Love After All

She was his. She wanted him to be hers, and the agony of it was almost too much to bear. So instead, she kissed him, drawing him down to her, letting passion overtake her, swamping her as he rolled her onto her back and took her over and over again until she called out his name and the two of them climaxed together, leaving her in a state of oblivion. He held her hand as they shook through their orgasms.

She’d never fallen so hard, or so perfectly, before.

They laid like that, still entwined, for a while, just settling, stroking each other’s skin and kissing each other.

It was perfect.

Finally, they got up and went into the bathroom to clean up, and then got dressed.

“I’m going to go freshen up our iced tea,” she said.

Bash nodded.

She thought Carter and Molly might be in the living room or kitchen, but they weren’t. She didn’t see them on the balcony, either, but on her way back down the hall she saw their bedroom door was closed. Maybe they were taking a nap.

Or something. She smiled and went back in the bedroom. Bash had taken a seat out on the balcony. She went out there and laid their glasses on the table.

He had put on a pair of shorts and wore no shirt. She couldn’t help but take a few seconds to admire his chiseled abs and tanned torso.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” she said.

He frowned. “What about earlier?”

“Earlier today, at lunch. I was a bitch. A cranky bitch with a hangover and a headache, and I took it out on you. I apologize.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. I was baiting you about camping. I’m sorry for that.”

She reached out for him and he took her hand. “Thank you. Maybe camping isn’t ever going to be my thing. Would that be a problem for you?”

He looked over at her. “No. Why should it?”

She directed her attention over the water. “I don’t know. Just … thinking.”

“Thinking about what?”

“This and that. Nothing important really.”

That was a lie. She’d been thinking about a lot of things. Like how much fun she’d had with Bash over the past few months. How few of the items he’d ticked off on her list. And how little her list meant to her now.

Bash had started to mean everything to her.

She dragged her gaze from the water, putting it on him.

He was fun, passionate, ridiculously good-looking, and sexy as hell, and he’d been there for her every step of the way over the past few months, never asking for more than she was willing to give.

She was head over heels in love with him.

She wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him right now. The words hovered on her lips, ready to spill, but something held her back.

Just say it, Chelsea.

She’d always been fearless, had always spoken her mind.

Now shouldn’t be any different.

But it was. This was love. This was her heart. It was a big deal.

“Chelsea.”

She focused on Bash. “Yes?”

“Something on your mind?”

Say it.

She tried, but it just wasn’t the right time. Or something.

“No. Other than thank you again for bringing me here. I’ve had a great time.”

He grinned. “Me, too.”

She’d talk to him later. Maybe tonight or after they got back home.

She’d tell him.

Soon.

Chapter 34

Their idyllic vacation had come to an end. Bash had enjoyed the hell out of it, and he hated saying goodbye to South Padre Island. He could have easily spent a week here, but he was glad to have been able to spend at least a few days on the beach.

They packed up and headed back, convoying again with Carter and Molly, at least until they reached Hope, where they honked and waved goodbye.

Bash drove to Chelsea’s apartment so she could drop off her bags, but for some reason he wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her yet.

He wondered if he’d ever be ready to say goodbye to her. He liked the way things were going with them. He enjoyed spending time with her, liked having her in his life.

Hell, he loved her. He just didn’t know what to do with these feelings. Being in love was something he’d done once, and he’d done it badly. He needed time to sort out his feelings. Make sure of where he stood, where things were going with them. He’d fucked up his relationship—his marriage—with Cathy. He knew better than to do that again. He had to take things slow, be sure he knew what the hell he was doing this time.

Did he even know what love was? Could he ever be certain of anything regarding his feelings?

He wasn’t sure.

Things with Chelsea and him were good right now. That’s all he did know for certain. It was best not to upset the balance by introducing love into the equation.

Love changed everything.

Right now, he wanted to hang on to the vacation a little bit longer. He wanted to hang on to her a while longer, too, before work and reality came crashing in.

“I know you probably have laundry and unpacking to do, but I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to pick up Lou. We could grab something to eat.”

She nodded. “I’d love to. Besides, I’m hungry and I don’t have any food here, and I’m sure not ready to do any grocery shopping.”

His lips curved. “Good.”

They went over to Emma and Luke’s place. Lou was beside herself with excitement, wriggling and barking when he picked her up and cradled her against him.

“How did she do?” he asked.