Or maybe it was the sunshine. Things in life were easier to enjoy when you had the sun on your face. I'm sure I'd enjoy it even more come November when we had sunny days rather than the gray overcast ones I'd grown up with in Maine.

Broadrick rolled me over and positioned himself on top of me. Holding himself up on his hands and knees, he formed a body cage. His black polo shirt had come untucked, and it bunched up against my stomach.

He kissed my forehead with a light peck. I closed my eyes, letting his woodsy scent invade my senses and relishing in being with him. Broadrick laid gentle kisses to my both my eyelids. He moved lower, pressing his lips against mine with the lightest amount of force. I moaned as his tongue swept between my lips. He ran his tongue across my teeth and then released me. I opened my mouth, wanting more, but he'd moved on to my neck.

Goosebumps raised over my arms as his hands glided over the skin. The cotton mattress cover rubbed at my heightened senses on the back of my neck. I took a deep breath and wrapped my arms around his middle to stop him if he had any plans to leave me.

He sucked on my neck, and I tipped it to the side to give him better access. "I missed you."

"I'm right here," I said quietly and squeezed him tightly as he nibbled on my collarbone. The room grew warmer, and I kicked off my socks. I wiggled as he pressed his teeth into the skin of my shoulder and groaned.

"You taste like sunshine," Broadrick whispered into my ear before pulling on my earlobe with his mouth.

The room tightened along with my core as heat flooded me. He was everywhere, surrounding me in a safe bubble where no one had the power to hurt us. I loved every second of it. Being with Broadrick made the world seem right. Like we could take on the biggest storm and survive. No matter what happened, we'd have one another. I needed him like I needed air.

"What's wrong?" he asked as I sighed and shook my head.

I pulled on his shirt. "Sometimes you make me sappy. I don't like it."

The Vines were a tough crew. We didn't get all emotional and think things like we needed a man to breathe. Moving to the island had made me soft.

Broadrick laughed and drew me closer. I tucked my arms between us and ran my hands over his chest. I needed more, so I slipped my hands under his shirt and let my open palms dance over his warm skin.

"You make me a lot of things," Broadrick said and pressed his pelvis against mine. A hard shape at his groin rocked into my middle, and my grin grew. "I want you to love it here, Von. We'll spend days together wrapped up on the beach, walking the dog, or watching the waves roll in. Things will be perfect."

My stomach tightened in anticipation of his promises. I wanted those things, too. My heart kicked into overdrive as I stared into his gaze and found nothing except love and acceptance.

"Promise?"

He kissed me on the nose. "Double promise."

I lifted my head and grabbed his bottom lip between my teeth, sucking on it before releasing. "You always know exactly what to say."

"That I do." His grin grew, and he ran his tongue across my jaw line. "Promises, food, and murder shows."

I laughed and tugged him closer, ready for more. My insides squirmed, waiting for him to make his move, and I pressed my hips against his, giving him a signal.

"Before I left today, Dalton told me he heard a story about two women who stole a golf cart from the pro shop. They had themselves a little joy ride and then ditched it in the row of pine trees," he said.

My heart stopped. "Wow, that's weird."

"Would you happen to know anything about that?" he asked, tugging on my earlobe with his teeth again.

"Me?" I pressed a hand to my chest. "Nope. Not a single thing."

"You sure?" Broadrick asked into my neck. His left hand hovered over the button on my shorts, and he flicked it, undoing them in one movement.

I held my breath, but his hand stopped. "Pretty sure, but your firm man chest confuses and delights me." Compliments always helped when you needed to keep suspicion off yourself. Plus, it was the truth. I ran my hands over his chest again and tweaked his nipple.

"That's what I thought." His hand slipped under the tight fabric of my jeans. "On an unrelated topic, the general manager of the course is installing cameras. He just ordered the deluxe package."

I held in the groan of annoyance. Barbie had to go around stealing golf carts, and now we'd have cameras all over the island. How would I get any work done? Before long, it would be just like Pelican Bay. Cameras everywhere.

Broadrick brought his lips to mine and sealed us in an earth-shattering deep kiss. So mind bending, I totally forgot our discussion. I moaned as his hand slipped low enough that the tips of his fingers grazed the top of my clit.

Cool air from the room hit my chest and forced my eyes open as Broadrick pulled away from me. I grabbed for him, but he held my hands down. "Not yet."

I lifted my ass after he grabbed the edge of my jean shorts and tugged them lower, exposing me to the room and him. A blast of cool air hit the heated area between my legs as he lowered my underwear and licked his lips.

"I love it when you're so ready for me, but let's make sure," he said before lowering his head between my parted legs.

A moan rushed past my lips as the comforter brushed against my sensitive arms. I lifted myself higher, meeting him in the middle and making it easier for his mouth to attack me. His tongue speared between my folds and caressed my insides as he sucked on my opening. I thrashed against the bed, needing a minute to catch my breath but not receiving one.

Broadrick tugged my legs further apart, giving himself more room. His lips glistened with my taste as he raised his head and waited for me to open my eyes and meet his stare.

I blinked, the room behind him out of focus, but smiled when he smacked his lips. "Take off your shirt and touch yourself so I can watch you while I eat."

His instructions hit me directly in the chest, and I gasped but worked quickly to meet his demand while he waited.

"Good girl," he said as my shirt fell to the floor beside the bed. "Now the bra."

I cupped my breasts then my hands circled to my back and unlatched the thick material. Broadrick's eyes glazed as I unwrapped myself for his view only. My nipples tingled as the room's AC kicked on, sending another gust of icy air toward us. I covered them with my palms and settled back on the pillows.

Broadrick watched as I tugged on my left nipple with my thumb and forefinger, just liked I'd done to him minutes earlier. A profound groan came from deep in his throat, and he closed his eyes in ecstasy before lowering himself between my legs again, keeping his gaze on me as he feasted on my center.

Heat pulled between my legs as we kept our gazes locked on one another. His tongue circled between my opening and my clit while his fingers played deep inside me. I grabbed at the sheets with one hand, using the other to play with my nipple like he wanted.

His tongue did a final circle as I sank into the bed beneath me, my core and insides tight. The sheets came loose in my hand as they pulled away from the edge of the mattress, and I twisted my head back and forth. Broadrick encased my clit around his lips and a final suck sent me flying over the edge.

I jerked forward, reaching for him but finding only air as my orgasm rushed through me with a half scream before falling back to the bed. Waves of pleasure rushed through me, and I gathered my breath while Broadrick licked the last remnants from me.

At the snap of a button, I tried to open one eye but couldn't muster the strength. I mumbled something incoherently and flopped my head again. I missed his undressing and had to imagine what it looked like while he did it behind my closed eyes.

"Oh, we're not done yet," Broadrick said with a slight lilt to his words.

He parted my legs again, positioning his body between them. I drew in a breath as he lined up his hard cock against my opening and pushed the first inch inside. My eyes popped open, and Broadrick ran his fingers against my jaw with the lightest caress. "There's my girl."

I groaned and closed my eyes for a long second as he pushed fully into me. His first movements stretched my insides, making room for him. He fell into a pattern of movements, and I sank into the experience. My body craved more, wanting him deeper.

Broadrick lowered himself around me again, and I used the position to wrap my arms around his neck, bringing him as close as possible. Our sweaty chests rubbed against one another as my hips rose to meet his with every thrust.

As my core grew tight again against the fullness of our connection, I raised my head, pressing it against his shoulder.

"It's just you and me, babe," he said. His fingers tangled in my hair as he ran them over my scalp through the tight ponytail. "It's always been just you and me."

"Forever," I whispered.

His movements increased, our middle coming together harder and harder. My skin tingled again. A bead of sweat trailed from my hairline to my ear as I pulled Broadrick as tightly to me as possible.

My second orgasm hit slower than the first, but the ripples of happiness tightened my chest. I sank my teeth into Broadrick's shoulder to stop myself from screaming and tightened my core against the onslaught of pleasure. He gave three more hard jerks and kissed the top of my head as thick lines of his cum coated my insides before he dropped to my side, both of us breathing hard.