Page 121 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

We lay there breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync.

“Three minutes,” he said.

“What?”

“Give me three minutes. I’m so not done. If you say shit about my age, I will prove my age is not a factor. I will prove it until you’re going to be walking funny down the aisle tomorrow.”

“Cash!” I felt scandalized.

“I’m not kidding, Cleo. I’ve got a month of pent-up frustration. I need to work through it.”

“Work through it? I feel like you should by lying on a couch.”

He looked around the room and pointed. “I’ll lie on that couch and you can ride me.”

I slapped at his chest, because hello. Who was this man cracking jokes and talking so wantonly? Was that a word? It wasn’t vulgar. Not crude. Definitely sexy but so unlike my Lurch.

He rolled back on top of me. His naked body was damp with perspiration. We kissed until we were both breathless. His hands were wandering once again.

“Round two?” I asked against his mouth.

“Absolutely.”

“We should probably pace ourselves. I need to be functional tomorrow.”

“Five hours, you said.” He settled between my thighs again. “That gives us at least two more rounds. Maybe three if we’re efficient.”

I laughed. “Efficient sex. Very romantic.”

“I’m a Bancroft. Efficiency is romance.”

“God, you’re weird.”

“You love it.”

“I really do.”

He kissed me and we stopped talking for a good long while.

CHAPTER 39

CASH

That wasn’t supposed to happen.

I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, Cleo’s head on my chest, her hair spilled across my shoulder. I tried to work up even a shred of regret but couldn’t find any.

My room was dark except for the moonlight coming through the windows. I had opened the window earlier and there was no way I was moving to close it now. The sound of the waves filled the quiet of the room.

She shifted against me, one leg tangled with mine, her hand splayed across my chest. I could feel her heartbeat against my side. Could smell her perfume on my sheets.

This was real. She was here. In my bed. After a month of thinking I’d ruined everything and convincing myself she was better off without me, she was here.

“I can hear you thinking,” she murmured against my chest.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Just tell me what you’re thinking about.”