Page 72 of Alluring

"I'll never let go." He captured her lips in a fierce kiss, his tongue invading, sweeping in and capturing hers in a lusty battle.

Alexis felt her senses sharpen as she grew close. "Don't stop," she chanted, ripping her mouth from his, so she could tip her head back. Her body arching and tightening in release.

Jack gave a few last thrusts, following her over. He buried his face in her neck, panting heavily. He started to rise, but Alexis held on, clutching him with her limbs.

"I don't want to suffocate you." He placed soft kisses on her neck, lightly tracing the skin with his tongue.

"You won't. I'm not ready to let go yet."

"Take your time, love, but I'm always here. I'm not going anywhere. You don't need to fear letting go. I'll always be right here."

She didn't answer, just held on tighter. He let out a deep breath, rolled them so they were laying on their sides and reached down pulling the sheet up to cover them.

They were still connected. Still wrapped around each other, but now, her face was buried in his neck. She breathed in his scent, memorizing it. The feel of his heart beating against her lips and the warmth of his skin were things she never wanted to forget.

He was so strong, his body hard and unyielding. She felt safe and protected as he held her as if nothing could harm her. He was her shield against the world.

Her eyes were growing heavy, but she needed to tell him something before she fell asleep. She tipped her head back, resting it against his arm, so she could see his face. "It's not that I don't trust you," she spoke softly, running her fingers along his spine. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't. It's just sometimes, I still feel in awe of you. I wonder what the heck you could find so special about me," she giggled softly. "To be honest, I still haven't figured that out. You're so beautiful, so powerful. You could have anyone you want, and you want me. Most of the time, I've come to accept that, even embrace it, but sometimes, I still struggle. Especially when something happens to throw up a red flag, like that text. Know matter how comfortable I become with you, I don't think I time would come that I wouldn't be upset by something like that, and I will always confront you with it, but what I said earlier wasn't true."

He stiffened in her arms. "And what was that?"

"You've always had my whole heart. My brain was just coming up with an escape plan, in case something happened with us, to keep me safe. I foolishly thought that if you didn't have my whole heart, there would still be a piece of it left that I could survive on. The heart doesn't work that way though, does it?" She smiled up at him. "Once it belongs to someone, it's theirs. There is no holding back. And I wanted you to know, I didn't hold mine back."

"I love you, sweetheart. You have nothing to fear from me. I will protect youandyour heart for as long as mine's still beating." He slowly traced the outline of her face. "As for what it is I see in you, I see my future. I see the mother of my children. But most importantly, I see the only person who has managed to capture my heart. You are my whole world."

He looked at her intensely, and it was impossible to deny the love she saw clearly expressed on his face.

"I see your outer shell, God, you are so fucking beautiful you take my breath away, but it doesn't compare with what's on the inside. Your strength, loyalty, integrity, and purity coat you like a glow, you shine so bright, like an angel. You make me feel honored, humbled, and so damn special. You make me weak and invincible. You can bring me to my knees with a single look, but you also give me the ability to slay dragons for you. And that, sweetheart, is what I see when I look at you."

"Wow," she said, eyes wide, a smile on her lips. "I must be pretty fantastic."

Jack chuckled, rolling so she was laying atop him. "That you are, baby, pretty fuckin' fantastic."

She gave him a wink. "Right back atcha."

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The 4th of July fell on a Saturday. The day was sunny and hot, and the air conditioner was on full blast as they drove down the highway. Jack and Alexis were in the front. Emily and Reese were in the back. Jack still hadn't told them their destination, only that she should wear a bathing suit under her clothes and to bring a sweater.

They'd been traveling for about twenty minutes and Emily and Reese had spent that time bickering about the probability of time travel. Alexis thought it was hilarious. Every time Emily would produce a ridiculous theory of why it could be possible, Reese would produce an equally ridiculous theory of why it wasn't. Alexis had spent the last twenty minutes quietly giggling to herself, Jack frequently looking over at her and smiling.

Alexis started paying attention to her surroundings as Jack exited the freeway. It looked as if they were still in the desert. Joshua Trees lined the road, and red sandstone and black lava rock hills filled her window. Soon a lake came into view.

"Are we at Lake Mead?" Alexis asked, bouncing in her seat.

"We are." Jack was grinning at her antics.

"I've only been here once. When I was around eight." She leaned forward in her seat, stretching her seat belt, trying to get a better view out the front window.

"Sit back, beautiful. If I have to slam on my breaks for a slow-moving turtle, I don't want you banging your head."

Alexis rolled her eyes at him but did as she was told. "So what are we doing here?"

He gave her a mischievous grin. "It's something you'll have to see to believe."

And see she did. They parked the car and stepped out into the heat. Thank goodness, she had fully recovered from her heatstroke or the temperature would have been brutal. Jack took her hand as he led them to the harbor. A row of golf carts came into view, and Jack steered them in that direction. Once in the cart, they took off for the docks.

Alexis looked around in amazement. Boats of every size and color lined the docks. "Are we going out on a boat?"

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