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“I hate surprises.”

He laughed. “I know. Now, go make your calls.” He took up his cane and wandered toward the kitchen, so I used that moment to slip out the front door and punch in the number for the rental agency, hoping that cash and my charming personality would get me what I wanted.

My heart was hammering by the time I got back from the phone call. It took nearly an hour, so the walk took me to the edge of the cove and back again. But I had a new credit card charge and a door code in my email, and permission to go over after six that night, once the housekeepers were done dusting the place.

I felt lighter on my feet, and I took a moment to watch the sunset before heading back to the house. Through the back doors, I could see everyone outside. One of my aunties was setting the table, and it looked like my dad was sitting by the pool, having a chat with Quinn, Ferris, and Ferris’s dad.

Sneaking down the hall, I slipped into the dark bedroom where I could only just make out the shape of Tiago on the bed, and I hesitated. If he was asleep, I didn’t want to wake him, but I also wanted to share the good news about the rental.

“Come here,” Tiago said, his voice a little rough.

I locked the door behind me, then started toward the bed, tripping over something and nearly bashing my head against the nightstand. I managed to recover and crawl into Tiago’s arms, which tightened around me.

“Are the lights all off?” he asked.

“Yep.”

“You do realize you can put them on, right? I barely notice these days.”

I huffed and kissed the side of his neck. “Yes, but I like being in the dark with you. It’s cozy.” I nestled deeper into his grasp. “Also, I think dinner’s going to be ready soon.”

Tiago rumbled something against me, then dropped back against the pillows. “Can we go down to the beach first? I want you to get some photos of the stars.”

My brows furrowed. “Yeah, of course. It’s probably dark enough to get some. But…why?”

He sighed. “Because I want to see them in your camera. I don’t know how much of a chance I’ll get after this trip. Today was bad for me. Really bad. I feel like…I don’t know. I don’t want to miss a single opportunity.”

My chest ached for him, but I tried not to let it show. Instead, I ran my hands down his chest, feeling his muscles, which had gone a bit soft now that he wasn’t working out so much. I really liked the shape of him.

“Mm. Keep that up and I’m going to have a problem,” he murmured.

“Yeah, uh…that’s not a problem. That’s a promise.”

He laughed and shifted us so we were on our sides, my back to his front. His fingers began to run from my neck down my arms, then over my stomach, where he rucked up my shirt so he could get at my nipples.

“I should get more piercings,” I whispered, trying not to moan too loudly as he began to play with them.

“I would like that,” Tiago said. “Always had a thing for guys with metal in their skin.”

I let him have at me for a while, my dick going harder and harder in the cotton panties I’d chosen that morning. I moved against him, restless and needy but not in any real hurry to get anywhere.

“Can I touch you?” Tiago asked.

“Yes. Also, I have something to tell you. A good something,” I added when he stiffened.

His hand slipped beneath my waistband, and then he shoved my loose pants down toward my ankles and traced the shape of my dick through the cotton fabric. “So pretty.”

I preened against him as my dick started to dribble precome.

“What’s your news?” he asked when I got lost in his attention.

“Oh. I got that rental. I have the door code and everything, so after dinner, we can head over there. It’s, like, three houses down, so we don’t need to drive.”

“Really?”

I hummed and nodded, rocking my hips against him as he pressed the heel of his palm to my length. I could feel the head of my dick pushing through the foreskin. “I need you to touch me right now. Can you do that for me?”

“Anything you want.”