Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

REMINGTON

This is either the best decision of my life or the worst mistake I’ll ever make. But when his lips find mine, everything fades away, leaving only the thrill of this moment. For once, I stop caring about what comes next.

When we push open the door to his room at the inn, he pulls me close, his hands firm but gentle as they draw me against him. His mouth crashes into mine, and I open for him without hesitation, wanting more of that intoxicating rush that started downstairs.

The pull between us feels inevitable, and I surrender to it. His lips taste like heat and need, and I’m dizzy with the way he kisses—soft, commanding, like he knows exactly what I crave and isn’t afraid to give it.

I clear my throat, reluctantly pulling away to shrug off my jacket, my eyes flickering over his body. He’s every bit as devastating up close.

“Do we have any rules?” I ask, my voice low, though my heart is racing in my chest.

He gives me a slow, wicked grin, shaking his head. “Just one—enjoy the moment. Tomorrow, we’re a memory. You’ll be the beautiful brunette from Cedar Cove.” He shrugs, the playful gleam in his eyes making my pulse jump. “And hopefully, you’ll remember me.”

His hands slide to my waist, and with a quick tug, my skirt slips down my hips. A grin spreads across his face when he finds my leggings underneath. “Layered up. I like it.”

I rise onto my toes, my lips brushing along the side of his neck, and feel the shiver that runs through him. His skin is warm under my mouth, and I murmur against him, “More action, fewer words.”

“Don’t move,” he commands, his voice low and sure, sending a thrill through me that pools in my belly.

He takes his time undressing me, peeling away each layer like unwrapping a gift. Slow and deliberate.

His gaze darkens as he takes me in, and the way he looks at me sends a flush over my skin. “Look at you,” he whispers, reverent and soft. “You’re beautiful.”

My breath hitches. “What about you?” I ask, fingers tugging at his shirt, eager to see more of him.

He pulls it off, and I have to bite my lip to stop from gasping. He’s all lean muscle and power, carved like a statue, every line and curve begging to be touched. My fingers move without thinking, trailing along the ridges of his abs. His body is so warm, so solid beneath my touch, and it makes my head spin.

He’s the kind of man who makes you forget your own name.

I fumble with the button of his pants, but my hands falter when I see how hard he is beneath the fabric. My breath catches, and heat flares low in my belly. I want to feel him—touch him, taste him.

Before I can make a move, though, he pulls me into his arms, and I melt into him. His embrace is strong, his hands roaming over my back, grounding me in the moment as the rest of the world slips away.

“Make it unforgettable,” I whisper against his lips, my voice a plea.

He answers with a kiss, fierce and consuming, and I lose myself in the feel of him. We stumble onto the bed, his weight pressing me into the mattress. His breath skims my throat, hot and uneven, and I shiver as his lips trace the curve of my neck, lower, and then lower still.

When his mouth closes over my breast, his lips warm against my skin, I arch beneath him. His tongue teases circles over my nipple, and I gasp as pleasure ripples through me, leaving me aching and restless.

I push my hips up, desperate for some friction to ease the tension building between my legs, but he moves with infuriating patience. His mouth lingers on my skin, his teeth grazing just enough to make me moan.

“Please,” I whisper, not even sure what I’m begging for—only that I need more.

His fingers trail down my thighs, teasing their way up to the thin fabric of my panties. When his thumb grazes my slit, I cry out, lifting my hips to meet his touch.

With a wicked grin, he lowers my panties with his teeth, sliding them down my legs with ease. I shiver as the cool air meets my skin, but it’s quickly replaced by the heat of his touch.

“Are you sure you want this?” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through me just as I teeter on the edge of bliss.

“Of course, I want it. I want everything,” I say, breathless.

His grin deepens, and then he’s between my legs, spreading them wider. The first swipe of his tongue over my clit sends a jolt through me, and I gasp, clutching the sheets beneath me. He does it again—slow, deliberate, perfect—and my entire body trembles with the force of it.

He knows exactly what he’s doing. Every flick of his tongue, every gentle scrape of his teeth, drives me higher. I’m unraveling beneath him, my breath coming in shallow bursts, my pulse pounding in my ears.

His mouth works me over, relentless and exquisite. His tongue moves from my clit to the sensitive spot behind it, and my mind goes blank, lost in the rhythm of his touch. I can feel my body winding tighter, every nerve alight with pleasure.

“I need you,” I whisper, the words spilling out before I can stop them. I don’t even know where they came from, only that they feel true.

His eyes meet mine as he moves, and there’s something in his gaze—something familiar, something that makes me feel safe even as I drown in him. His lips brush against mine, and the taste of myself on his tongue sends a new wave of heat through me.

He pauses long enough to roll the condom over his length, and then he’s over me again, his body pressing mine into the mattress. His knee nudges mine apart, and I shudder as the head of his cock presses against my entrance, stretching me inch by inch.

The way he fills me—slow, deliberate—makes my breath hitch. I clutch his shoulders, my nails digging into his skin as he pushes deeper, every inch of him driving me wild.

He moves with excruciating patience, each slow thrust building a heat that spreads through my veins like wildfire. I lift my hips, desperate for more, but he pins me down with a hand on my hip, holding me still.

“Relax,” he whispers, his breath warm against my ear. “Let it flow through you. This is just the beginning. Let me lead.”

And God help me, I do.