Page 85 of Seal of Approval

We anchored in our usual spot. Most of the older sea lions paid us no attention, but a few juveniles perked their heads up. Rose and Bailey jumped in and turned back to the boat.

“Come on, Ethan,” Rose said.

Bailey looked at him with expectation.

He tore off his shirt, sat on the stairs, and pushed off from the boat. No sea lions had come in yet. Ethan swam after Rose and caught her leg. She squealed. It was Bailey’s turn next. He was faster than Rose, who cheered Ethan on. I hopped in the water and swam in the other direction. They had too much energy for this time of the morning.

Ethan left them and swam over to me. He took me by the waist and pulled me towards him, a tentative smile lifting his lips. “Jasmine Taylor, I love you with every fibre of my being.” He kissed me while we tread water. His tongue exploring like he was probing the depths of me. The parts of me no one else ever saw, the parts no one was interested in seeing.

Water whooshed past us. We broke apart. A sea lion was circling us. I looked closer at the scarred fin. It was Angelo. He nudged Ethan, swam away and came back again.

Ethan laughed. “Finally, the seal of approval.”

Angelo nudged him again and Ethan swam after him in a game of chasey. I’d always prided myself on not needing a man, but I needed Ethan. Every part of me needed him. But I wouldn’t tell him that. We’d always known our time was limited. It wouldn’t be fair to put that pressure on him.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Ethan

I settled into bed with Jasmine. Six months had gone by so fast. I wanted another six and six more after that for the remainder of my days. But my career and what I’d been striving for were not here. My heart felt like it was tearing.

Jasmine took my hand. “I’m going to miss you.”

My chest constricted. We’d never really spoken about being apart. The pain in my chest was the obvious reason why.

“I’m going to miss all of you and this place.” It was true. This was the first place that had ever felt like home. They felt like home.

“We can still talk over video.” Her voice was soft, uncertain.

“Every day if you want to.”

“I’m sure the kids will.”

“We can do other things by video too.” I gave her a soft nudge.

She rolled towards me and laughed. “Sex on Screen doesn’t work as well as Sex on Legs.”

“It just doesn’t sound the same. Should we practice now?” I gave her a quick kiss.

“Not the screen part.” She straddled me and leant down, her breasts brushing my chest. I reached out to turn the lamp on. I needed to burn this image into my brain. I knew every curve by touch. I needed to know them by sight as well. And smell. I reached my hand into her long brown hair and tangled my fingers in the softness. Pulling her closer, I took a deep breath in—ocean air and a hint of citrus.

Jasmine’s mouth crashed into mine. Her mouth was as relentless as the sea. She opened her legs wider and rubbed against me. The inside of my mouth vibrated as she moaned into it.

Her lips left mine. “Condom,” she almost begged.

“Top drawer.”

She didn’t wait for me. Within seconds, she had it in hand, ripped the packet open and was rolling it on. Then she was taking me inside her, inch by inch. Fuck, she felt good. She rested her hands on my shoulders, balancing as she rose and fell. With eyes half closed she bit her lip, letting out a sinful moan.

My dick hardened. I didn’t know it was possible to get any harder. I reached my hands up to cup her breasts, squeezing them as she quickened her pace. So soft. So malleable. I let go and watched them move rhythmically.

I ran my hands down her side and rested on her hips. My thumb found that spot of hers I’d promised to remember. I applied the smallest amount of pressure. Jasmine’s mouth dropped open. Her moan bordered on indecent. My balls tightened. Her hair fell around her face like a curtain trapping us in our own world.

Her pace slowed just a fraction, and she lowered her face to mine. Her breaths were as fast as my heartbeat. The warm air against my ear sent tingles through me.

“Fuck, Jasmine.” I thrust into her. I squeezed her hips and held her where I needed her.

“Ethan.”

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