Page 68 of Best Part of Me

A devilish grin plays on his lips before he lowers them to my neck first and then moves to my collarbone, gifting me with tender kisses there. I dig my fingernails into his back, and he kisses me hard; his tongue and his finger go deeper as if they’re working together. It’s a talent I’m feeling fortunate to be the recipient of.

“You’ve got my mouth,” he says between kisses.

My head goes fuzzy with pleasure, blocking out everything else that’s been hammering my brain. He makes slow work at stripping my clothes off, the fear of flipping the hammock causing us to be precise with our movements. The feel of our warm bodies crushed together is perfect.

But it’s not long before I grow impatient, and his hand isn’t enough. I want him inside. I need him inside.

“Please, Mav,” I beg, desperation purring from my lips.

“Please, what?”

“Make me fall apart, make me—” My words are swallowed by his kiss, his lips locked on mine and his tongue prodding.

The hammock shakes, and what I wouldn’t pay to get a visual of this. We’re quieter than we’ve ever been. Even in the tent the night before, we screamed, uncaring of the other campers nestled in their beds. The closeness at the fault of the hammock works in our favor, giving me the most intimate sex I’ve ever experienced. It’s slow and methodical. It’s skin on skin, it’s visceral, and it’s unguarded.

When we’ve finished, and with our hearts still thundering, Maverick wipes me clean with his T-shirt before snuggling next to me. And I might as well be like a lovesick puppy dog. The way he takes care of me. Even things like this, wiping the cum between my legs. Something no man has ever thought to do before. My first stupid thought is I need to text Rosie and tell her everything.

But I don’t. I don’t want to move. I want to stay crushed against Maverick’s solid body. Where my limbs begin and his end.

My earlier reservations of having sticky skin and possible body odor have faded now that we’re lying here scrunched together, completely spent. With my naked breasts pressed into his bare side, he trails a lazy fingertip up my hip causing me to shiver. I nuzzle into his neck, inhaling his woodsy, male scent. My head goes dizzy with lust.

Lust.

Yep, that’s all it is. This is not love. Nope, I definitely don’t love him. Not like that.

It’s just a childhood crush.

Maverick’s chin rests on top of my head, and he clears his throat. “Did I tell you yet, you are the biggest surprise of my life.” His quiet gruff voice rumbles in my chest.

I don’t know how to respond. So I don’t, only shake my head from where it’s still burrowing in the crook of his neck. Being the biggest surprise of his life is huge, heavy, and I can’t do anything with that. It doesn’t make sense. Why do we have to end things when we go back home? If we’re so good together, why can’t we fight for this? For us?

“I never would’ve imagined the two of us would be here... now... together.”

“Me neither,” I finally manage to say.

He wraps an arm around my body and hugs me to him even tighter, my lungs constricting. It’s not only the lack of oxygen that makes my head light and dizzy, it’s the intimate and drawn-out embrace. It’s in this moment that makes me fully regret the expiration date we set for our relationship.

We are good together. I know it. And something tells me he knows it too.

His breath is suddenly hot in my hair, and then I feel the pressure of his kiss on the top of my head. It’s sweet and gentle, and I squeeze my eyes shut. My heart is betraying me. While it longs to stay trapped in this moment forever, my brain tells me otherwise. It shouts into a megaphone toget the hell out of this hammock and hightail it to the closest airport and go home!

Continuing this road trip with Maverick is only going to make saying goodbye that much harder. I fall for him a little bit more each day I spend with him. At the end of the ten days, I will be nothing more than a melted, useless blob on the floor.

“Are you uncomfortable? You want me to move?”

Never.I never want him to move. Never want to climb out of this hammock.

“No. I’m perfect. This... with you... is perfect.” My response is vulnerable. But I take the risk anyway.

“You took the words right out of my mouth.” He gives me a light kiss on the corner of my lips.

I close my eyes. “Mav?”

“What, Sunshine?”

“You know you’ll never be alone again, right? One way or another, you’ll always have me.”

“I’m not sure if that’s a threat or a promise,” he teases, and I elbow him in the side. “Shit. I’m kidding. It better be a promise. I always want to be stuck with you.”

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