Page 48 of The First Best Man

Releasing her, I take a step back while continuing to ravage Kate’s lips. She chuckles, leaning forward to hold onto that connection. Stepping toward her again, I wrap my arms around her and pick her up, spin around, then toss her onto the bed, finally ending the kiss.

Kate laughs as she readjusts the sheet around her, making sure all her best, most tempting bits are hidden.I make a mental note to make sure that, by the end of the day, she doesn’t feel the need to hide from me.

That she’ll know exactly how perfect she is in every way.

“See you soon,” I say, and she gives me a little wave before I turn and head out.

Once I get outside, I grab my sunglasses from the cubby in the golf cart and slide them onto my face. A quick glance around proves no one is watching as I leave the property, and I quickly cross the street before heading toward town.

As I get closer to the market, guilt trickles through me as Logan’s warnings echo through my mind once again.

You need to resist the urge, man.

You’re not the commitment type, and Kate is. She’s not a one-night stand kind of girl.

Kate doesn’t know what kind of fire she’s playing with here, J.T. She’s a virgin.

I shake my head to clear the ghost of Logan’s voice. Kate and I are both adults. I’ve been very clear with her about tempering her expectations, and she’s in full agreement that she wants this just as much as I do. We know what we’re doing.

Am I rationalizing? Maybe.

All I know is that my desire for Kate far outweighs any possible unexpected ramifications. And her desire for me is just as potent, even when she really has no concrete idea what to expect.

And if her body’s responses to the things we’ve done so far are any indication, I know it’s going to be acataclysmic experience for both of us. Just the thought makes my dick wake up, and I increase my pace.

I slip into the market behind another customer and make my way across the length of the store, looking for an aisle that holds what I’m looking for. I check by the men’s personal care section, and there’s nothing. I check the aisle that displays sanitary napkins and tampons, and the condoms aren’t there, either.

“Shit,” I mutter under my breath as I keep searching.

If the market doesn’t carry condoms, you can bet your ass I’ll be on the first ferry to the mainland. But I really don’t want to waste the time the trip will take. I only have Kate for the next couple of days, and I want to make the most of it.

But at the same time, I’m supposed to be bringing as little attention to myself as possible here, and asking an employee for help finding the prophylactics isn’t exactly staying under the radar. So, I search the entire market again with no better luck, then I heave a sigh.

I’m about to step outside to call Kate and see if she knows where they’re kept––and why would she, really?––when I finally spot them.

Hanging on the wall behind the counter.

Oh, this is just great.

There’s no help for it. Kate’s probably waiting in my room for me by now.

Stepping up to the counter, I dip my chin so the brim of the trucker’s cap hides most of my features and deepen my voice as I ask the cashier, “A box of the twelve-count condoms, please.”

“Regular? Or lubricated?” she asks, and I clear my throat before answering.

“Lubricated, please.”

“Sure thing, Mr. Gibbs,” she says before spinning around to grab the box from the rack.

Damn it.So much for the disguise.

“These are, uh, just in case,” I mumble as I hand over a twenty. “Keep the change.”

I spin and stride out without giving her a chance to respond or even give me a receipt. I feel like a damn fifteen-year-old boy. Except I wasn’t this embarrassed to by condoms when Iwasfifteen.

Kate’s rubbing off on me.

And I can’t remember the last time I was this excited over anything.

---