“Free?”
 
 “I’mfree, Joel.” She shows me the phone. There’s an official legal document on the screen. “It’s a release form.”
 
 “That’s great news,” I say, wrapping my arms around her and tugging her against me. “Maybe you can stick around North Haven a little longer? We still haven’t broken in my hot tub.”
 
 Tears trickle down her face, but the gleam in her eyes promises they’re happy tears. “Why don’t we go break it in right now?”
 
 “Say less, sweetheart. Say less.”
 
 13
 
 KYLIE
 
 We don’t makeit to the hot tub. The second I’m inside Joel’s house, I’m stripped down. There’s a trail of my clothes from the front door to the kitchen. When I’m left in only a pair of panties, he picks me up and tosses me over his shoulder. I laugh, both at Joel’s caveman-like gesture and at how absolutelyfreeI finally feel.
 
 “What are you doing?” I can barely get the question out between giggles.
 
 “Something I’ve wanted to do since I dove into the Bering Sea to rescue you.” He pushes open his bedroom door, careful to watch my head, and tosses me onto his bed. The cushy mattress breaks my fall, adding to the playfulness of it all. There are so many different sides to Joel, and I want to know them all.
 
 I sit up on my elbows, watching him take off his clothes. He makes a strip tease out of the whole thing, swaying his hips back and forth and never breaking eye contact with me as he pulls his belt free.
 
 Dampness has taken up residence between my legs ever since he sent me that picture of himself in the hot tub, and it’s apparently here to stay.
 
 Until I leave.
 
 The whispered voice tries to ruin the mood, but I refuse to let it. I’ve been waiting too long for this.
 
 When I feel the frown taking form, I push it away. That’s Future Kylie’s problem. Tomorrow I can figure out what comes next with this newly found freedom. I know I can’t stay. Release form or not, I don’t believe for one second that Todd will leave me alone if I stay so near an illegal treasure site. He’ll see it as a threat to his precious company.
 
 But tonight, the only thing I want to focus on is how many times Joel can make me come.
 
 “What are you thinking about?” he asks, tugging down his boxers. His massive cock springs free and stands at attention.
 
 My mouth waters. I want so badly to suck on it. To swallow his load when he comes in my mouth. Or maybe I want him to come all over my face. Never in my life have I been turned on by the idea of cum on my cheeks or tangled in my hair. But with Joel…everythingturns me on.
 
 Everything is so damn hot.
 
 “I was thinking about where I want you to come,” I say, eyes locked on his shaft as he steps toward the bed.
 
 “Were you now?”
 
 “There’re so many options.”
 
 He kneels onto the bed, and I sit up and reach for him.
 
 “Lay on your side,” he says.
 
 “Why?”
 
 “I need to play with that wet pussy while you suck on me. I want to make you moan on my cock.”
 
 I lie on my side, turned toward his cock, and spread my thighs apart. I circle his length with my hand. I lick him slowly, dragging my tongue up, then down. Up, then down. I use the tip of my tongue to tease the base of his swollen head, relishing in his quiet groans of approval.
 
 His fingers drag lazily through my folds, strumming my clit as though he were playing a slow ballad on a guitar.
 
 I take him into my mouth, just the tip at first, and gently suck.
 
 “Fuck, Kylie.”