Page 7 of Pucking Vacation

“Like what?”

“I like to read,” I answer.

Jensen stares at me, clearly expecting more, but when I don’t go into detail, he chuckles.

“All right,” he replies. “Keep your secrets.”

He gently shoves his shoulder against mine and the simple contact sends heat rushing through me. His leg presses more firmly against mine, and when he reaches for the chips and salsa, his arm brushes against mine. I’m pretty sure it’s intentional.

By the time we’re done with dinner, that same arm is around me and I’m resting my head on his shoulder. Our group moves onto the resort’s bar, and Jensen keeps me pressed against his side.

Rylee, Skyler, Sutton, and Tyler disperse into the crowd. I watch as guys start to flock around my friends, and girls flock around Tyler. When I’m satisfied that my friends have found new people to party with, I focus on the man I’m with. Jensen and I stay a little separate from everyone, wrapped up in each other as we sit at the end of the bar.

“So, tell me something about yourself,” Jensen says when we get our beers. “Something real. It can be something vague, if you want, but just give me some little crumb of who you really are.”

I bite my bottom lip, unable to resist his request.

“All right. My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice, which I know is kind of cliche and basic, but I can’t help myself. I’m a hopeless romantic at heart.”

“I like that,” he murmurs. “I don’t think it’s cliche or basic at all. It’s a classic. Who doesn’t love a good classic?”

We continue talking as everyone parties around us. Eventually, Jensen leans in closer to me.

“Lynn,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. “Would you like to take a walk with me along the beach?”

My heart races at the intimate suggestion, and without hesitation, I nod. Standing up, we leave the group behind and make our way down to the shore, where the gentle waves lap at the sand.

Under the moonlight, with only the sound of the ocean as our companion, Jensen takes my hand, his touch sending shivers down my spine. We walk in comfortable silence for a while until he stops and turns to face me.

“I’m glad you came over to talk to me,” he says softly, his eyes searching mine. “There’s something about you, Lynn.”

“I’m glad I came over to talk to you too,” I murmur, a hint of Grace breaking through Lynn’s bravado.

We stare at each other for a long moment, and I can tell what he’s thinking. It’s obvious in his gaze, and I want it too, but I need to set some firm boundaries so that there’s no danger of this week-long fling turning into anything more. School is my focus and relationships of any sort are simply not something I can afford to be distracted by. Better to protect my heart from the start and make my plans known.

“I know you're going to kiss me now,” I say in a soft voice. “But I want more than just a kiss. I want to know if you’ll give me an unforgettable week, Jensen, but that’s all. Let’s avoid making it personal. No talking about our lives back home. No strings. At the end of the week, we part ways with nothing but the memories we make together while we’re here. What do you say?”

He tilts his head to the side, studying me for several moments. Crap, did I go too far? Was I too blunt? What if he decides I’m not worth the effort?

Before I completely spiral and freak out, though, he grins and nods. “Yeah. I’m all right with that.”

A wave of relief washes over me. I smile and Jensen cups the back of my head, gently drawing me to him. When our lips first meet, I gasp, parting mine in return. He slips his tongue into my mouth and I completely melt against him. He starts slow and gentle. His first kiss is like a tasting, a sampling, before quickly growing more demanding and insistent. His control slips as his tongue tangles with mine. His moans mix with my whimpers as a fire burns within me. He moves his hands to my waist and grips me tighter as our kiss becomes more frenzied. That fire within me explodes. I feel a tingling low in my belly.

Suddenly, Jensen scoops me up into his arms. I let out a yelp of surprise and wrap my arms around his neck.

“What are you doing?” I ask in a breathless tone.

“There’s a spot just up ahead,” he says as he begins walking. “It’s hidden behind some rocks. No one will be able to see us from the resort.”

How does he know that? Wait, scratch that. I don’t actually want to know how many girls he’s taken to this secret spot of his. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I’m the one he’s taking there now.

We come upon this sort of rocky alcove against a tall bluff near the water. Jensen sets me down in a spot that’s soft and sandy. The moment my feet touch the ground, Jensen is kissing me again, his touch rougher and more dominating than before. It’s like something has snapped inside him and what control he had previously maintained is gone. My own desire burns hotter and hotter with each moment that passes, and I reach up to grip his shoulders, silently urging him to give me more.

His hands move from my waist to cup my face, deepening the kiss as his fingers tangle in my hair. The world around us fades away, leaving only the sensation of his lips on mine, and the taste of salt in the air from the nearby ocean. I press myself against him, feeling every line and curve of his body fitting perfectly against mine.

As our kiss grows more passionate, Jensen’s hands begin to explore my body, touching me like he owns me. Without breaking our kiss, he pushes me up against the cool surface of the rock wall behind me.

I'm intoxicated by the heat between us, by the intensity of this moment. I want him with a hunger that surprises me, a craving that demands to be sated. His fingers run down my neck, my collarbone, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. My breath comes in short gasps as he explores every inch of me, setting my skin ablaze with desire.

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