Page 109 of Shadow Dance

“Nope. The only plan I had coming down here was you.” I check the omelet. “Now my family is a different story. They have big plans to do all the things, including meeting you.”

“I’d like to meet them,” he says, sliding me my cup of cafecito. “And you should do all the things, too. This is a beautiful place.”

“Then show me around.”

“I will.” His fingers find my bellybutton. I flinch instinctively away,which only pushes my butt against his groin, and he grabs me, holding me still. “After I meet the rest of your family.”

“Okay,” I say, nodding. “I need clothes, anyway.”

Cruz presses his morning wood against me as he plays with my nipple. “You don’t need clothes.”

“I do if I want to leave this house,” I breathe as he reaches between my legs. My head falls back against his chest as he touches me. “Not that we have to leave … anytime soon.”

Cruz pushes the skillet off the burner and pulls me away from the stove. Tipping me forward so that I’m bent over the counter, he widens my stance and begins touching me again. When I’m so wet that my arousal is running down my legs, he grabs my hips and pushes into me slowly.

“Are you okay?” he asks, pausing when I suck in a sharp breath. We were a little wild last night, and I’m still feeling the aftereffects.

“Yeah.” Reaching back, I squeeze his thigh. “Just keep going slow.”

His hands run all over me, like he can’t decide what he wants to touch the most: my hips, my ass, the small of my back. I love it like this. It’s so deep, and it makes me feel taken in the very best way.

Chapter 34

Cruz

Despite our best intentions, it’s almost one o’clock by the time we make it to the beachside villa on Isla Verde where the Kellys are staying. I park behind the three rental cars in the driveway and turn to look at Maeve, who’s smoothing the skirt of her wrinkled, little blue dress.

She tugs at the hem with a goofy smile. “Yes, I am walk-of-shaming it by showing up in yesterday’s clothes but it can’t be helped.”

“It’s better than showing up in my clothes,” I tease.

“You’re not nervous, right?” she asks, checking her appearance in the visor’s mirror. “If you are, don’t be. They’re dying to meet you.”

Meeting Maeve’s family probablyshouldmake me nervous, but it seems pretty tame in comparison to everything else we’ve been through. This, I can handle. I think. “They can’t be any worse than Lucky, and I’ve already met him.”

She snorts. “That’s true. Not even Dad is as much of a hard-ass as Lucky.”

I follow her to the front door, where Maeve keys in the code and lets us inside. “I’m back,” she calls. No one’s around, but I hear voices nearby. A lot of voices.

A little kid in swim trunks and an Avengers t-shirt speeds into theroom, skidding to a stop when he sees me. “Dad, Aunt Maeve’s here with her boyfriend!” he hollers.

“Okay, loudmouth,” Maeve gripes, rolling her eyes at me as she grabs him in a hug. “Liam, this is Cruz. Cruz, my nephew Liam.”

“Hey, man,” I say, leaning down to give him a fist bump.

He knocks his fist to mine and jets off again, leaving us to follow him into the kitchen. The very loud, very busy kitchen where it seems all of Maeve’s family has congregated. They crowd us the second we walk through the door, talking over each other as they pelt us with questions and introductions.

“Good to see you, Cruz,” Lucky says, nodding at me with an expression considerably warmer than the first time we met.

I nod back. “You too?—”

“So, this is Cruz? Oh honey.” A petite woman who must be their mother darts over, her gray eyes tearing up. “I’m Maeve’s mom, Sloane. Can I hug you?”

“Sure.” I shoot Maeve an amused grin as her mom tiptoes to give me a hug.

“Sorry, I’m a hugger,” she says, patting my back. “It’s just so good to finally meet you.”

“It’s great to meet you, too,” I say, hugging her back. Tristan’s eyes meet mine from across the room, where he raises his hand in a wave. “There’s still time to run,” he quips. Evie giggles, punching his arm, but she waves, too.

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