Page 124 of Falling Overboard

“You did say only kissing,” he said with a wry look. “Sorry for getting a little carried away.”

“I did, too.” I wanted him to know he wasn’t alone in this. That I had happily participated and would be excited to do so at some point in the future when we were no longer on the ship.

He rolled away from me and we both lay on our backs, looking up at the ceiling, trying to catch our breath. My heart still thundered in my chest, my skin was so sensitive that my clothing was almost painful, my lips throbbed, and I felt the aftershocks of the way he’d kissed me throughout my entire body.

“You’re really good at that,” I finally said.

“I know.”

He laughed when I reached over to smack him on his perfect chest and he grabbed my hand, pressing it to his warm skin. “And you’re phenomenal at it. You made me forget my own name.”

“It’s not Hunter Smith, in case you were wondering.”

Another laugh and then he pulled me into his arms and I snuggled against him. I wasn’t sure this was the best idea, as I hadn’t quite cooled down entirely, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to cuddle with him.

“You’re the best, Lucky Salerno.” He gently brushed his lips against my forehead.

I realized that I’d never had anything like this before. This kind of passion, this intensity, coupled with this sort of tenderness and caring.

It was an explosive combination and I didn’t know how long I’d be able to hold out. To keep following those rules.

I loved my job but I knew I loved Hunter more.

Chapter Forty

Hunter

We woke up the next morning completely intertwined. Her back was against my front and I held her tightly. I took advantage of my position to kiss the back of her neck in that spot that drove her wild.

When she started to squirm, I whispered, “Good morning,” over her sensitive skin. She let out a sigh of pleasure that made my body tighten. I didn’t know if I’d be able to calm down while I held her. Especially not when she pressed back against me like that.

So unfair.

It had been a long time since things had stopped at a vigorous make-out session. It made me feel a little like I was back in high school.

Except Lucky was not a girl and was very much a woman.

She rolled over to face me. “Good morning to you.”

I really was the luckiest man who had ever lived. I reached up to trace the curves of her face. “How are you this beautiful this early?”

She flushed in the most attractive way. She really was gorgeous. She might not have believed it yet, but I believed it enough for the both of us.

Something had shifted between us last night. Things were different now. “I like waking up next to you,” I said.

“Me too.”

“I like kissing you even more.”

“Also me too,” she said. “And you ... you’re so ...”

Silly woman. “Pick a word, any word. We could list my incredible qualities in alphabetical order if that would be easier for you. Awesome. Bold. Charismatic. Dashing. Energetic. Funny. Gregarious—”

“Handsome,” she interrupted me. That wasn’t something she’d ever really said to me. “Not that you need the encouragement, given that you have an alphabetical list of how incredible you are ready to go.”

I couldn’t help but laugh and be utterly charmed by her. “I knew you thought I was hot.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she grumbled teasingly.

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