Page 124 of Second-Rate Superstar

“What’s so funny?” I asked her under my breath.

Before she could reply, Lucy shouted, “She wants to know if you’ve ever fucked on a boat before!”

Natalie covered her face with her hands, and Liam’s turned red, but the rest of them burst out laughing.

My jaw dropped, and it clicked that as soon as I brought a girl home, they’d sucked me in from the fringe and made me a fully-fledged member of their tight-knit group. And apparently, it was a lot livelier than they let on.

“That would be a no,” I declared as the laughter began to settle.

Dakota squeezed my hand, pulling me inside, but not before throwing over her shoulder, “Don’t worry, guys, I’ll make sure to ease in nice and slow! Lots of lube!”

There were cheers behind us, and I could have sworn I heard Benji say, “I definitely like her.”

The sliding glass door shut behind us, and I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind. “Oh, you’re gonna get it now, Firefly,” I growled in her ear.

“Promise?” I could hear the smile in her voice.

Fuck. I couldn’t love this girl any more if I tried.

The following day, we ported in Jamaica, and it became clear that Cal and Hannah were the ones who would hopefully say their vows this weekend. They took off early on a hike, and then all anyone could talk about was whether Hannah would agree to a record-breaking twenty-four-hour engagement before saying “I do” with the ocean as the perfect romantic backdrop.

Dakota spent hours hidden away in our cabin with her laptop, working hard while everyone else played. The other ladies spent the morning shopping, enjoying the calm before the storm. The guys were content to lounge around, soaking in the sun.

After lunch, I snuck into our room, whispering, “I’m not here. Just came to grab more sunscreen.”

Closing her laptop, Dakota declared, “All done!”

My eyebrows rose, and excitement coursed through my veins. “Really?”

Nodding, she climbed across the bed, reaching for me. “Formatting’s all done, and the book is officially in the hands of the advanced readers. I should have several reviews by the time we get home and know if I hit the mark.”

I stepped closer to her. “That’s great, baby. It’s going to be amazing. I know it.”

She chewed her lower lip. “I hope so.”

Using my thumb, I pulled that lip free from her teeth. “Like any artist, you are your own worst critic. But don’t worry, I have faith enough for the both of us.”

Dakota rolled her eyes. “Blind faith, considering I’ve never let you read my writing.” She paused. “Well, outside of that snippet you read over my shoulder.”

Sliding my fingers into her curls, I tugged her head back and slanted my mouth over hers. Against her lips, I whispered, “That’s how much I believe in you.”

She hummed. “You must really love me.”

“More than anything in this world.” It was God's honest truth. Nothing mattered more than her.

Sliding my tongue into her mouth, I claimed it. She was my drug of choice. I would never get enough.

Breaking free once she was breathless in my arms, I asked, “You eat yet?”

“The crew brought me a tray a little while ago.” She teased my scalp with her fingernails.

“Good. Then you won’t mind if I have a little snack while you watch.”

“What?”

My hands moved to the back of her thighs and pulled, flipping her onto her back on the bed. Kneeling on the floor, I pushed her skirt up her legs. This trip had me yearning for spring and summer to hurry the hell up so I could have easy access like this at all times. Hooking my fingers into the waistband of her silk panties, I eased them down her creamy thighs, allowing her to kick them off once they reached her ankles.

The scent of her arousal reached my nostrils, and I groaned. We already knew it was enough for me to lose my mind. It was as if she was imprinted on my brain. I was hard-wired to need her so desperately that I would do almost anything to claim her.

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