Page 44 of The Tides Between Us

I nodded at him and waved goodbye as I put the boat in reverse and began to back it out of its respective spot. Gabriel didn’t wait to see us off and he disappeared from our view just as I turned the boat around. Giana took a seat in front of me and glanced back at me once more with a smile as I put the boat in drive and eased it away from the dock.

As we moved farther away from the marina and into the open waters, I gave it more gas. We were heading in the direction of the horizon. I wanted to take Giana to where the ocean met the sky. That’s what it felt like with her. Like we were forever suspended within that sacred space.

We drove about a mile offshore before I turned off the engine and let the boat float. The waters were calm since there were no impending storms in the forecast. It was a beautiful, peaceful evening—exactly what I wanted with her.

Giana watched me with curiosity as I came around to the front of the boat. I grabbed the two bags and lifted them up to where she was sitting. Inside the uninsulated bag was silverware, plates, and napkins, along with some snacks and a bottle of champagne. Two reusable cups were also inside. I moved to the heated bag and unzipped it before pulling out a glass container.

Her eyes lit up as I opened the container and the smell of the pasta dish drifted around us, carried by the steam.“Did you make this?”

I suddenly felt shy in front of her.I smiled sheepishly and nodded. “I figured pasta was safe. I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t like pasta.”

Emotion welled in her eyes.“It’s perfect.”

“You’re perfect.”

The words tumbled from my lips and I didn’t bother taking them back. They were the truth and she deserved nothing less than that. I fell silent and Giana’s eyes tracked my movements as I piled some food onto her plate and handed it to her. She thanked me silently and waited until I had my food before digging in. I watched as she speared her pasta with her fork. Her lips parted and she pushed it into her mouth. Her eyelids fluttered shut as she savored the flavor. I felt like I won the goddamn lottery.

There wasn’t a single thing wrong with the night. The weather was amazing. Being on the East Coast, this side of the country was better for sunrises than it was for sunsets. I also didn’t want to have Gabriel’s boat out here late, just in case anything were to happen. The two of us were quiet as we finished and I took Giana’s empty plate and cutlery before tossing it all into the bag.

“That was amazing,”she signed to me with a soft smile.“Thank you for this, Declan.”

“I’m not finished yet.” I pulled out a smaller insulated bag and opened it up, showing her the two slices of cheesecake inside. “Are you hungry for dessert?”

She stared at me for a moment with an unidentifiable look in her eye. Her tongue slipped out of her mouth as she wet her lips.“I’m hungry for something.”

A chuckle vibrated in my throat. My cock was listening and it throbbed in my pants. “That can wait. Let me feed you first.”

The fire in her eyes burned brightly as she watched me. Her slender throat bobbed and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as I scooted closer to her. Inhaling deeply, the smell of her floral perfume invaded my senses. She was everywhere, consuming me. There was nothing I could do to stop this from happening now and I wouldn’t have tried if I could.

My future never felt as uncertain as it did at that moment. I thought I had life figured out before I met Giana Cirone. Things were simple and uncomplicated. I had my career and surfing was the only thing I needed. If only things were that simple now… But everything had changed—all because of her. I had backed myself into a corner, but it was my turn to make a move. I just wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do.

Popping off the lid of the container, I grabbed an unused fork and slid it through the thick cheesecake. Giana’s eyes were glued to my face, studying me as I lifted the piece into the air. My gaze met hers and the air between us was a storm of electricity. Her jaw dropped as she opened her mouth and I slid the fork in between her lips. She wrapped them around the utensil as I slowly began to pull it from her mouth. I fought the groan that bubbled in my throat.

I wanted to watch her wrap those pretty lips around my cock.

Her eyes never left mine as she chewed. I took my own bite before getting another for her. Giana opened her mouth again and I pressed the underside of the fork against her tongue. My cock was as hard as a rock, throbbing with need. I let out a shallow breath as I pulled the utensil from her lips. A small crumb was on her bottom lip. Setting the fork down, I lifted my hand to cup the side of her face.

Giana swallowed and I brushed my thumb across her lip, brushing away the minuscule piece of crust. “You had something on your lip,” I explained, my voice hoarse and thick with lust.

I moved my thumb back to her lip, pressing down on it as I slowly dragged my thumb down. Giana wrapped her hand around my wrist. My eyes searched hers as I thought she was going to pull me away. Instead, she slid my thumb into her mouth. Her lips closed around me, sucking as she slid her tongue around me.

Jesus fucking Christ.

A low moan rumbled in my chest as my eyes settled on hers. Giana slowly pulled my thumb free from her mouth and released me. My chest rose and fell with every shallow, ragged breath I took. She moved off the seat, but instead of rising to her feet, she dropped down to her knees. She moved closer, pushing my legs apart as her hands moved to the waistband of my pants. I was entranced as she slid the button through the hole and dragged the zipper down.

She lifted her eyes to mine as she pulled my cock free from my pants and boxers.

My fingers slid through her silky hair. “What are you doing, princess?”

She wrapped her delicate hand around the shaft as a devious grin pulled on her lips. Desire danced in the blue depths of her irises.

“You’ll see.”

Opening her mouth, she slid my cock along her tongue, wrapping her lips around me. My hand gripped the back of her head. My head fell back against the seat, my eyelids fluttering shut as my face screwed up from the pleasure. She began to bob her head, pulling me to the back of her throat before sliding along my length until just the tip was in her mouth. I had wanted to feel her fucking me with her mouth and now I was getting everything I wanted.

It was like nothing I had ever imagined.

It was a million times better.

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