Page 82 of Beach Vibes

Beth hummed happily as she sliced mozzarella for the caprese salad she was preparing in her kitchen. Her good mood had lasted a full three days and showed no signs of ending. The weekend dinner with Teddy and his kids had gone really well. She’d gotten through the afternoon and evening without saying the wrong thing, the kids had been friendly, and she’d enjoyed meeting and hanging out with Dex.

Teddy had been just as pleased. He’d told her fifty times at their private evening the next night, and he’d been texting her regularly since, telling her how happy he was and how the kids wanted to know when they were going to see her again. While she was excited to hang out with them more, she was more excited about tonight—it was the makeup dinner for the one she and Teddy had missed when Orchid had been in her bike accident. Agatha was out with friends, Beth had a nice bottle of white wine chilling and she was more than ready for a little Teddy time.

She was happy, she thought as she continued her food prep.More than happy. She felt good and liked the changes in her life. Funny how they’d all started when she and Jana had become friends. Or rather, when she’d first signed up to work at the food bank. Taking a single step out of her comfort zone had brought her so many rewards. A wonderful friendship with a woman she admired and a new man who made her tingle in all the right places.

Teddy arrived ten minutes early and was looking a little sheepish when she opened the door.

“I couldn’t wait,” he admitted as he stepped into the house. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” she breathed, looking into his eyes and feeling all the happy bubbling inside of her. Neither of them mentioned they’d spent the day together less than forty-eight hours ago. It felt so much longer.

He pulled her close and lightly kissed her. Passion joined the happy bubbles, but she was used to the very insistent wanting that plagued her whenever he was near, so she stepped back, prepared to describe that evening’s menu. Only instead of retreating, he moved closer and kissed her again.

Rather than the carefully controlled brush of his mouth against hers, this kiss was intense and determined. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against his body. She felt the hard planes of his muscles and the thick ridge of his erection. Need exploded inside of her, making her want to rub against him, to plead that they stop playing and make love for real.

He pulled back just enough to lean his forehead against hers.

“I know what I said,” he whispered, his voice thick with passion. “About us waiting and how it was important for us to get to know each other. It’s just that I want you so much. I can’t sleep. I’m not eating. I think about you all the time.” He looked into her eyes. “I need you, Beth. Is that all right?”

Oh. My. God! The man sounded desperate. He was practically pleading. Even if she hadn’t already been on fire for him,she would have been instantly ready after hearing his words. And yet—despite his obvious arousal, he was still waiting for her to voice her opinion. Because this would be a joint decision.

“Agatha’s gone, I’m on the Pill and I have condoms,” she said, meeting his gaze directly. Knowing how much he wanted her made her brave, and she reveled in the feeling. “And I’m more than ready to make love with you.”

His breath caught. Then he laughed. “I’ll let you lead the way.”

Thirty minutes later, Beth struggled to catch her breath. She wasn’t sure how to describe what she’d just experienced. She’d had orgasms before—lots of them. It was a biological reaction to physical intimacy. No big deal. At least, that was what she’d thought before. But with Teddy, everything was different.Shewas different. Instead of a slow build to a satisfying conclusion, she’d found herself rushing toward an impossible goal. She’d panted, she’d begged, she’d gotten lost in the sensations that had swept through her until she’d had no choice but to lose herself in the glory of a release that had shaken her to her very core.

Even as her pulse slowed and she could inhale normally, she had the strangest urge to burst into tears. Teddy returned from the bathroom, where he’d disposed of the condom, and climbed back into bed with her. He rolled onto his side so he was facing her and played his hand across her belly.

“Thank you,” he murmured, brushing a kiss against her still-sensitive nipple. “I knew making love with you would be special, but I wasn’t expecting…” He paused, then smiled. “That much chemistry.”

“Is that what we’re calling it?” she asked, staring at him. “Because I don’t know what that was. How did you do that to me? Is it your fancy acupuncture training? The massage stuff? A deal with the devil?”

She pulled the sheet to her shoulders and sat up. “I’ve neverfelt anything like that before. I’m not kidding. It’s like I was doing it all wrong before.”

He sat up, facing her. “No deal with the devil. I promise. That was us, Beth. That’s how bright we burn together.”

“Was it different for you?” she asked, then shook her head. “Sorry. I’m not asking for a comparison. I guess I don’t know what I want to know.”

Which was only partially true. She supposed the real question was, had he felt it too, or was she in this alone? As she’d already used up her quota of bravery for the day, she wasn’t going to mention that.

He cupped her face and kissed her. “Yes, it was different. It was us connecting. It was perfect.”

The best sex ever?Which was another question she couldn’t or wouldn’t ask.

Until this moment, she hadn’t been troubled by his previous marriage. She understood how much he’d loved his wife and how devastated he’d been by the loss. Or at least, she’d thought she got it. Now she was less sure. Because her worldview was forever altered. Or maybe just shattered.

“I should start dinner,” she said, turning to slip out of bed. But Teddy touched her arm.

“Don’t,” he murmured, drawing her back to him. “Not yet. There’s so much more I want to do.”

As if to prove his point, he took her hand and brought it to his erect penis. Her eyes widened.

“Already?”

His smile turned knowing. “What did you think would happen?”

Before she could answer, he started kissing his way down her body. Her legs parted involuntarily, and her breath caught as he flicked his tongue against the very heart of her. It was very possible that him bringing her to orgasm this way would kill her, but what a way to go.

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