Page 93 of Wild Nights

"Challenge accepted." I slid my arms under her thighs and settled between her legs. She always tasted like heaven, and I needed my fix. I blew gently over her clit, then licked her. I intended to go slow and savor her, but it had been too long since we'd been alone like this.

Everything inside me was urging me to go faster, racing toward the end before either of us were ready. When I added two fingers, she bowed off the bed on a cry. I let her ride my fingers through the waves of pleasure. Then I moved up her body, sliding into her in one motion. When I was fully seated, I paused for a second to let us both adjust. "You always feel so good."

Her hand brushed over my cheek. "You do too."

I lowered my body so that we were touching as much as possible. "I love you, Caro. I never want to be apart from you."

"Me either."

We had this transition period for Joey. I just hoped that he wanted Caro to move in with us soon. I wasn't going to last without her. She was finally mine, and I was never letting her go.

I started to move in slow and even strokes, needing to draw this out, but knowing I wasn't going to be able to. This time, when we crested, we did it together. When I collapsed next to her on the bed, I didn't feel like I'd ever be the same again.

After a few minutes, I got up to grab a washcloth to clean her up. "Do you think you can go downstairs?"

"Give me a few minutes to fix my hair and makeup."

"Take as long as you need," I said to her as she slowly got up and padded into the bathroom. I wanted to share my bed with her. I wanted her hair products on my bathroom counter top. I wanted to fight over the proper way to load a dishwasher. I wanted to share my life with her.

When we were dressed, we headed downstairs to the party, where a band was playing in the corner of the room, but most of the guests were going outside to see the fireworks. We immediately went outside, finding Scarlett and Eli on the deck.

"Where were you two?" Eli began to ask, then shook his head. "Never mind. I don't want to know."

Scarlett giggled. "Aren't your parents watching Joey?"

"Thank God," I couldn't help but say. Caroline had sucked all the brain cells and finesse out of my head.

Someone started counting loudly, so we turned our attention to the large outdoor TVs where Eli had turned on a local ball-dropping ceremony. I took that moment to turn Caro in my arms. I stroked a hand over her cheek. "Thank you for moving to Colorado to be with me."

"I'm so happy I did."

It had only been a few days, but it felt good that this was permanent. That we were doing this thing. No more stolen nights every few months. She was mine, hopefully forever.

"Three, two, one," someone yelled, and we were kissing as the sounds of the fireworks erupted overhead.

I cupped the back of her head before I kissed her, needing her to know that this was the real deal. That I was committed to her in all the ways that mattered. I fully intended to make her mine. It was only a matter of time.

I kept her anchored to me with a hand on her hip, and when I lifted my head, I sensed that everyone around me was watching the fireworks not us.

"Oh, my god. Is that Tori Clark?" Scarlett asked softly.

We both lifted our heads to see Xander hugging a woman. Had they kissed at midnight? When the woman pulled back, I could see it was his friend, Tori.

"I heard she stayed in New York after her residency because she was dating another doctor,” Scarlett said.

"I don't know," Eli said.

"Xander has been best friends with Tori since we were kids. She went to med school, then settled in New York after her residency. Last I heard, it was fairly serious. I know Xander was upset that they'd lost touch," I said by way of explanation for Carolina.

"I wonder if she's here to stay," Scarlett murmured as Eli held her close.

"Either way, it's none of our business," Eli said to us.

It would be an issue if it affected Xander's performance at the resort, but it was too soon to tell. Tonight was about me and Carolina spending time together. Not Xander and whatever was going on with him. I leaned in to whisper in her ear, "How long do we have to stay?"

She turned in my arms so that we were facing the fireworks. "I want to watch."

I held her close to me. I'd do whatever she wanted forever. We had more nights like this one on the horizon, and I couldn't wait.

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