"How could I not talk to you again? You'd leave a hole in my life, and that would stink. You won't do that, will you? What if you regret it? Ohmygosh. What if you're telling me this because you already regret it?"
"Stop," he said with a smile.
"We need a code word," she said hastily. "Delete. If either of us regrets this, we'll text delete to the other, and then we'll know that we can never think or talk about it again."
"Yeah, that'll work," he said sarcastically. He touched his lips to hers and said, "You are all I'll think about from this second on. Your intoxicating mouth … " His lips came coaxingly down over hers, taking her in another toe-curling kiss. "And don't get me started on your body."
Holy cow. He was crazy if he thought she'd regret this. She didn't even know what this was, and she didn't need a definition. It felt too right to question.
He kissed her and touched her, making her feel cherished, sexy, and oh so satisfied even without making love to her. She melted limply into the mattress, and he gazed down at her, his dark eyes holding her captive. A slow grin lifted his lips, and he kissed the edges of her mouth as if he simply wanted to remember the moment, to see her face. And holy cow, what that did to her hungry heart was overwhelming.
Sometime later, as she lay in a foggy state of bliss, she realized he'd given her pleasure but she'd done nothing for him. "Let me make you feel good."
"You already have," he said, showering her with more kisses. "No regrets, beautiful."
He wrapped her in his strong arms, holding her as they kissed and then running his hand soothingly along her back as they lay together. Most men couldn't wait to get in a woman's pants, and here he was, content with pleasuring her, holding her.
"Okay, sweetheart," he said softly. "I better go before I forget why we stopped."
She clung to him, knowing he was smart to give her a chance to think before they went further and wishing he could be careless just this once. That he'd take the decision out of her hands, as he had when he'd held back. But now she understood his reasoning well enough to realize that this decision was too important for either of them to give in.
He covered her with the blanket and kissed her tenderly. "Get some sleep."
She lay on her side, watching him put on his shirt and wishing they'd been there four years ago. Was she making a mistake moving away? Could this be the beginning and the end of everything she'd ever wanted?
Weren't those the exact questions, the reasons, he'd held back for all this time? The reason they hadn't made love tonight?
"You're going to outshine everyone in Boston, Supergirl. I can't wait to hear all about it. I'll come by in the morning to help you load up your car."
"No. Please don't." She swallowed past the lump in her throat caused by the disappointment in his eyes. "I stink at goodbyes. You know I'll cry, and I don't want that. Just let me pretend it's any other day and I'm going on a road trip."
"That feels wrong on so many levels." He sank down to the edge of the bed and took her hand in his.
"It's not. It's the rightest thing you can do."
He sighed and traced the stars on her bracelet.
"I love my bracelet, and I love that every time I wear it I'll think of tonight. Thank you." She wanted to ask him what tonight meant. How would they act when they saw each other again? But part of her knew that too many questions might bring whatever this was between them to a screeching halt.
"I'll lock up when I leave." He touched his lips to hers and whispered, "Nothing could ever delete tonight from my memory banks. Good night, Supergirl."
Chapter Eight
DRAKE AWOKE TO the sound of his cell phone vibrating on the nightstand. He bolted upright, disoriented after being awake for most of the night. He'd been in a state of euphoria when he'd left Serena's cottage, having finally let her feel his emotions instead of hiding them. But when he'd gotten home, he'd been swamped with worry. He'd done the exact thing he'd sworn he wouldn't do. He'd been this close to making love to her. Even without that next level of intimacy, he'd crossed every line he'd ever drawn between them-and despite his worries, he didn't regret a second of it.
But that didn't mean he wouldn't worry like crazy.
He snagged his phone, hoping not to see the word delete. Relief swept through him as he read Serena's message. Thanks for the best night of my life. And for making me more confused. xoxox. She added a smiling emoji.
"Best night, huh? Nice to know I'm not alone in that." Before he could type a response, another message popped up. And don't you DARE text DELETE or I'll come back and punch you in your wonderful mouth! Love you.
A kissing emoji popped up.
Another message bubble appeared. I meant I love you like I always say to you and Rick and Dean. Not I love you like a boyfriend.
He sat up on the edge of the bed, smiling as another message came through. That sounds bad. You know what I mean. See? You definitely confused me! Goodbye! See you this weekend to work on the shop.
"What have I done to you, Supergirl?" he mumbled as he typed a reply. So … you like my mouth, huh? Love you too, Supergirl.
Drake pulled on his running clothes and texted Rick. Ready to run?
Rick's response was immediate. We thought you blew us off. Hurry your butt up.
A brisk breeze, sunshine, and the sound of the bay kissing the shore were welcome companions as they ran down the beach. Drake looked forward to their morning runs, even in the winter, when the bitter cold brought them to the streets rather than the beach. Running took all the starch out of him before work each day, and catching up with the guys was always a nice way to start the day. They knew when to give each other space and when to push-emotionally and physically. Drake caught up to Rick and Dean about half a mile down the beach.
"You don't look like a guy who finally got his girl," Rick said.
Before Rick and Dean had fallen for their significant others, they'd dish about the women they'd gone out with. There was no way Drake was going to share any intimate information about Serena. "Yeah? Well, you look like a guy who's about to get his butt kicked."
Dean snickered.
"Tabling this discussion," Rick said with a smirk. "Moving on to more important things, like why didn't anyone warn me that there was so much stuff to plan for a wedding?"
"Emery said you were having a simple beach wedding," Dean said. "What's so complicated? Get someone to officiate, throw on some nice clothes, and get hitched."
"You'd think so," Rick said. "But Desiree is arranging tasting sessions with Brandy up in P-town. Tasting sessions. It's a cake. It could come from the grocery store and no one would care."
"Brandy's doing the catering for our grand opening, too. Don't you remember Serena and I doing a tasting with her last month? And that's not a wedding. You really don't understand women," Drake said. "Desiree's probably been dreaming of her wedding day forever, like most women. She wants everything to be perfect."
"I'm glad you understand, because she wants all of us, guys and girls, to go to the tasting. She said our wedding plans should include all our friends." Rick smirked.
"Great," Drake said flatly.
Rick chuckled. "And flowers? Who knew picking them out could be so hard? Desiree set out pictures of different bouquets all over our bedroom. She said she needs to see which one feels right."
"I knew I liked her," Dean said. Having previously owned a landscaping business, he was all about flowers and plants. Now, not only did he manage the grounds of the resort, but he also maintained the gardens at the hospital where he'd once worked as a trauma nurse, as well as at LOCAL, where his grandmother lived.
Rick scowled. "You just wait. When are you and Emery going to tie the knot?"
They split up to run around a couple sitting on the beach, and while Dean and Rick talked about weddings, Drake's mind traveled back to last night, to the moment he'd lifted Serena into his arms and had finally kissed her-and then he revisited every touch, every taste, every one of her sweet sounds. He'd made a liar of himself. But now, in the light of day, listening to Dean and Rick talk about their weddings, when he should feel selfish and apologetic, he didn't. And given the chance, he'd do it all over again. That probably made him even more of a selfish jerk, especially since he'd been right. On the cusp of what should be the most exciting time of Serena's life, he'd confused her.
"Drake!" Rick grabbed his arm and yanked him around a log he'd nearly run into. "Whoa, dude. Now you look like the guy who got the girl. What happened? You zoned out for that last two miles."