27. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

TUCKER

I watched as Izzy stared out at the water from the bed of my truck. She was sitting on the lowered tailgate, her arms wrapped around her legs with her chin resting on her knees, the deep chestnut strands of her hair cascading gently down her back in the slight wind.

I just waited. She'd brought us to our stretch of sand, near the pier and the spot where I'd proposed, so I knew not to worry. She didn't want to lose me, either. She just needed peace to think, and she wanted me with her.

The beach was quiet except for the sound of the waves lapping against the shore. It was just us and nature here right now, and the full moon was just bright enough to let us enjoy it.

I thought back to what Jet said. That we were just scared.

It had annoyed me at the time, but now, I just couldn't believe I hadn't seen it before.

Last New Year's, Izzy and I had finally talked. We'd found each other again through the pain, knowing that we needed each other to heal .

But we hadn't talked like that since then. Not about what we needed to…our pain and our daughter. Just like the last time, we'd been too busy trying not to hurt each other. Even while clinging to each other as lifelines, underneath it all, we were ignoring the problem, letting it fester and get worse.

We were scared. I was terrified. Those walls we'd set up were a safeguard from the pain. But they weren't worth it if I could lose her .

"Tucker?" Izzy whispered, her eyes still out on the docile waves dancing around the water's surface.

I got up from my toolbox and went to sit by her side, running a hand down her arm. "Yeah, princess?"

"I'm sorry I've been hurting you."

"I'm sorry we've been hurting each other."

She sighed. "Me, too."

"We can't keep doing this, Izzy. We need a way to deal with everything. We need to heal."

"I know. And I want it…so badly."

"But you're scared," I finished for her.

She laid her head on her knees. "Terrified," she whispered as my eyes met hers, feeling every bit of sadness I saw in their depths.

"Me, too."

"Do you ever worry it'll hurt so much you won't be able to live through it?"

"Every day and almost every night. But I think we can survive it if we go through it together. Trying to hold things back and work through it alone is obviously a bad option for us."

"True. Tonight we'll talk…about her. Just not yet. "

"Alright…tonight," I agreed, my tone telling her I was going to hold her to it.

"We will, Tucker. Don't worry. We have to if I'm going to give you all of me."

"I'm sorry I said that."

"Don't be. It's what you feel, and it's what you deserve. I just want you to know that there's not a whole lot left of me to give. I'm pretty sure there's permanent, substantial damage to my heart. But everything that's left of it is yours. I promise."

I brushed some windblown strands away from her eyes, wanting her to fully see me. "I would take every last piece of it. Even the parts you think are no good."

She smiled, and a tear slipped down her cheek. I leaned in to kiss her and asked, "So, what should we do to pass the time?"

Izzy pursed her lips as she considered. "You hungry? I had fruit and yogurt packed for us earlier. And chocolate. The cooler's still in the truck?"

"Let's save it for later." For once, my stomach wasn't interested in food.

"Okay, we can fight the seagulls for it later." She grinned, and I chuckled.

"How about a swim?"

"I didn't bring a swimsuit," she countered.

I waggled my eyebrows. "Neither did I."

She reached out to shove playfully against my chest, missing as I jumped from the tailgate out of reach. "Come on," I teased. "What are you scared of?"

"Everything." I thought I heard her whisper, the sound carried away by the wind. She gave me a look. "You know what happened earlier… "

"Who said anything about sex? I just hinted at skinny dipping, but if you're suggesting something more…" I couldn't help but tease her. We have to start breaking those barriers somewhere. She could hide most of herself in the water if she needed. Just getting her to agree to this would be progress. And a great way to enjoy the night before things have to turn serious. Things were serious so often now. We needed some fun. "Come on, princess." I held out my hand. "What do you say?"

ISABEL

I stared at the hand Tucker held out to me, watching as he fidgeted in the sand. He really was excited about this, and dang, was his smirk cute. I wanted to say yes. It was so tempting, but my scar taunted me, holding me back. Except I could hide myself in the water … What the hell? Why not? Who am I to argue if I can see him naked?

Hopping down, I pushed Tucker back as I ran out towards the ocean, peeling off my clothes as I went while making sure he could only see my backside. I looked over my shoulder at him to grin when my clothes were gone and couldn't help but laugh at the surprise still covering his face.

"Close your mouth, whiskey!" I called back to him, and he started stripping down, tossing away his clothes as fast as he could.

I laughed and ran out into the water, turning back to face Tucker once I was waist deep. Now that I knew I was secure, I wanted to see him. But the first thing I noticed was the way those whiskey eyes were watching me .

He wanted me. Lord, did he want me, and even though I knew he wouldn't push me past what I was ready for, I needed another moment before he got close. I splashed when he reached me, making him blink in surprise as I dove away.

I'd only managed a few strokes beneath the water, and Tucker's arm was wrapping around me, pulling us both up. Water dripped from the ends of his hair, the blonde strands glowing pale in the moonlight, but it was the wicked look in his eyes that warned me. His fingers found my ribs before I could move, and he tickled me, merciless, until I was pleading for him to stop. To let me breathe. And as soon as he left me room for air, I reached for the place at his hips, his one ticklish weakness, and braced myself tight as he fought my hold, his deep voice booming out with laughter as he begged me to stop between breaths.

Letting him go, I allowed him to wrap his arms around me while we caught our breath, and I placed my hands between us so my palms rested against his chest. "That was fun."

"Definitely." He beamed down at me, clearly loving every minute. "I really didn't think you'd go for this."

"Oh, you know me, miss adventurous," I teased, waving a casual hand.

"I'll eat up every minute of it," he growled, that hunger returning to his eyes, but his grin was there, keeping the teasing mood.

"So, did you like what you saw? "

"Hmmm…I don't know." He pretended to think. "I might need another look."

He stepped back, holding my hand above my head as he gazed down at me, and when I did a slow spin, I felt my flesh shiver under the heat of his gaze.

"Well?" I breathed when he pulled me close again.

"Very nice. I've definitely missed that view. How was yours?"

"Excellent." I pressed my palms flat to his chest again, loving the feel of those slick, lean contours under my touch. "You know I love you, right?"

"As much as my looks?" He raised a playful brow, and I swatted his chest.

"Tucker!"

He laughed and bent to press his mouth to mine, his lips gentle, testing before asking for entrance. I reached up to grab the back of his damp hair, tugging, and he groaned, deepening the kiss the way that I wanted. Probing, searching, intimate. Everything I felt for him swelled in my chest. But when his hand dipped beneath the water to slip between my thighs, I froze, pressing my legs together when I realized what he was trying to do.

I knew he wanted more. The heat in his eyes had been clear. Why had I let him kiss me so long out in the ocean, while we were naked? I must be insane.

I felt weak in his arms.

"Isabel, relax," Tucker whispered into my ear. "How many times have you done this for me now? Trust me."

I shivered, but I wasn't sure if it was from the water or the feel of his breath on my neck. Or maybe it was the way he said my name …

Nervous, I reached down for him, thinking we could do it together, but he stopped me, turning me around so that my back rested against the contours of his stomach. My lungs felt tight, my nerves building, but when Tucker reached between my legs again and his fingers found my clit, I couldn't help but inhale at the feel of it.

He was gentle and slow, and suddenly, any urge I had to argue disappeared. He was right. I needed to trust him, and I leaned my head back against his chest to give in to his touch as his fingers slowly stroked through my folds. He circled my clit, giving the sensitive nub the attention it craved, focusing there as my breaths became shallow. Slowly, he slid his way down, dipping his fingers into my core, pumping with a slow and steady rhythm. He pressed the palm of his hand to my clit, and I sucked in a breath, my head falling to the side with a whimper when his free hand found my breasts.

It had been a while, but he hadn't forgotten my body any more than I'd forgotten his.

It was perfect and sweet, and damn him for knowing that I needed this. I wasn't sure how, but it felt as though a weight was shifting, and now that the pressure of it was getting lighter, the strain it had been causing was starting to melt away with each tender touch and stroke Tucker placed on my body.

Hadn't I wished for this earlier? That pain could wash away this easily, with something as simple as a gentle touch? I knew it wasn't close to being gone, but even this small amount of relief helped to ease the ache. And Tucker knew. He knew I was ready. Just like before, he was the key .

I moaned as he stroked me, his fingers working me closer to my climax as the water gently danced around us, and I gasped when he leaned down to nibble at my ear, his lips finding that sensitive spot on my neck. I rose to my tiptoes, chasing the sensations, the build for release growing. I knew it was going to be powerful when I finished, sensing it long before it happened.

Tucker took his time, drawing out the experience I'd denied us for way too long, and I reveled in our connection, cherished it, my legs shaking when that slow and intense build had me ready to burst.

I was so close, nearly there, and I held myself to the strong arm across my chest of the only man that would ever know me this way. I didn't trust my trembling body to hold itself up when I came.

Tucker's grip around me tightened, and when his fingers found that perfect spot, curling inside me with just the right pressure, I cried out, my body trembling against him, clutching his arm to hold me up as I lost control with my release. My back arched, my toes no longer touching the ocean floor. I was lost, melting and spiraling and twisting with my orgasm as my senses took over.

When I finally finished, every muscle in my body gave out, but Tucker held me up, turning me in his arms. My head rested against his chest, listening to the way his heart raced. When I'd finally caught my breath and could feel my limbs, I looked up, finding those heated whiskey depths staring down at me, so much love in his gaze. I reached a hand up to touch his face.

"Thank you. I think I'd almost forgotten."

"Anytime." He smirked, obviously satisfied with himself .

When he began to reach below the water again, I grabbed his wrist to stop him. I was spent, satisfied but still not recovered, and we couldn't spend the entire night this way.

"Come on. I'm ready for dessert. The edible kind," I clarified when I saw his eyes spark.