Page 125 of Red Queen (Red Thorns Crew 3)

I shrugged. “Then crazier.”

I sipped my coffee as Max’s chuckle filled my ear.

“You like having your coffee out here, don’t you?”

I peered over at him. “And you don’t? I mean, look at this view.”

He cupped my ass cheek. “I see it every morning with my coffee, too.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re insatiable.”

He growled. “And you wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I giggled as he kissed my cheek. His arms wrapped tightly around me as I stood there, looking out over the ebbing waters. He settled his chin on top of my head. I felt the ocean breeze wrapping around us. For three months, we had enjoyed this place. Cooked our own meals and woken up to one another. Made love on this private balcony while the sun set behind us. For three months, we had made this place our home. A place where no one, and nothing, could reach us.

I was almost saddened at the idea of leaving it behind.

Max’s hands fell to the wrought iron railing and I wiggled my ass against his crotch, teasing him as he kissed along my exposed shoulder. He kissed back up my neck, making my skin tingle as he nibbled the lobe of my ear. And as I sighed, he ground his hardened cock against my ass.

“Care for some light mornin

g reading? I brought the paper out with me, gorgeous.”

I snickered. “Well, it is good news.”

“Might be worth a read.”

He nuzzled my cheek. “Think we should celebrate?”

“Didn’t we technically celebrate last night after the phone call?”

His hands massaged my hips. “Can’t hurt to do it again, just for good measure.”

I shook my head as I turned around. The man was relentless, and I loved every second of it. My body ached from the goodness he’d poured over me last night after we got that phone call. After the captain confirmed for us that we were really free from this nightmare. Max plucked my coffee from my hand and held the mug up to my lips. I took one last big gulp before he set it on the ground, then returned to pin me against the railing.

I rested against it as I gazed into the eyes of the man I’d spent every day with for the last three months. And as his eyes danced between my own, I couldn't imagine ever loving someone more than I loved him.

“Well, I think we should definitely celebrate, then,” I said.

His eyes darkened. “Wonderful.”

His lips crashed against mine, like the waves crashed against the shoreline. I slid my hands up his chest, feeling his muscles pulsing for me. Part of me wished we had more time in this place. More time here to spend for ourselves now that we were free from looking over our shoulders. I knew this meant we’d be back on the road tomorrow, following wherever the pavement lead us in order to get back. After all, it’s what we had been doing the last few months. Following the road in front of us to see what kind of adventures awaited at the end of our journey.

Though the itch to settle kept scratching at the back of my mind.

I mean, it’s not like Ann Arbor isn’t safe any longer.

Max paused. “What is it?”

My eyes fluttered open. “What?”

He snickered. “I’ve been kissing you for two minutes and you’ve practically become a dead fish. What’s on your mind?”

I swatted at him. “How rude.”

He chuckled. “Well, it’s true. You even stopped moving your tongue.”

“And here I thought you liked it when I went limp against you.”

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