by Jeannie Moon
“Jack, ohmigod. I can’t—”
There was no smile, but when she caught sight of his eyes, they twinkled back at her. There was an air of mischief, a playfulness Lilly had missed in her relationships with other men. Jack was doing more than giving her amazing sex, he was giving her hope, and life, and brightness. What was going on between them was so much more than just sex.
He was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and if nothing else, Lilly could congratulate herself on having such good judgement all those years ago.
The sounds coming out of her were primitive, instinctive. There was a fog settling around her as her hormones clouded her sense of reality. She missed his ministrations when he lowered her legs back to the bed, but then she heard the tearing of a foil pack.
Regaining her sense of time and space, she saw Jack hovering over her. One hand was on the bed supporting his weight, and the other stroked her cheek. “Are you ready for me?”
“So ready.” Lilly gripped Jack’s hips and guided him forward while he kept his eyes locked on hers. She felt the tip of his erection at her opening, and slowly he entered. She was wet and hot, and he slid right inside, filling her perfectly.
Jack stilled, drawing a deep breath as he allowed her to adjust to the size of him. She was deliciously full, and when he started to move, she could feel everything, just like she wanted. The friction drove them higher and higher, but never once did Jack break eye contact. It was like he was watching for some sign of distress, but all Lilly felt was bliss. And love. So much love.
His paced started to pick up, the thrusts were deeper, and Lilly responded by wrapping her arms and legs around him. She held him close, using her legs across his hips and back to pull him deeper inside. The feel of him, the size and power, were a perfect match for her. But even with all his raw energy, the emotion… the tenderness tied her to him forever.
They fit. They bonded. And no one would ever own her heart the way Jack Miller did.
They clung to each other as they approached the climax. His body surged into hers and she received him willingly. Feeling her body roll with the approaching orgasm, Lilly held him tighter, knowing he was restraining his own eruption for her.
“Don’t hold back,” she whispered in his ear. “Take me. Take all of me.”
“Lilly, God. I can’t hold on.”
“Don’t. Let go, Jack.”
Knowing she would come with him, Lilly flexed the muscles surrounding his cock and heard him groan in response. She did it again, knowing it was driving him crazy.
“Jesus,” he snapped. With a final thrust, he boomed with a roar that was so primal, Lilly let it penetrate her whole body. It triggered her own orgasm, releasing the tidal wave she’d been holding back. They dove off the cliff together, falling into an abyss of sensations Lilly knew would tie them together forever. He was her match, her soulmate. No one would ever mean more to her, understand her better, or possess her heart.
There was no denying it. She loved him.
And if the fates were kind, Jack would love her back.
*
The silence in the cabin was broken only by the sound of their matched breathing. Jack had never poured himself out like that. As orgasms went, he was actually dizzy from the exertion. Still buried in her heat, he didn’t want to move because she felt so good. The muscles surrounding him shuddered and flexed, and with each tiny shock wave, Lilly gasped. Being with her was the best thing he’d ever done, and the most insane.
Heavy and labored, Lilly’s breath was like fire against his neck, and her hands gripped his back like she might never let go. When Jack raised himself up, he took in her face, only to see tears pricking the corners of her eyes.
Shit. He’d made her cry. Why was she crying?
“Lilly, oh, God, what’s wrong? Please don’t cry.”
Her eyes fluttered open, and he could see his entire future in their depths. Deep and dark, like a chasm in the ocean, she knew him in ways Jack didn’t know himself.
“It’s okay,” she whispered. Raising her hand to touch his face, Jack leaned into it. “I’m fine. It was just… perfect. You’re perfect.”
“Oh, thank God. You’re sure? I wanted it to be good for you.”
“It was better than good.”
When she pulled him close, burying her face in his neck, Jack got a little drunk on the scent of her hair and her skin. She smelled of sun and warm air, with a hint of spice. Everything about her spoke to him, touched him. He’d fallen hard. Trying to fight it was pointless.
He’d have stayed buried in her all night, but he didn’t want to lose the condom, so he gently slipped out of her. Lilly protested when he rose from the bed. “Don’t go…”
“I have to clean myself up. I’ll be right back.” She had no idea how much he hated leaving her space. Jack had never been one to get attached. His work, his life, didn’t allow it, but now? He was done.
He went to the head and took care of business, splashing some water on his face. The reflection he saw in the mirror was a man who had gone down for the third time. But for the first time in his life, Jack wasn’t going to push against commitment, he was going to fight for it. Lilly was worth it.
They were worth it.
“God, Jack,” He said to himself while he pulled on his briefs. “Don’t fuck this up.”
Grabbing a towel from the shelf above the sink, he wiped his face and went back to the cabin. Lilly was up, wrapped in a blanket from the bed. She was foraging through the cooler, which she’d obviously brought in from the deck.
“Did you go outside like that?”
Not even looking up, she kept digging through the bag. “Oh, no. I had to wrap up afterwards, though. I got a chill.”
It took him a second to process. “Wait. What? You went outside naked?”
“A couple of fishing boats went by. I didn’t expect that.” She looked up, her face expressionless. “They seemed impressed.”
For a second, Jack wondered if he was still in a sex stupor, because if he was following, she said she just went up on the deck naked. A sudden coldness rocked his core. That was until he saw her mouth tick up at the corner. He had been played.
“I cannot believe you fell for that,” she said on a laugh. “The look on your face. Oh, my God.”
Lilly doubled over, rocked with laughter. Jack had to admit, she’d gotten him good, but the most satisfying part of all this was seeing the joy bubbling up and spilling out of her. Her smile was wide, her eyes bright. Everything about her was open. Relaxed.
Bringing her close, the blanket dropped from her shoulders, and Jack grabbed the ends, anchoring her against his chest. “You think you’re funny?”
“I know I am. Now, stop this caveman crap and let me eat. I’m hungry.”
Jack released the taut blanket, and Lilly grabbed the cooler and carried it into the cabin. Jack followed, watching that gorgeous ass shake its way back to bed.
“Should I secure the hatches for the night? I mean, should we plan on going back?”
With a small shuddering breath, Lilly looked away before tossing a light shrug. “To tell you the truth, I don’t ever want to go back.”
Jack had to agree. He didn’t either.
Chapter Nineteen
Lily stood on the dock and waved as Jack pulled the boat away from the dock and into the cove. It was just before six in the morning, and even though it hadn’t come up yet, the sun was lighting up the sky. Shades of pink and orange and yellow made the clouds look like a painting. It was serenely beautiful, and it reminded Lily how much she had to be thankful for.
Going to hell and back might not have been the recommended path for self-awareness, but those were the cards she’d been dealt. There was no going back, no fixing what had happened. The only thing she could do was move forward.
Each of those things were more important than sex alone. Bundled together, it was terrifying… it was everything.
Making a slow turn, Lily took in the ea
rly morning activity at the marina. Fishermen were getting their boats ready for the day, a group of seniors were on the large deck by the gazebo getting ready for sunrise yoga, and there were a few people out walking their dogs, or taking a run.
It was a wonderfully mundane morning in Compass Cove. And it was perfect.
From where she stood, Lily could see the front of her salon, and when she looked up, she saw Barney sitting in her bedroom window. Even from there, she could see him licking his paw. With her tote slung over her shoulder, Lily headed for home.
She took her time, hoping to extend the magic of the night before. That’s what it was, magic.
Jack had been sweet, and considerate, and so very sexy. He had ruined her for any other man. It was that good. He was that good.
Being with him was a big step. It wasn’t about the sex. When things started to go bad with Gio, Lilly had understood that sex was physical. That didn’t make it a bad thing, but what she found with Jack was intimacy. Closeness. Trust.
Love.
That’s what had her walking on air. For the first time in years, Lily wasn’t afraid of what she was feeling. There were no questions running through her mind, no doubts, and most of all, no fear. Jack Miller was home. He was safety. He was her heart.
More than ever, it appeared teenage Lilly had known what she was talking about.
Reaching the street, she looked for cars before stepping into the crosswalk, but she should have been paying attention to more than just the traffic, but he collision with the runner happened so fast she probably wouldn’t have been able to avoid it anyway. Her shoulder screamed as she got shoved back, and the other woman landed in a patch of grass, cursing as she went down. Lilly rubbed the outside of her arm.
“God, that hurts,” Lilly moaned. Shaking off the vibrations running through her body, she looked at the person to her right and realized she was staring into the stunned face of Kat Barnes.
“I know you don’t like me, Lily. But I nearly faceplanted.”
“God, Kat. I’m sorry. It wasn’t intentional. Are you okay?”
“I’ll survive, even if I do have a mouthful of grass.” Kat was incredibly pretty without her makeup. Her skin was flawless, creamy with touches of pink, and her large eyes dominated her face. But she looked so young. She was barely thirty, but without her movie star image painted on her face, she looked like a teenager.
“My apartment is right across the street. Come with me, and you can clean up.”
She grumbled, growled actually, under her breath, and Lilly fought the urge to walk away. But something—guilt maybe—made her extend a hand to Kat.
“Come on. I have coffee at my place. I’ll make you a good, strong cup.”
“No… well, okay. Coffee?”
“And I think I have some leftover banana bread.”
Kat grasped Lilly’s hand and pulled herself up. “Not a great idea for my diet.”
Lilly shrugged. “Live a little.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have your agent, your director, your stylist—pretty much everyone—on your ass about your weight.”
“I know it’s not easy. But you’re so disciplined, you should be able to indulge once in a while.”
Waving her off the curb, Lilly crossed the street and turned toward the path to the courtyard. She looked back to make sure Kat was following.
“Is that your salon?” Kat pointed to the storefront. It looked pretty with the morning light reflecting off display of beach glass in her window.
“It is.”
“Hmm.” Kat was looking at the sign in the window. “You have to open in a few hours. Are you just getting home, missy?” Her southern drawl became more pronounced.
“Uhhh…” Lilly glanced over at the woman who had given her more shit than she cared to remember. Was she being nice for a change? For real? “Maybe.”
Kat grinned. “Good for you. At least someone’s getting lucky.”
That shocked her. Kat Barnes was the “it” girl in Hollywood, always at every party, and never without a great-looking date. For her to admit her social life was lacking in anything was quite the revelation. “Wow. Where did that come from?”
Kat chuckled. “I must have hit my head.”
When they entered the courtyard, Kat stopped, taking in the scene. A group of women were walking the brick path that led to the harbor, two other folks were walking dogs. The town was waking up. “This is very cool. Your little town is full of surprises.”
“It is.” Putting the key in the lock, Lilly cocked her head toward the stairs. “Come on up.”
“You live over your salon? That’s convenient.”
“It is. When I rented the space downstairs, I found out the apartment was available. I got a good deal on both, with a three-year lease.”
Opening the door, she opened her present life to her past. Kat stepped inside, and as was her habit, she took in the scene before her. The attention to detail, picking up small nuances in a space, was what made her a great actress.
“This is adorable,” she said. “It’s a great space. A lot less room than you had in California, though.”
That was true. Gio’s house, where she’d lived for over a year, was a showpiece set on the bluffs of Malibu. The view of the Pacific Ocean was spectacular. “Yeah, but it has other perks.”
“Like not having to take Gio’s shit?”
That stopped Lilly dead in her tracks. “What… what do you mean?”
Kat leaned into the kitchen island, narrowing her eyes. “Are you kidding? It’s a well-known fact that he’s not a model boyfriend. I never expected you to stick with him as long as you did. He’s an asshole.”
She didn’t know the half of it.
“Yeah, well, I finally wised up.” Lilly stepped into the kitchen and flipped on the coffee maker. The knot in her chest had returned. It wasn’t Kat’s fault; Lilly had been in denial about how people saw her relationship to Gio. “Let me show you the bathroom.” Lilly pulled a couple of towels out of the linen closet. “If you want to shower, feel free. I can loan you a T-shirt and shorts if you need it.”
Kat nodded. Looking down at her dirty knees and hands, she nodded. “You sure you wouldn’t mind?”
“Not at all. Everything is in the shower. I’ll even blow out your hair when you’re done.”
The woman’s eyes lit up. “Seriously? I would love that. The stylist they have doing my hair on this film is not you, that’s for sure.”
Kat disappeared into the bathroom, and Lilly let the compliment soak in. It was nice to be appreciated and missed.
Strains of the latest Taylor Swift song came drifting out of her tote, causing Lilly to dig down to fish out her phone. It was Natalie.
Damn. If she sent her to voicemail, she’d just call back every five minutes until she answered. “Hey Nat. You’re up early.”
“I am. I’m down at the beach, was going to do a little yoga, and I noticed the boat is not tied up next to the boathouse. Did you and my brother stay out all night?”
“We went sailing. I’m sure you knew that. Your grandmother and mine made us a picnic.”
“All night? Lilly! Oh. My. God! You dirty girl.”
“Stop it.”
“No. It’s fantastic.”
It was pretty fantastic, but that’s not what Nat meant. In fact, Lilly bit her lip thinking about all the things she wouldn’t be telling Natalie about. Some details were just too delicious to share. In one ear, she had Nat babbling about Jack, and the family, and how her grandmother and mother were speculating about what was going on between the two of them. With the other ear, she heard Kat Barnes in her shower. God, her life couldn’t be any weirder.
“Nat, why don’t you come by tonight? I have to get ready for work. Okay?”
“And you’ll answer all my questions?”
“Maybe.”
“Ugggh.” Her friend was a thirteen-year-old at heart. “Fine. I’ll come by about seven. We’ll go out.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Setting down her phone after the call ended, she wondered if she should warn Jack. Nah. He was a big boy, he’d handle his sister. Lilly heard the shower turn off. She went into her closet to get some product samples that would work great on Kat’s long cinnamon-colored hair. The actress was a pain in Lilly’s ass, but she had the most gorgeous hair. This was going to be fun.
A minute later, Kat, who had wrapped herself and her hair in the thick white towels she’d given her, was standing in her doorway. “I feel better. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Let’s take this stuff in the kitchen. I’ll blow out your hair while you’re having your coffee.”
Kat smiled at her, and Lilly couldn’t get over how her face softened. “Do you have a T-shirt I can throw on?”
“Oh, yes. Right here.” She dug into the laundry basket on her bed and tossed Kat a dark blue Jennings College tee. “Here you go.”
Kat held it up and nodded. “Appropriate. We’re shooting there today.”
They headed into the kitchen like they were old friends who did this all the time. Lilly pulled over a chair while Kat investigated the coffee, which was almost finished brewing. “God, that smells good.”
“Let me get you a mug.” Finally, coffee in hand, they settled down so Lilly could work her magic. It was familiar, and it brought Lilly back to an exciting point in her life. But as with so many things, it was easy to see the past through unrealistic filters.
Combing out Kat’s hair, she thought about the number of times she’d done this exact thing. She’d been Kat’s hair stylist on six movies, and every day of shooting required at least one, sometimes many sessions fixing the actress’s hair.
“So, who did you spend the night with? Was it that unbelievably gorgeous guy I saw you with the other day? Josh… something?”
“Jack.”
“Right, Jack. Works for the government. Whatever that means.”
“He’s an FBI agent.”
Kat turned her head slightly. “Really? That’s hot. And dangerous.”
Lilly nodded. “Yep.”