. She wasn’t a vacationer, either, hence the forced time off by her mother. She knew neither one of them would get edgy if they stayed in the cottage the whole time they were together. They were too into each other for boredom to set in, and they laughed as much as they loved, which confirmed what she already knew. They were a perfect match, whether they were in or out of the bedroom. But Jace had gone to such great lengths to show her how much she meant to him, she wanted to do something for him in return.
“You need sustenance if you’re going to keep up with me, old man.”
He hauled her against him, his dark eyes boring into her. “Old man? That’s funny, I don’t remember hearing any complaints in the shower this morning.”
“Mm…That was nice.” She kissed the tattoo over his heart, “The truth is, I want to experience everything with you, including being a tourist, since neither of us has really done that. I made a list of some historical sights I thought you might want to see.”
“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” His gaze softened. “I want that, too, Dix. But I’ll also always want this.” He grabbed her ass.
His eyes smoldered as his lips covered hers, his beard burning and tickling at once. He buried one hand in her hair, sending lust ricocheting through her. Shouldn’t she be used to his kisses by now? They were so consuming, when he kissed her it was like nothing else mattered or even existed. He eased his efforts to a series of feathery kisses, leaving her breathless for more.
He smacked her butt and said, “Now I’m ready.”
“Me too,” she said, full of innuendo. “You’re a cruel man.”
He laughed and hugged her again. “Just reminding you of what’s waiting when we get back here.”
THEY HEADED OUT on Jace’s motorcycle, stopping at the Blue Willow Bakery for breakfast, which they ate at a picnic table outside the general store two doors down. Dixie didn’t want to ruin the surprise of the places she’d mapped out, so instead of telling him where they were going, she gave him directions without naming the final destinations. They drove into Eastham, a neighboring town, and stopped at the Eastham Windmill, which was set in the middle of a grassy area along the main drag.
He shaded his eyes, looking up at the enormous structure. The slatted blades were much larger than they appeared from the road. The cedar siding had aged to gray, and the trim and front door were painted maroon. The windmill looked stately and important.
Jace reached for her hand and said, “I’ve actually never been in a windmill. Have you?”
She shook her head. “When I come to the Cape, it’s all about hanging out with my family.”
“Good, then it’s a first for both of us. You’re about to see me in full-on history-geek mode.”
“If you didn’t drive a motorcycle, I might have to trade you in for a tougher model.”
He shook his head. “I don’t believe that for a second. I know the Ritchie Meyers story, remember?” He gave her a chaste kiss, and they walked inside.
It smelled like old wood, which made sense since practically the entire structure was made of it.
“Good morning,” a thin, older gentleman with white hair and a thick gray beard greeted them. “I’m Jim. Welcome to the Eastham Windmill.”
Jace shook his hand. “Hi. I’m Jace, and this is Dixie. We’re both new to windmills. Would you mind telling us about the history of this one?”
“Have you got some time on your hands, or do you want the condensed version?” Jim asked.
“We have all the time in the world,” Jace answered.
Jim rubbed his hands together with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes and said, “This is my lucky day. This is believed to be the oldest windmill on the Cape, dating back to about 1680, when it was built in Plymouth. It’s also the last working gristmill…”
He told them about how the windmill was moved from Plymouth to Truro, and later to different locations in Eastham, before finally landing where it now resided. He showed them the millstones and explained the process of grinding corn. Jace had dozens of questions about the structure, the moves, the process of making flour and cornmeal. The two men talked about how things had changed over the years. When they went up a narrow wooden staircase to the second level, Jim’s history lesson continued.
It was interesting to watch Jace learning rather than being the man in charge, and it was even more interesting to hear him befriend the elderly gentleman, asking about how long Jim had lived there. Dixie could tell Jace wasn’t just being kind. He was actually interested in this man’s background, and the longer they spoke, the more interested Jace became, asking about his family and his personal thoughts on how the Cape had changed over the years.
More than an hour later, when they were getting ready to go to their next destination, Jace insisted they take a selfie with Jim in front of the windmill.
“Since you’re history buffs, be sure to stop by Fort Hill—check out the buildings and walk the trail.” Jim gave them directions, along with a short history of that property.
“Thanks. We’ll do that.” Jace shook his hand and said they’d be back the next time they were in the area. Dixie’s hopeful heart clung to his use of they.
Since Dixie had a number of places she’d already scouted, they decided to visit Fort Hill tomorrow and headed to the Salt Pond Visitor Center. They explored the museum and bookstore and watched a movie about the changing landscape on the Cape. Dixie didn’t realize how much she would enjoy learning about the history of the area, but Jace’s excitement was contagious. He held her hand, kissing her often and pulling her close as they looked around. They wanted to take a walk around the marsh and trails, but they had other places to see before the day got away from them.
Their next stop was the Museum of Natural History, where they learned about the environment and wildlife around the Cape. Jace made friends there as well. While he was listening and learning, Dixie was admiring him. His endless curiosity made him even more intriguing, revealing another side of him that he kept well hidden.
At the suggestion of a woman who worked at the museum, they drove into Brewster, another small town, and had lunch sitting outside at a café, sharing kisses as they ate their meals. They visited the Brewster General Store, a quaint little shop Dixie had seen online, and then headed to the Bird Watcher’s General Store, which the waitress at the café had recommended.
When they climbed back on his bike, Jace lifted Dixie’s hand from his stomach and kissed her palm before putting on his helmet. It was those little touches, along with the way he’d been looking at her throughout the day, that told her he was falling just as hard for her as she was for him.
It was late when they finished seeing all the places on Dixie’s list and returned to the Salt Pond Visitor Center to take the romantic walk they’d missed out on earlier. The sun set as they walked along the marsh, casting beautiful ribbons of pinks and purples over the horizon. Jace kept Dixie close, kissing her temple or her cheek, as they talked. She wished they could have a month worth of days like these, but what she really wanted was a lifetime of them.
Jace kept her close as they made their way up the final trail. “Thank you for planning such a great day. Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before.” He stopped walking and gazed into her eyes. “You’re changing me, Dix.”
“Is that good or bad?”
&nbs
p; Her pulse quickened as she waited for him to respond. He looked back the way they’d come, then up at the sky and out at the marsh.
Please don’t say bad.
When he finally looked at her, he exhaled that relaxed sound he made in the shower. Then he kissed her lips, tucked her against his side, and continued walking to the trailhead.
“Jace…?”
He grinned and said, “I’m still deciding.”
“You’re an ass,” she said teasingly.
“What was that?” he asked as they crossed the dark and almost empty parking lot. “You want me to spank your ass?”
She laughed and socked him in the arm, making him laugh, too.
He tugged her against him and said, “You don’t have to hit me. I’ll happily spank your ass.”
She wasn’t about to let him get away with not answering her. “You’re skating on thin ice, Stone.”
“Why? You might like it,” he taunted.
She felt her cheeks flame and glared at him. “I like a lot of things, but that doesn’t mean I want you to talk about them.”
“I see,” he said, his mouth a breath away from hers. “I’m allowed to take or spank as long as I don’t talk about it.”
“And I’m allowed to withhold until you answer my question.”
He kissed her hard, then handed her a helmet and said, “I already answered. I’ll happily spank—”
“Stone!”
He laughed and leaned down as if to kiss her and whispered, “It’s good, Dix. Very, very good.” Then, louder, he said, “Now, get that sexy little ass on my bike, because we never had our auction date, and I’ve got plans.”
“Care to clue me in?” she said casually, though she was already excited to see what he had in store.
“Nope.” He straddled the bike. “Climb on or get left behind, babe.”
She climbed on and put her arms around him. He moved her hands between his legs, pressing them over his formidable package, and then he started the engine. As they drove out of the parking lot, the vibrations of the bike and the feel of Jace worked their magic.
When he turned off the main drag and into the road that led to the Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre, happiness bubbled up inside her. She couldn’t believe Jace remembered what she’d said at dinner with his family.
He paid at the ticket booth, then cruised into the crowded lot, where rows of cars were parked beside poles with speakers on them. He stopped the bike and told her to close her eyes and hold on tight, which she did, even though she was dying to peek.
It was unsettling having her eyes closed on a moving bike, but Jace drove slowly. When he finally stopped the bike and cut the engine, he told her not to open her eyes yet as he helped her to her feet and removed her helmet.
“Okay,” he said. “Open your eyes.”
She was facing the back of the parking lot, not the movie screen. Jace looked a little nervous, which was something she’d never seen on him before. What could possibly make badass Jace Stone nervous?
“If this isn’t cool,” he said with a serious expression, “I have a backup plan. Reservations at a fancy restaurant with dancing and all that jazz.”
She was touched that he worried she might need to be wined and dined. Didn’t he know that time with him was all she really wanted? She didn’t care what they were doing. “Being here with you is the perfect date.”
He turned her by the shoulders, and “Oh my God,” fell from her lips. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. A blanket was spread out in front of the motorcycle, several battery-operated candles flickered in the moonlight around the edges, and a bouquet of red roses lay across one of two large pillows. In front of the pillows were place settings for two, and beyond that were silver-covered dishes, a bottle of wine, and two wineglasses. Not once in her entire life had anyone done anything so romantic for her.
Her eyes dampened as she turned to thank him, but the words lodged in her throat, so she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. Whistles and cheers rang out around them, and they both smiled into the kiss.
“Thank you,” she finally said. “This is beyond perfect. How did you get it all set up? We’ve been out all day.”
“I have a few friends who were happy to help.”
Dixie spent the evening in a bit of a daze. They enjoyed a feast of seafood, rice, and vegetables as they watched a romantic comedy. After dinner, she sat between Jace’s legs, nestled in his arms, her back to his chest. He must have kissed her shoulder and neck a thousand times as they sat under the stars, surrounded by hundreds of strangers. Dixie soaked in each and every one of those sweet touches, wishing she could spend forever just like this—no dinner or movie necessary.
Chapter Twenty-One
JACE WOKE SATURDAY morning in the same position in which he and Dixie had fallen asleep, with her cradled within the curve of his body as he spooned her. He buried his nose in her hair, inhaling her intoxicating scent. He’d thought she’d gotten to him after their trip to New York, but she’d become a part of him now. He was even addicted to her smell. They were leaving tomorrow morning, and he couldn’t imagine spending a single night apart, much less days, weeks, months…
He was so screwed, but there was no honor in empty promises, so he forced those thoughts down deep and focused on making the most of today. He kissed her shoulder, then opened his mouth, sucking gently, earning a sleepy, alluring moan. His cock twitched against her ass. He couldn’t get enough of her. Dixie reached behind her with one hand, her fingers playing over his face. He turned into her touch as she stroked his cheek.
One more day…
He rolled her onto her back, and that sexy smile did him in. He covered her mouth with his, kissing her rougher than he intended, but she arched beneath him, wrapping her legs around the back of his thighs. Her kisses made him lose his mind, but those long, lean legs? Fuck…He needed them wrapped around his head. He tore his mouth away, but before he could move down her body, she grabbed his hair, guiding his mouth to her breast. He teased and grazed the peak with his teeth and tongue.
She bowed off the mattress, moaning as she pleaded, “Harder—”
He did her one better. He shifted to the side as he sucked harder and pushed two fingers into her slick heat. She whimpered and moaned, rocking her hips, fisting her hands in his hair so tight it stung. He teased her clit with his thumb as he moved to her other breast, giving it the same attention. Her inner muscles clenched, pulling his fingers deeper into her. He curled them up, stroking over the spot that made her inhale sharp gasps.
“Don’tstopdon’tstop,” she pleaded.
He quickened his efforts, and she grabbed the sheets in fisted hands, her hips rocking furiously as she rode his fingers. The sexy sounds she made were like a mating call, luring him in. He kissed his way down her body, still using his fingers to keep her at the edge, and sucked her clit into his mouth, expertly giving her what she needed. She cried out long and loud, her hips bucking wildly, her sex pulsing around his fingers like a vise.
When she collapsed to the mattress, he sealed his mouth over her sweet, hot sex, and she wrapped her long, luxurious legs around his head. Man, that made him even harder. He feasted on her, using his teeth and tongue, rough and deep, then slower, licking her sensitive, swollen flesh, drawing out her pleasure. She grabbed his hair, spreading her thighs wider. He knew what she wanted, for him to fuck her with his tongue, suck her clit, make her come fast and hard. But he loved feeling her need, her greed, too much to hurry. He licked slowly up and down along her silken flesh, until she was panting and writhing.
“Jace, it’s too much. Please—”
He couldn’t deny her another second and gave her everything she craved, sending her soaring. She cried out loudly, and he stayed with her, holding her at the peak of ecstasy as she bucked against his mouth. When she sank limply to the mattress, he moved swiftly up her body, capturing her mouth with his, still drenched with the taste of her arousal. She sucked his tongue, clawed at his
back. She was an animal, his every dream come true, and he wasn’t nearly done.
He tore his mouth away. “I need your mouth on me, baby. I need you to suck me hard, take me to the edge before I fuck you.”
She scooted down the bed, guided his cock into her mouth, and holy fucking hell, she sucked and stroked, teasing the tip, squeezing his balls, doing all the things she knew drove him out of his mind. He was on all fours above her, watching as she loved his shaft. Seeing her feast on him was as erotic as feeling her hot, wet mouth on his cock. He grabbed the base of his shaft, squeezing hard, staving off his orgasm so he could enjoy her mouth longer.
He gritted his teeth until he was on the brink of exploding, and then he pulled out, greedily demanding, “On your hands and knees, baby. I want to take you from behind.”
She was quick to comply, her gorgeous ass in the air. Her hair curtained one eye as she looked at him over her shoulder, watching as he aligned their bodies. She was so wet, she drenched the head of his cock, making it impossible for him to hold back. He drove into her in one hard thrust.
“Oh, yesss,” she hissed.
He held her hips as he pounded into her, her muscles clamped down so tight, she nearly drew the come right out of him. But he held back, wanting to enjoy every second of her. She lowered her shoulders to the mattress, reaching beneath them, and tickled his balls.
“Fuck, Dix. Don’t make me come yet. I’m not done with you.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist, rising onto his knees and bringing her up with him. He cupped one of her breasts, using his other hand to pleasure her down below as he drove his cock deeper, faster. She dug her fingernails into his arms.
“Harder,” she panted out. “There, there, there!”
Her nails drew blood as her climax tore through her. Jace withdrew when she was mid-orgasm, and she cried out.
“I need to see your face,” he said through gritted teeth, fighting his own release as he helped her onto her back.
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