He settled beside her, his head cushioned on his bent arm, and studied her with a heavy-lidded gaze. “Delicious surprise.” His husky voice raised goosebumps, but he didn’t touch her. He just rested there, inches away, watching her watch the stars.
His breath against her cheek sent tingles sparkling over her skin. Wood smoke and burnt sugar blended with his signature scent of sandalwood and salt air. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Desire and pleasure swirled low in her belly.
His lips skimmed the shell of her ear, and cascading shivers tightened her skin as he trailed soft, slow kisses down her throat and over her shoulder. She arched her throat when his soft curls brushed beneath her chin, then between her breasts. His fingertips whispered over the thin cotton of her bodice, and she squirmed, craving more. But he teased her with the lightest touch, skating over her breasts, her waist, her sides, her hips, never nearing the pulsing center that burned for him.
Panting now, she grasped his wrist and tugged his hand downward. “Please, Matteo.”
“Hush, bella,” he whispered. “If I only have six more nights with you, I want to make the most of each moment.”
So he’d been counting too. Sharp regret sliced through the pleasure. Biting her lip, she turned away.
“Stay with me, love.” He cupped her cheek and turned her face back to his. His eyes glinted in the near darkness, and the moonlight tipped his hair with silver. “Let me see you. Let me know you.”
Emotion swelled in her chest. She filled her lungs with cool night air—and relaxed.
“There you are.” Finally, he took her mouth in a deep, sensual exploration that went on and on. She closed her eyes and sank into his kiss, the stars overhead eclipsed by the sparkles dancing behind her lids as she clutched his back and rocked her hips against his.
He drew back with a rumbly laugh that vibrated her bones. “Slow down, bella. Make it last.” He sat up and pulled his shirt over his head. His crisp chinos remained in place, though, despite her pout. When he lay beside her again, she glided greedy hands over his skin, warm and smooth over firm muscle.
He fumbled with the back of her wrap dress. “How does this thing open?”
“Here.” She guided him to the tie at her waist. Soon he had her unwrapped, shivering more from anticipation than from the evening chill.
Warm flannel beneath her, heated skin above. Warm breath, plush lips, whispers and murmurs. Each time urgent desire swelled, he lightened his touch until her breathing calmed and her pulse quieted. Over and over, he coaxed her to a high plateau and held her there, trembling. Pleasure soaked every nerve, every inch of her skin as she floated, content to be guided, molded by his touch. All the while, his hips rocked gently against her, echoing the whisper of the surf.
He caressed her for what seemed like days, his murmured endearments dissolving into soft moans and endless repetitions of her name. At last, he stripped bare and moved against her, the brush of his soft body hair exquisitely arousing.
A foil wrapper crinkled, and then the blunt head of his cock nudged her slick opening. Her breath caught, then rushed out as he entered her with one deep thrust. In and out he glided, their bodies undulating, swimming through a sea of pleasure, up, up, up toward sparkling sunlight. With a gasp, they broke the surface together—one thundering heartbeat, one triumphant cry.
Afterward, no words. Just the rise and fall of his chest against hers, his soft sigh as he withdrew and disposed of the condom. He pulled the top sleeping bag over them, twined his arms and legs around her, and pressed a kiss to her temple. Warm, sated, safe, she drifted into sleep.
A full bladder woke her sometime later. Carefully extricating herself from his embrace, she found the lantern, pulled Matteo’s shirt over her bare skin, and unzipped the tent fly. Business taken care of, she stepped through night-cool sand, silky beneath her feet, back toward their shelter. She paused a moment to watch the moon, hovering just above the line where sea meets sky. Its reflected light carved a silvery path to this secluded spot she shared with Matteo. The waves whispered and sighed. As the night breeze lifted her hair, a thought materialized—not once since entering that tent had she thought about Jason, about her kids, about the end of this connection. Wrapped in Matteo’s love, she’d finally mastered the art of living in the present, if only for a night.
Chapter Fifteen
Sunday, June 30th
Daniellewoketothescent of coffee. Rolling onto her back, she stretched and grinned. After years of being the one who did all the planning, Matteo’s pampering was something she could get used to. Addicted to, even.
She dug into the overnight bag Marie packed and thanked the gods for her friend’s attention to detail. She found wet wipes to remove the smeared remnants of yesterday’s makeup and the stickiness from their lovemaking, plus lip gloss and cologne, her toothbrush and toothpaste. After a quick clean-up, she pulled on a long-sleeved U Dub T-shirt and shorts, then ventured outside.
Still empty but for their campsite and a few inquisitive seagulls, the beach was quiet in the early-morning light. She inhaled deeply and released a contented sigh.
Barefoot, in faded cutoffs and a Seahawks hoodie, Matteo squatted over a small camp stove that held an enamel coffee pot and a frying pan. The sight of him all bed-rumpled made her heart swell.
She cleared her throat. “Good morning.”
He hopped to his feet—his agility a reminder of how damn young he was.
“Good morning, bella. Did you sleep well? Are you hungry? Ready for breakfast? We’ve got eggs, smoked salmon, ciabatta bread, melon—”
She held a finger to his lips. “First, I’d like this.” She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Last night was amazing. Thank you.”
His lashes lowered, and he pulled her closer. “I’ll never forget it. Thanks for trusting me.”
He was right. Last night, something had shifted between them. She’d placed herself in his hands, let him set the pace, and he’d read her reactions with skill and sensitivity. More than anything, she longed to hang onto this warm, easy connection. But how?
He released her and poured a mug of coffee, then stirred in a stream of sugar. “Black and sweet, right?” He went back to the stove and waved a spatula. “The tide left lots of shells. Go ahead, explore. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
