Page 44 of Finding Her Strength

We drive for a couple more hours, our conversations bouncing between free-flowing and contented silence, reinforcing how comfortable I am with Levi. I’ve not once felt uneasy or worried about what we’re doing or where we’re going. I’m still not sure I can trust these feelings for certain, but I do know I can trust Levi to keep me safe, wherever we end up.

He finally pulls into the driveway of an adorably tiny cottage. The sun has risen fully, making the morning bright and cheerful. The air is cool, and the hint of salt in the breeze sends a buzz of excitement through me. I have a feeling I know exactly where Levi has brought me.

“The key should be in the lockbox on the door. Can you get it for me while I get our bags?”

“Sure.” I race up the tiny porch to unlock the box with the code Levi gave me. I get the door open right as Levi steps onto the porch. I’m brimming with anticipation, hoping he really did bring me to the beach like I’ve always wanted.

We walk through the door, the interior of the cottage confirming the beach vibe with its blue walls and seashell decorations. The living room is cozy with a small loveseat and chair facing a television. A half wall separates the kitchen and breakfast nook that’s only slightly bigger than my old apartment’s, and at the back of the house is a wall of windows looking out at the beautiful blue ocean.

Levi drops the bags at the bottom of the stairs at the back of the cottage. “You ready to go see the ocean for the first time?” He grins at me.

I squeal, unable to contain my excitement any longer. I race toward Levi, launching myself at him as he laughs, catching me around the waist. My arms wrap around his neck in a tight hold. “Thank you for bringing me here,” I whisper against his lips before kissing him like I’ve wanted to since he picked me up.

He takes over, sliding his tongue against mine, sendingme into a whole other dimension. Without conscious thought, my legs wrap around his waist as his hands slide down my spine to grab my butt. Our kiss turns passionate, frenzied, our lust for each other skyrocketing.

Levi pins me against the wall, his body pressing tightly to mine. I can feel every muscle, ridge, and stone plane of his body, not to mention the steel rod in his pants pressing against my center. The fire coursing through me right now feels untamable. Like it’s going to incinerate me if I don’t get some relief.

I pull at the strands of his hair in my fingers, trying to direct Levi to do something more.

I have no idea what.

I just need more.

25

LEVI

I’m going to explode. My entire body is on fire with the press of Hope’s body against mine. Every kiss before has been slow, exploratory. This one is ravenous, erotic. Fucking fantastic.

I run my tongue down Hope’s throat, allowing us both a chance to breathe. God, she tastes good, like the most decadent dessert I’ve ever eaten. I sink my teeth into the space where her neck meets her shoulder and smile when a shiver moves through her.

I want to strip her bare and take this moment to a whole other level, but when I catch Hope’s eyes, I see lust swirling around so much apprehension. I know it would ruin the entire moment if I pushed her too far right now, so instead, I gently kiss her lips in an effort to tamp down the inferno in our bodies.

“You’re one of a kind, Hope. I’m so grateful you’ve given me a chance to prove myself to you.”

Hope sighs against my lips, the corner of her mouth tipping up. “Thank you for being patient with me.”

I lean in to kiss her once more before setting her back on the floor. The loss of her body against mine feels as if I’mmissing an integral part of who I am. Like I’m no longer whole if she’s not next to me.

It’s still a little baffling how this woman became so important to me after only a few weeks of being in my life. I guess I’ve spent enough time with all the wrong women that when the right one came along, it was a no-brainer. Now, I’m determined to keep her by my side for as long as she’ll let me.

“Let’s go check out the beach. Then we can head into town to get some groceries.”

“Perfect.”

I open the back door of the cottage and follow Hope outside. The crashing of the waves greets us as we walk along the path leading to the beach. Since it’s still early in the season, I was able to get this little rental on short notice. The ocean views alone are worth the price, but having our own path directly to the beach was the reason I picked this one specifically.

Since we’re only here for a short time, I wanted her to spend as much time at the beach as possible. With direct access, we’ll be able to come out here anytime we want without it being a big deal.

The minute we’re on the edge of the sand, Hope kicks her shoes off and runs towards the waves. She looks so lighthearted, my chest aches at the sight. She bends over to roll her pant legs up to her knees, then immediately runs into the ocean waves.

A squeal echoes across the beach, making me laugh. When I finally catch up to where she’s splashing, she looks up at me with the widest grin. Her eyes dance with mischief before she kicks her foot up, sending an arcing wave of freezing cold water at me.

“You didn’t.”

“Oh, I so did.” She giggles. I run full speed at her, crashing through the water. Hope squeals as she tries to get away, but I catch her around the waist, pulling her up into my arms. Ipretend to throw her into the ocean as she screams outnowhile laughing so hard, I’m afraid she can’t breathe.

I carry her out of the water and set her down in the sand, taking in the sight that is happy Hope. I’ve always thought she was beautiful, but right now, she’s radiant. She looks up at me, her eyes shining brighter than I’ve ever seen. I can’t stop myself from kissing her. Those plump lips are calling out to me to take them in a deep, drugging kiss. If we weren’t in public, I’d be tempted to take this kiss even further, but I pull away before we get too swept up in each other.

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