Page 53 of Forbidden Fruit

I consider this for a moment. "I've spent my whole life trying to please them. Trying to please everyone. Jack, my parents, my friends..." I twist to look up at him. "I'm exhausted."

"Then stop," he says simply, his blue eyes serious. "Live for yourself, Rebecca. What do you want?"

The question hangs in the air between us. What do I want? I've been so busy checking boxes—college, career, boyfriend—that I've never asked myself that question.

"I want..." I reach up to touch his face, the rough texture of his beard against my palm. “I want to see where this goes. With you. Even if it's complicated.”

His smile is slow and warm. "I want that too."

"But we should probably take it slow when we get back to New York," I add reluctantly. "Give things time to settle with Jack."

Clive nods, though I can see the flash of disappointment in his eyes. "We can be discreet."

"Not because I'm ashamed," I clarify quickly. "Just because?—"

"I understand." He presses a kiss to my palm. "Jack's ego is fragile. Finding out about us will be a blow. Best not to rub salt in the wound."

My phone buzzes again with another text from Holly:

He's threatening to fly to Mexico TODAY. Please call me!

I show Clive the message, and his expression hardens. "I'll make some calls. Make sure he can't get on any flights to Cozumel today."

"You can do that?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Bishop Security has certain... privileges with the airlines."

Clive

We’ve spent six glorious days basking in the breathtaking beauty of paradise. I never dared to dream. But tomorrow, Becca and I must return to the bustling chaos of the real world, New York, where the shadows of consequences lurk in the corners.

Despite the looming transition, I am fearless. Kay lacks the financial means, the influential sway, or the network of connections to pose any real threat to me, and Jack is practically adrift without a home. My sole concern is the mischief he might try to stir up for Becca. If only I could keep her by my side, I could shield her from harm, yet I understand she needs space to acclimate to our new reality.

As I steer the small sailboat through turquoise waters, the Caribbean sun beats down on my back. My hands grip the wheel confidently while Becca lounges at the bow, her face tilted toward the sun, dark hair whipping in the breeze. She's wearing that little white bikini that has been driving me mad all week.

"You're staring again," she calls out without opening her eyes.

I don't deny it. "Can you blame me?"

Her laugh carries on the wind, light and free in a way I've never heard during all those stilted dinners with Jack. It's a sound I want to bottle and keep.

We drop anchor in a secluded cove I discovered years ago. The water here is so clear you can see straight to the bottom, schools of tropical fish darting between coral formations. Casa Azul is just a blue speck in the distance.

"Last full day in paradise," I say as I cut the engine. "What shall we do with it?"

Becca sits up, shielding her eyes from the sun as she looks at me. "I can think of a few things."

The heat in her gaze has nothing to do with the tropical sun. I've learned many things about Rebecca Jamison this week—that she's smarter than Jack ever gave her credit for, that she has an encyclopedic knowledge of obscure movie trivia, and that she snores softly when truly exhausted. But perhaps the most surprising discovery was her insatiable appetite for physical intimacy. Not just sex, though there's been plenty of that, but all the small touches that build intimacy. She reaches for my hand unconsciously and traces the lines of my face when she thinks I'm sleeping.

I move to the bow and pull her into my arms, the taste of salt on her lips as I kiss her. Her body fits against mine perfectly, and for the thousandth time this week, I marvel at how right this feels.

"I could get used to this," she murmurs against my mouth.

"Then do."

Her eyes search mine. "It won't be this easy in New York."

"No," I agree, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But nothing worth having ever is."

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