Page 48 of Holding On

Chapter Twelve

Maya Hamilton

I’m a wreck.

I don’t know what happened to me last night. I get the sense Travis isn’t all that experienced, and there I was fondling him up against the rough side of a barn like some cougar. This morning, he texted, and now he’s bringing muffins for breakfast. It’s just a little after nine, and I’m literally walking around the cabin wringing my hands.

Watching him being so gentle with his nephew last night, and then so thoughtful and experienced with the horse—the moonlight catching on his forearms, his back, the muscles making a perfect V before tucking under the belt to his jeans . . . All of him made me so wet. I thought juice might run down my legs.

I couldn’t help it. I can’t help it. I want him in me. I want to take him and hold him in a place where he can’t remember his name and leave him limp and content and smug.

But now, with sunlight streaming through the windows of the barge, the grounding sounds of the harbor, wheeling gulls, and my own lack of alcohol, the scene last night seems like a bad dream.

I’m Miss Overstep.

The rap on the door makes me jump, even though I’m anticipating it.

I avoid his eyes when he comes in, and he opens up a plastic container with two muffins and a small paper container of butter.

“Coffee smells good,” he says, and again, I jump, because I should’ve had it ready. I grab two mugs from the galley, a quart container of milk from the fridge, and set it all on the counter. I’m aware I must be darting around like a rabbit.

He eases himself onto a barstool, muffin in hand, mug of coffee by his elbow.

“I have eggs. I could make scrambled eggs.” My try for normalcy is met with a smile.

He rubs his head with one hand. “I don’t get why you’re nervous. You’re the one who attacked me.” He grins.

“Okay,” I say. “I’m glad you brought that up. I need to be clear. I couldn’t help myself. You were just . . . there, and so great with Cory and then the horse. And you just looked really good.”

He sets the muffin down, slips an arm around my waist, and dips his head to breathe me in. “I love your scent,” he says.

“I don’t have a scent. I mean, I use a floral—”

He cuts me off with a kiss. His breath smells buttery and nutmeggy, and his pelvis presses against me.

Suddenly, he pulls away again. “I think we need to take this puppy out.”

“What?”

“I think we need to get outta here.”

***

I didn’t think the guy could get any sexier. Watching him pilot a boat is cool, even if it is a long barge and not a yacht or wind-catching sailboat. We’ve anchored about a couple of miles offshore, or at least far enough out that I can make out houses but not people. I’ve set up chairs on the aft deck. When he comes up from behind and offers another cup of coffee, I tip my head back, and he puts his hands on my shoulders, leans over, and kisses me.

The pressure of his hands on my shoulder and his slight weight on my back makes my nipples hard.

He drops a hand over my right breast and thumbs my nipple. His touch sears electricity right down to the nub between my legs. His other hand presses against the left side of my chest, and he holds it there while my heart trips and flutters beneath his fingers.

“Are we doing this?” he asks, gently rubbing my chest. My head tips further back. I feel his fingers work over my ribs, up around the base of my throat, and then press again, absorbing the delicate beats of my poor heart. I can’t speak.

“Are. We. Doing. This?” he whispers in my ear, and now I feel as though I’ve had alcohol. I feel sloppy and driven to a single goal.

“God, I hope.” Rising, pulling his hands from my chest, I stand and turn and then place them on my ass. “Let’s just do it right here,” I say, and I work at his top button, then pull down his pants. It’s a warm morning. His cock stretches the crotch of his navy blue boxers.

The breeze is soft and wraps around us. Despite the sun on my back, I shiver. My gaze is only on his face. Other than standing there, he’s said nothing, done nothing.

Then, in one perfect movement, he picks me up, his elbows open the cabin door, and he takes me to the bedroom.