13. Dan

I'd taken Karol hard the night before, and I knew she had been burning both ends of the candle with how late I kept her up during her work week, so I decided to make her breakfast.

I was in the middle of grating some cheddar cheese for omelets when I felt the air change in the kitchen. I didn't have to look around too long before I spotted her leaning against the wall at the bottom or the stairs. She was wearing my shirt, and I loved the way it engulfed her; the hem hit the bottom of her knees. She was tiny, almost delicate, but I knew that wasn't true. She was strong and talented. Mine.

"You going to stand there all day, or are you going to come kiss me good morning?" I asked cockily.

She didn't say a word, but it was her eyes that gave me a hint about what she was thinking. They softened and moved. The moment she was within reach, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her up against me. Hugging her for a moment, breathing in the scent of her shampoo with every breath I took before I kissed the top of her head and pulled back.

"Good morning," she whispered, but I didn't say a word. My body bent so my lips could touch hers, and she didn't stop me. I loved the taste of her, the way her mouth synced with mine. "It's not fair how hot you are," she panted. We both needed a moment to catch our breath. My lips twitched, and I felt my face get hot. Fuck, am I blushing?

My fingers moved under her chin and tipped it upward so I could get a better look at her. She didn't move away from me. If anything, she melted into me.

"Funny, I was thinking the same about you," I whispered. My lips touched her temple, and I felt her whole body relax completely.

When I glanced at her, my brows bunched. Her eyes were shut. She had a look on her face I didn't recognize. One I knew I didn't want to see again.

"Karol?" I called her name. Her lips pursed, and she shook her head sharply. "What is it? You okay?"

"Nothing. It"s nothing," she said, but we both knew she was lying. I picked her up and settled her onto the kitchen counter, shoving my body between her legs so I could be as close as possible.

"Look at me, kitten."

"No, I just?—"

"Please," I gently asked, and she blinked. Her glassy gaze met mine, and my frown deepened. "What's wrong?"

"I'm going to miss you."

"No, you're not." Her eyes widened, and a brow rose. I could see the attitude mounting, but anything was better than seeing her cry.

"Yes, I will! Dan, I?—"

"I'm not going anywhere." I had planned on surprising her with breakfast in bed to make sure she ate before I shared my news and ravished her, but as I looked at her, a smile grew on my face.

We made so many plans in life.

Schedules and lists for things to do and stuff to check off that we accomplished, it could be so easy to miss what was happening right in front of you. There was a beauty in letting go and being present. Enjoying the journey.

"You're… you're not?" she asked, completely shocked.

"No." I should have told her all about my plans the moment the idea had struck. What if she didn't want me to stick around? What if she found my decision creepy?

"What would you think about that?"

"About you staying?"

"Yeah."

"What about your next step? You said you were trying to figure out?—"

"What if I did?"

"Dan…"

"What if I figured out exactly what I want to do with my life and who I want to spend it with?"

"Dan…" She shook her head, her eyes wide as they searched for answers in mine. "I can't be the reason you stay."

"Why?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Because—" Her mouth opened and shut.

"You're so fucking sweet, baby." My forehead rested against hers, and I took a deep breath. "That night out there? I wished for a sign so I could figure out what's next. To show me a sign of where I belonged, and there you were."

"Good thing it wasn't a sandwich," she mumbled. I choked back a laugh.

"What?" She winced.

"I just mean… honey?—"

"Shh, will you please let me explain?" I asked gently, and she nodded. "I saw you and felt something, but I tried to talk myself out of it. That lasted about five minutes before I went to look for you, but you were gone. Then, when you showed up after I found your pen, something clicked into place."

"I can't be your reason. You need?—"

"You know that surf shop?"

"The one that rents out bikes?" she asked.

"And surfboards and paddleboards," I added.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I bought it." Her eyes widened, and I saw it.

Hope.

For more.

For us and our future.

"I found it after I dropped you off at work. I saw the sign and, I don't know, it made sense for me. I didn't wanna go back to working for someone else so they could tell me what to do. I did that shit for twenty-one, almost twenty-two years in the Navy. I wanted to be my own man and?—"

"Now you are."

"Now I am."

"Do you think…" Her voice drifted to nothing, and I waited. "Do you think you could really be happy? I mean, doing that?"

"How couldn't I? Wake up early, catch some waves, then open shop until some kid comes in and works for me so I can go see my girl? What's not to like?"

"Go see your girl?" she asked so softly I thought I had imagined it.

"See, something happened when we were spending time together that you gotta know about."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah, I fell in love—" She was about to interrupt me, so I spoke faster— "I know it sounds crazy and it"s fast and really fucking nuts. We just met, what? Not even two weeks ago. Less than fourteen days, but I know, Karol baby, I know you're it for me. If you aren't there, that's okay. I'm not going anywhere. I told you last night that I was yours until you didn't want me."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that." I nodded and caressed the side of her face with the edge of my hand. "You done with me, Karol?" I asked, wearing my heart on my sleeve for the first time in my life.

"No." She shook her head. A tear rolled down her face. "No, I'm not done with you, not even close." Her arms wrapped around me, and she hugged me.

Her body wracked with small sobs as I held her close. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my plans earlier. I wanted to make sure Bennett was going to accept my offer before telling you. Just in case he didn't take it." She sniffled and pulled away. When our eyes met, the pads of my fingers made quick work of wiping away the tears. "I'm really sorry." I felt like an ass for having made her cry.

"I don't need time."

"Kar—"

"I love you, Dan." The words shot through me like an arrow to the heart, but it was the way her eyes confirmed it that really got to me. Then she kept talking and rocked my soul to the core. "I think I fell in love with you when I turned around and saw you standing there looking at me. It felty like… I don't know, like I'd known you my whole life instead of just meeting you. These last couple of days…" She laughed and sniffled. God, my girl was so sweet. "Best of my life. Easy. I love you, Dan. I don't care if it sounds crazy to other people. We know what this is. It's real."

"Hell yeah, it is! Fuck." My lips crushed hers as my hands tightened against the side of her face.

She is perfect.

She is mine.

"I love you," I groaned against her mouth, and she whimpered. "I love you so fucking much."

Our hands were a blur of clothes being pulled off one another. They floated down to our feet. And when we were naked in front of one another, I lifted my kitten off the counter and carried her upstairs. Setting her on the ground by the bed, I kneeled in front of her and kissed her knees. My eyes shut when she ran her fingers through my hair, tugging slightly on the ends. A deep guttural sound escaped from my lips at how good it felt.

"Your touch is like magic, baby," I whispered, kissing her thighs. Her legs parted without having to be asked, and I saw her. Jesus, every inch of Karolina was beautiful. I wasn't sure if it was the moment we'd just shared downstairs or if she had woken up needy, but my girl was wet. Dripping. Her swollen bud of nerves needed attention I was more than ready to give her.

"Look at you," I rasped. Leaning in, I nudged my nose between her folds. Her soft sounds were like music to my ears. I swiped at her feminine essence and groaned. "So sweet," I gasped and licked her like I knew she loved. Her knees buckled, but Karol had nothing to worry about. I would never let her fall.

"Just like that. Oh god, Dan, honey," she purred, and I smiled before taking another taste.

"Come on my face, baby," I muttered against her softest flesh, and I didn't stop. I savored and devoured her. My fingers dipped inside of her. Just the tip and then all the way. "So damn tight," I gritted through my teeth. Her thighs trembled, and she leaned on me. She'd always have me to lean on.

"Dan!" she cried out as her hands held my head to her. Her hips rolled and grinded, and I tasted the moment before she yelled out my name like a chant when she came. She hadn't finished when I stood and tossed her onto the bed, moving her to all fours. She looked over her shoulder with need still in her eyes.

"Love me," she whimpered, and I grinned.

"My kitten need me?" I grabbed my dick and stroked it from base to tip, and back down.

"So bad, I feel empty without you." Jesus, what kind of man could say no to that? Though, I planned on giving her everything I could from here on out until I took my last breath. Karol was mine. Today, tomorrow, and always. Our future was tied. This lifetime and the next.

"Can't have that," I groaned and thrust inside of her. Karol's tight little pussy latched on and sucked me in. "Hungry for my dick, aren't you, beautiful?"

"Starving." Her head went down to the pillow, and her ass popped up just a little higher, taking me that much deeper. Sweat rolled down my back.

"Greedy girl. My greedy girl. All mine. Tell me!" I smacked her ass. The sound of my hand against her bare skin echoed in the room.

"Yours! Yours! Yours." She gasped. My fingers dug into her hips as my hips worked to saw in and out of her body. Just watching her pretty hole stretch the way it did around my cock, shiny with her arousal, drove me closer and closer to the edge.

"Dan!"

"Come!" I grunted. "Come for me, baby, give it to me."

"Da—" She didn't finish my name before her voice cracked and her body went taut. Her pussy rippled around me, sucking me in deeper as it worked to drain my balls. She didn't have to work hard. I erupted a moment later. Covering her back with my body, I held on to her as I spilled my seed deep inside her. We'd had unprotected sex from the very first time, and we hadn't talked about birth control. I was clean, and I knew she was, too. If something came out of me fucking her raw, I didn't care.

If anything, I knew it was what I'd wish for from here on out anytime I saw a star out in the sky. Shooting through the dark or not.