Page 71 of The First Best Man

“Maybe we should try it again, then,” he purrs. “Practice makes perfect, right?”

I squeal as he grabs me and makes to pull me backonto his face. He doesn’t fight me when I scooch down to straddle his hips, instead, and his eyes fall closed as the ridge of his erection nestles against my hot, dripping center with just his underwear separating us.

The humor between us flees as I grind down against his hardness, heat spiking in my blood once more. I’m never going to get enough of this.

Enough ofTucker.

I go still at the thought.Shit.I can’t think stuff like that.

This has to be enough. This, right here, is all I get.

“Stop thinking,” he mutters, rolling us over until I’m on my back and he’s hovering over me. “Don’t worry about tomorrow.”

“Live in the moment,” I murmur back while he grinds his hard cock against my clit.

“Live in the moment,” he repeats, then kisses my lips.

My worries flee under the assault, and I don’t think again as he makes love to me, pouring all of his passion into the act while making sure it’s a night I’ll never forget. Not until I’m drifting off to sleep in his arms does my mind start to work again, leaving me with one final train of thought––

I’ll never have this with anyone else. This connection. This pure bliss. I’m glad I got to experience it at least once. No regrets.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Tucker

When consciousness returns,and I open my eyes, I cannot help but smile as Kate’s profile fills my vision. She’s on her back next to me, sound asleep with her lush lips slightly parted. I’m on my stomach, one arm draped over her, my hand curved around her breast.

Fighting the urge to squeeze it, I carefully release my grip and ease my arm off so as not to wake her. I slowly roll onto my side so I can see her better, and my heart thumps in my chest at the beautiful sight. She’s so fucking perfect. In every way.

I wonder how she’ll act toward me when she wakes up. Last night was…intense, to say the least, and she seemed to get a bit pensive as I held her in my arms after we made love. We didn’t speak about it. I let her soak in her own thoughts until she drifted off to sleep, and I stayed awake for a long time after, stewing in my own.

During that little impromptu chat in the bathroom at Logan’s yesterday, we agreed to enjoy what little time we have left. I tried to convince myself that’s what I was doing last night, getting her out of my system before we have to end things, but I’ve never been very good at lying to myself.

I willneverget Kate Reid out of my system.

A near-silent sigh slips out of me, and I roll out of the bed carefully so I won’t wake her up. Grabbing my clothes from the floor, I slip out of the room and get dressed in the hallway. Then I head to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.

Leaning back against the island, I watch the machine as it starts to brew. I don’t really see it, though. I don’t see anything but Kate, images of our week together flashing through my mind on repeat like a high-speed carousel.

Today is the wedding. Tomorrow, I leave for home.

I rub at my chest absentmindedly to ease the ache that’s bloomed there. Stiffening, I turn toward the fridge and grab the pad of paper that’s attached to the door with a magnet. Finding a pen in a drawer, I scrawl out a quick note to Kate that I’m going for a run and will see her later.

I step outside and pause to take a few deep breaths of the cool morning air, its salty scent leaving me feeling a little more invigorated. After swinging by the B&B to change into my running gear––and thankfully, not running into Miss Ginny––I move out to the road and let my feet pound the pavement.

I decided to forgo the earbuds, opting instead to listen to the sounds of the island. Birds chirping. Waves crashing in the distance. The whir of a golf cart as its owner zips by, waving in greeting as he passes. I wave back, and something clicks into place in my chest.

It isn’t just Kate I’ll miss when I go.

It’s this place. Bush Monkey Isle is magical with its myriad of characters, its beautiful landscape, and charming town square. Logan is here, and I can’t deny I’ve realized how much I’ve missed him after spending the last week seeing him every day. Penny, too.

It’s such a stark difference from life in the city. When I was younger, I thrived on the hustle and bustle, but now? Now, I can appreciate the comfort small-town life can bring.

And then, there’s Kate.

I’ve never felt this way about another woman. This temporary deal we’ve entered into is the closest thing I’ve ever had to a real relationship. It’s always been easier that way. A night or two of fun, then we go our separate ways. And that’s what I thought I was doing when I caved to my desire for Kate.

A few days of fun. Then it would be over.

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