But, once I got back to the bow of the ship where Gavin stood, he turned around and handed me a very colorful drink.
“For you, courtesy of our bartender,” he said.
I smiled. “Thank you. This looks delicious.”
“I went ahead and dismissed them for the night since I figured we wouldn’t be hungry after everything we ate.”
“Well, what about drinks? I might want another one of these.”
He wrapped his arm around my waist. “Which is why I had the bartender set out everything I’d need to make you as many as you want.”
“My hero,” I sighed playfully.
But, he only pulled me closer. “Maybe one day, you’ll let me be just that.”
Gavin swayed my body side to side softly as we gazed into each other’s eyes. We sipped on our drinks as we slowly twirled around, our bodies ushering in the heavy night sky. Stars twinkled by the millions just above our heads. The water stretched out as far as our eyes could see, and the world was dead silent. I finished my drink and set it on a random table. Gavin danced us next to where he set his empty glass down as well.
Then, he took my hand in his, and away we went, dancing from one end of the ship to the other.
I had no words for how romantic it all felt. I had no comments to rebut the flagrant admission Gavin had just given me. He wanted to be my hero? What did that even mean? Did it mean he wanted to be my everything? That he wanted to save me from a life less lived?
Either way, I felt myself melting against him as I laid my head against his chest. The moonlight played wonderfully off his eyes, and I knew that if I gazed into them any longer, they’d suck me in and I’d never want to return.
But, it seemed as if we had similar thoughts because out of nowhere, we stopped dancing. Out of nowhere, I felt his finger crook beneath my chin. And out of nowhere, he dragged my gaze to meet his before he uttered the words I’d been longing to hear from him since the first day I’d met him.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Eva. I want you to know that.”
I drew in a sharp breath to tell him that I felt the same way. About him, that was. I’d been wanting to tell him for a while now exactly how sexy he was to me. I wanted to proclaim how much I enjoyed our time together. How much I appreciated him making me feel the way he did. But, before I could part my lips to utter even one word, his mouth crashed against mine.
His tongue parted my lips.
His arms cloaked my back, pulling me closer as my knees gave way.
And as we sank to the floor of the deck of the ship, I decided to lose myself in him. To accept whatever came my way, no matter the possible heartache attached. Gavin would always be worth it, even if we ended up only being a temporary thing.
17
Gavin
She was too much for me. Her presence was too much for me. And watching her parade around in that little bikini she had on earlier kept me at a constant state of attention all fucking day. Watching the stars swirl in her eyes kicked up a feeling within me that I’d never felt toward another woman before. Having her in my arms made me feel more powerful and stronger than I’d ever felt in my entire life. And when her legs parted to accommodate me, it felt like coming home.
Eva felt like home to me, and I never wanted it to end.
“Gavin, oh fuck,” she panted.
I kissed down her neck, allowing my tongue to explore her. I pulled her bikini top down with my teeth, feeling her naked breasts pop out against my face. I nuzzled against them. I lapped at her puckered peaks until they were tightened mounds against her creamy skin. Her hands running through my hair sent me onward toward my goal while my mouth salivated for the meal to come.
And after sliding her legs over my shoulders, I pulled her bikini bottoms off to the side before parting her folds with my tongue.
“Shit,” she hissed.
Her nails raked softly against my scalp, and it only spurred me onward. I shoved my bathing suit down my legs until I kicked it off with my feet, my body bared to a watery world around us. I lapped at her swollen clit, feeling her buck against me as I undid all of the bows that kept her bikini against her body. I wanted to see the moonlight illuminate her curves. I wanted to feel all of her against me as my body proclaimed my love for her.
I loved this fucking woman.
And I’d be damned if I let her go without a fight.
“Gavin, I need to feel you. Please.”
