Page 115 of Let's Kiss and Tell

In one swift motion, Marsh wraps his arms around me and we switch positions. My head is on the pillow, and now I’m looking up at him as he has control of my entire body. Carefully, Marsh sinks himself on top until the weight of him is completely covering me and I feelsafe.I couldn’t grasp what being safe meant until I was in his arms. I wrap my limbs around him and pull him in closer.

“Deeper,” I breathe out, and he complies.

Marsh then thrusts into me, long, steady, and hard. I cry out every time he pumps, and each time feels like an orgasm in itself.

There’s a feeling that’s bubbling within me that I’ve never felt during sex before. This doesn’t feel dirty, or erotic, or like we’re satisfying some deep-rooted kink. Looking into Marsh’s eyes andfeelinghis body inside of mine, it’s almost like we’re the same person. I see him in a way I haven’t seen anyone else before—utterly vulnerable, totally himself, completely mine in this moment. I don’t care what’s going on around us, what we should and shouldn’t do, who he is, who I am—nothing matters. All that matters is that I’ve never felt closer to another human being than I do right now.

He kisses me and that’s when I feel it. I think I’m breaking in front of him. I’m slowly cracking, piece by piece, except what’s underneath is the real me. The me that I never allow to the surface.

I feel myself getting closer and closer to ecstasy. My eyes shut and I dig my nails into Marsh’s back as I hear him grunt in my ear, releasing at the same time.

In my entire life, I’ve never felt what I just felt right now with him. It’s exciting, it’s passionate. It’s terrifying.

21

Marsh

When I wake up, there’s only one thing on my mind: Lucy Reid.

I think it’s the first time in years my mind doesn’t immediately go to my outstanding deadlines, my unread emails, or whatever fucked-up thing is happening in the world today. Instead of feeling inundated with the who, what, when, where, and whys of everyone else’s life, I just think about myself for a second.

Wiping a palm over my face, I catch the sun only just rising, the reflection of the rays rippling off Richardson Bay through the open window. While it’s beautiful, what’s breathtaking is the long, dark hair swept over the pillow beside me.

I can’t help but stare at Lucy sleeping peacefully. My gaze follows her tiny frame, covered by an oversize band tee, her long lashes and full lips in their most natural state. I can’t believe she’s in front of me like this.

Last night really happened.

Last night felt like a fever dream that I completely surrendered myself to. Because why would Lucy Reid want me? To kiss me the way she did, hold me, say my name over and over again. Surely,that was my imagination. If someone who was with me when I was still a glass-half-full kind of person felt like I wasn’t enough…why would someone want menow?

Yet, Lucy is in front of me—her shallow breathing, flushed cheeks, and soft skin all in front of me.

I don’t even know how it happened. I thought I had more self-control. But there’s something about Lucy’s eyes: the way they look into mine, the way they’vebeenlooking into mine, that makes me feel comfortable enough to open up. Lucy looks at me like maybe she actually cares about what I have to say.

I fight the urge to give Lucy a kiss and do everything we did last night all over again and then some. Instead, I carefully get out of bed, put on my glasses, and find a T-shirt. I take a final glance at Lucy, who hasn’t moved an inch, and then sneak out.

Pulling out my phone, I search for the closest café and walk out into the brisk summer air. Sausalito is stunning. It’s the kind of town that makes you realize just how great it is to be alive. Maybe that sentiment is more the effects of last night and not the town itself.

I end up ordering an iced oat latte for Lucy, a bacon and a veggie breakfast burrito, a pistachio croissant, a banana bread muffin, and a chocolate chip cookie. I don’t have the ability to decipher a perfect order right now, so I just get everything to be safe. When I come back to the hotel room, I carefully shut the door trying not to make a noise.

I’m unsuccessful because Lucy lets out the cutest sound I’ve ever heard and stretches. “Marsh?” She yawns.

“Hey.” I take off my shoes and walk over to the bed.

She looks up at me, her eyes looking like I just bought her a diamond ring. “Did you get breakfast?”

“Uh, yeah…” I hand her the paper bag with far too much food. She probably thinks I’m insane. “Is that okay?”

She opens the bag, her eyes scanning all the contents. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I figured you’d be hungry,” I say, and she looks at me, a hint of a smile on her face. “That came out wrong.”

“No,” she laughs. “You’re right. You kind of tired me out there.”

“I think you’re the one that tiredmeout,” I correct.

“I don’t know.” She reaches for the bacon burrito. “I was on my knees there for a while.”

“Yeah, butIwas the one doing the work.”