Page 60 of Breathless

“Hey.” I tilt her chin up and kiss her. “Fuck, yes, I wanna take a shower with you. If you’re comfortable withthat.”

I don’t have to wonder how she’s feeling because she’s in my arms, and I’m breathing her in as we kiss and stumble into theshower.

Hot water sluices over her, and I lean back for the visual, because holy shit, she’s a dime. Tangled blonde hair, honey-tanned skin from our weekend in the sun, and perfect, rounded curves I wanna get lostin.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful, Jo. What the hell is wrong with me? Am I blind?” I kiss her again because I’m not expecting a response. I’m too busy wondering why I haven’t appreciated how amazing my best friend is. How kind and supportive and funny. And how fuckinggorgeous.

I’ve never been a lucky guy. Never been the one to come out ahead, but right now, with Jojo in my arms, I hope for once my luck holdsout.

23

Joey

Beingwith Logan like this is almost too much to handle. Emotions surge in my chest, like happiness and want and love are going to explode out of me in a bouquet ofcolor.

His hands are in my hair and on my rear, and mine are on his broad shoulders. I can’t tell what’s hotter, the water rushing over us or the electricity sizzling between ourbodies.

We meld together, his tongue thrusting against mine as we slam into the shower wall andlaugh.

“Are you okay?” Concern and affection shine through his eyes as he runs his thumb over my bottomlip.

I nod, wanting to tell him I’ve never been so happy before. That I don’t know what’s swirling in my heart, but it’s too big for me toname.

I know it’s too early to say such things, so I don’t, but being with him like this tonight will beenough.

Maybe it was seeing him handle Renee in the kitchen earlier this evening that has me ready to set aside my fears and push ahead. I’d come back from the beach to grab another towel and I saw her hit on him, shamelessly suggesting they could screw around behind myback.

Nothing could’ve kept the smile off my face when he blew heroff.

It made me realize that I’d overreacted this afternoon. Neither of us can control our past, but Logan seems serious about giving us a try, and he’d never deliberately hurt me. I don’t want to be the jealous girl who goes off the deep end anytime another woman talks to her guy. I saw how that green-eyed monster tanked my parents’ relationship. That’s the fastest way to strangle somethinggood.

And then he scooped me into his lap at the beach and spoke softly to me all night, whispering in my ear, holding me close. By the time we reached our room and he suggested a shower, I couldn’t help but ask him to join me. Another first. One I only want withhim.

I always imagined this moment would make me feel vulnerable. Getting naked under harsh bathroom lights sounds like something I’d want to hide under a rock to avoid. But in this moment, standing before Logan and seeing how much he wants me makes me feel powerful and desired. It makes me want to shed my reserved exterior and be brave like I was lastnight.

I step away and take a deep breath. Reaching back to the strings on my bikini top, I slowly pull thefabric.

My bikini top falls to the floor with a wet plop, and time stretches out as I unsnap my cutoffs and slide them off with the rest of my swimsuit. A groan rumbles from Logan’s chest as he studies me from head to toe. “Damn.”

I resist the urge to hide myself and let him take his fill while water beats across my skin. I don’t want to be the girl who’s afraid of her shadowanymore.

The next moment, I’m in his arms, skin to skin against his hard chest. The sensation is so intimate, everything in me flares tolife.

Shamelessly, I rub against him as we kiss. I need to feel him. Need to prove that this is real. That I’m not going to wake up in the morning and find tonight was adream.

Feeling bold, I let my hands roam. Over his strong shoulders and chest. Down his sexy eight-pack. Through the trail of hair leading down. Until my fingers reach histrunks.

Remembering what we did last night, I rub him over the fabric and try to ignore the mounting fear when I consider his size. Because seriously, how is that behemoth going tofit?

Like he can read my mind, he pulls me close and whispers, “We’ll go slow, Jojo. Only what you want to do. You’re incontrol.”

I nod, relief settling over me enough to relax again. “I want this. Show me what todo.”

He starts to pull me closer, and I shake my head. “Showme.”

For a second, I can’t believe what I’m about to attempt, but I’m tired of hiding what I really want when it comes to thisman.

Slipping my hands into the waistband of his trunks, I slide them down over his slender hips and muscular thighs as I fall to my knees. Until his hard length bobs in front ofme.

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