Page 130 of The Birthday List (Maysen Jar 1)

I was taking her future.

I’d get to buy her another dog. I’d get to watch her have our babies. I’d get to dance with her at our golden anniversary. Because I was never letting her go.

As long as I lived, Poppy would be mine.

It had taken me a hell of a long time, but here in the deafening stadium, I finally got a clue. It was time to tell Poppy how much she meant to me—regardless of her response.

Behind us, the Bobcats kicker must have scored the extra point because the stadium erupted again. It was too loud for her to hear, so I mouthed my next three words. Three words that would only ever be hers.

I love you.

She smiled and mouthed, I love you too.

She loved me too.

Her lips had barely stopped moving when I crushed mine to hers. I thrust my tongue inside, devouring her mouth as she dueled right back. When I finally pulled away, her lips were wet and red and just how I liked them.

“Ma’am! Excuse me, sir!”

I tore my eyes away from Poppy’s as a man scurried to our sides. He was wearing a neon-green vest with SECURITY written on the breast pocket. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave, ma’am,” he told Poppy. “You can’t crowd surf in the stadium.”

“Sorry.” She giggled, grinning at me before turning to walk up the stairs.

I laughed too, which just pissed the security guard off, and followed behind Poppy. By the time we reached an exit gate, the sounds from the stadium had dulled and I could hear again.

“I guess we’ll be kind of early to your parents’ after-game party.”

I threw my arm around her shoulders, steering her toward the parking lot. “I’ve got an idea how we could kill a couple of hours.”

Her eyebrows quirked. “Oh, yeah?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Cole,” I gasped, arching against his chest. I was on my side with him at my back. One of his arms was under my hip and his fingers were at my clit. The other hand was across my chest, rolling a nipple between his fingers. And while his lips were kissing my neck, his cock was thrusting inside.

“Come on, Poppy. Get there.” He rammed his hips against my ass, sending his cock even deeper.

My legs trembled as he stroked harder, hitting the spot inside that would send me over the edge. The thunder of his heartbeat against my spine matched the rhythm of his hips. Every nerve in my body was alive—Cole had sparked them all to life with his burning touch.

“I’m—”

My orgasm hit hard before I could give Cole a warning. All of the muscles in my body convulsed as my hips bucked with every pulse of my sex. I forced my eyes open, blinking away the white spots and tears dancing in my vision.

“Oh my god,” I panted as Cole slid out and rolled me to my back. When he slammed back inside, I nearly came undone again.

He pressed his hips hard against mine. “You feel so fucking good.”

I hummed my agreement, closing my eyes to savor the feel of Cole on

top of me. He found a new pace in this position. One that never failed to work me back up to another blinding release.

“I’m there, beautiful.”

Speaking was impossible since I could barely breathe, so I just nodded and let go. Wave after wave rushed over my body. Incoherent whimpers escaped my lips at the same time Cole’s roar echoed through the bedroom. His hot release slickened between us as his strokes slowed.

As we both came down, Cole slid out and collapsed by my side. The comforter had long since fallen onto the floor and the sheets were balled up by the footboard.

“I fucking love vacation.”