Sunshine Kisses

C

oming with Erik’s mouth on her was easily the single most heavenly experience of Abby’s life.

He licked her twitching body gently through the aftershocks, then lifted himself to kiss her deeply, the taste of her sharp on his tongue.

Any insecurities that might have surfaced vanished as he mumbled against her lips, ‘You taste fucking incredible. Better than I dreamed.’

A happy little sigh escaped her. He’d said things along that line a few times now.

…fifteen minutes is not enough time for everything I plan to do with you.

There’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

The idea that he’d imagined anything like they’d just done still felt like a dream. Something niggled in the back of her mind as she pulled him down onto her, but she ignored it, focusing instead on the planes of muscle she could feel under his shirt.

Her dress was still ruched up around her waist, and she curled a leg over his hips, pressing him even closer to her. ‘You feel fucking incredible,’ she whispered, lifting her hips slightly.

Erik’s eyes rolled back at the contact.

‘When did you get…like this?’ She ran a palm over his chest and arm, squeezing as she went.

‘I workout.’ He twisted them so they lay on their sides, legs tangled up together.

Abby raised an eyebrow. He’d always worked out. He hadn’t always had an Adonis belt that she’d been dreaming of licking for two days.

‘A lot. I workout a lot. When I get stressed. Frustrated. It helps.’ He shrugged one shoulder.

Abby’s face softened, her hand moving to cup his jaw.

‘You really want to talk about all that right now?’ Erik asked, his voice low.

‘I always want to talk to you,’ Abby said softly. ‘About everything.’

It was true. She was still desperate for him, every part of her body pulsing with desire, but pausing for an emotional interlude somehow felt natural for them. If the rest of her life was set to be mind-blowing sex—and if the skill level of his mouth was anything to go by, it would be mind-blowing—broken up by intense heart to hearts with her favourite person, she could be quite happy with that.

The rest of her life.

The thought had floated unbidden to the front of her mind, but she desperately wanted to hold onto it.

‘I love—’ she closed her eyes and swallowed, her thumb stroking gently over his jaw. The third word threatening to spill from her lips would take them somewhere there was no coming back from. She knew she was in love with Erik. It was an intrinsic truth, essential to her make up. And she knew he loved her, in some way. But she still wasn’t sure where he stood on this new version of them. He was attracted to her and had been for a while. That much was obvious. But if this was just years of lust exploding due to forced proximity, an admission that size, this soon, could ruin them.

‘I love that you’re my best friend. I love that you’re in my life.’

Even as the words left her mouth, they felt sour. Wrong. But it was better this way. Safer. It left room for Erik to determine what exactly he wanted from them. He’d made allusions to this being more than a one-time thing, but nothing concrete. Nothing that confirmed a desire for a romantic relationship, or even anything beyond the bubble of the hotel. If all he was here for was a brief fling for the remainder of their holiday, she’d find a way to live with that. They’d have a few great experiences with each other, go back to their lives, and she would deal. She would watch him fall in love again. Maybe even find someone to help her forget him for a brief time.

They would hang out with friends and after one too many drinks at Christmas or a big family celebration, they would laugh about that time they hooked up. And Abby would smile and pretend she wasn’t breaking inside.

But unless he told her otherwise, she could continue believing he wanted more. So when he kissed her again, she reached for his face and poured as much of herself into it as she could. She sighed into his open mouth as they deepened the kiss. Erik continued to explore her body, touching every inch of bare skin he could find. Abby responded by unbuttoning his shirt and running her hands over his chest and stomach, finally enjoying unrestricted access to the ridges of muscle she’d been thinking about incessantly. She was reaching for his belt when a knock sounded at the door.

Erik uttered a string of filth.

‘Maybe if we’re quiet, she’ll go away,’ Abby whispered.

‘Abby, darling, Nora said you’re still not feeling well.’ Her mother’s voice filtered towards them.

Abby and Erik remained silent, his hands still stroking up and down her back. A few seconds passed.

‘I just want to check on you, dear. I’ll get another room key from the check-in desk. That way you won’t need to get out of bed.’