50. Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Willow

The sun shines bright through the windows. I'm replaying last night in my mind, over and over. Everything from the Ferris wheel, to the beach, the "I love you", the ridiculous bubble bath. I want to mentally catalog each and every detail.

Tripp has seen me naked. Touched and kissed every inch of my skin. But soaking in a bubble bath with a professional athlete, with your back to his front, is an experience. For a few fleeting moments, I wondered about the soft parts of my body. It's hard not to when you're touching a body like Tripp's, but in that moment, he leaned his head down to mine like he knew I needed the reassurance.

I never felt more loved. Accepted. Myself.

My breath hitches, thinking of Tripp telling me he loved me. The weird thing was I knew he was going to say it. I could feel it.

In the past, I'd find a way to get him to keep it to himself. Things always felt so uncertain once those words were said. Heavier. There was more at stake. It's not words themselves but what happens after—bigger conversations, expectations—and something I've never been able to get right.

This time, I wanted him to say it. The doubt still scratches the back of my mind, but it's much lighter than with anyone else before.

He currently sleeps while my arm is draped across his chest. His face is slightly turned away from mine. I pick up my head just enough to see his silhouette, his long eyelashes fluttering with sleep, and I lay back down and smile into his chest.

My phone rings, ruining the lazy moment. Tripp's eyes squint at me, and when he smirks, I could melt into a puddle on the floor.

I reach for my phone. Erik. Typically, he calls Claire or Emilie. It's rare that he calls me directly. I let the call go to voicemail and put my phone on silent. Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait.

"Who is calling so early and disturbing the beauty sleep I desperately need?" Tripp says through closed eyes and pulls me into him, kissing my neck and jaw.

"Someone who can wait."

We stay in bed for hours, drifting in and out of sleep, because we have nowhere to be. It's satisfying and something we don't get to do often. Before it gets too late, Tripp heads downstairs to grab breakfast.

He walks in with a tray full of breakfast sandwiches, fruit, and what looks like banana pancakes. There's an espresso machine in our room he turns on like he's done it a thousand times before. Maybe he has.

When he hands me an espresso and watches me about to dig into some pancakes he pauses.

"Wait a minute." He pulls out his phone and takes a photo of me. I'm wrapped in a sheet, hair a wreck, eyes thick with sleep, and a bite of pancake almost in my mouth. "This is a morning I want to remember."

I let him take the photo, with no resistance. You know why? Because the way he looks at me makes me feel whole.

Later that morning, I see he's using that picture as his phone wallpaper.

It might be windy, but the sun is bright while we walk along the beach. It's one of those fall days where the air is a touch warmer than expected. The sounds of the waves crashing and hitting the sand are the perfect soundtrack as Tripp holds my hand and we walk along a piece of the coast. We wanted to spend some time on the beach before we headed back to New York.

I look over at Tripp and can't help but grin. This moment is telling me something I already know—I love him. I don't know if I can say it yet. I close my eyes, the sun hits my face, as I take in everything about this.

The stakes would be the highest. I'd have something, too much, to lose. Part of me wants to jump on him, wrap my legs around his waist, and scream I love him while we're on this beach. The other part wants me to deal with these feelings later.

The latter wins.

"See that, over there?" Tripp asks, pointing ahead.

At first, all I see is a dull white structure. Then I realize: it's a lighthouse.

"I used to take all my friends here, sort of my secret place. It's been empty for years but the town keeps it in good enough shape. It's for all of us."

The idea of an entire town banding behind this lighthouse warms my heart.

We walk to the lighthouse, our steps a bit quicker now that we have a destination in mind.

Tripp opens the weather-beaten front door like he's coming back home. We walk into the interior, lit by the sunshine. For something that's been abandoned, it's in great shape.

As we walk up the narrow staircase, the steps creak and groan under our weight. They're painted black and are riddled with dust and sand. Tripp leads and steps into the opening at the top. It's mostly windows so his expression is illuminated by the sun. He's in awe.

He spins, taking in the room, like he probably has done a hundred times before.

"We lucked out. No clouds. Lots of sun. This is one of my favorite places." He looks to me and then to the windows.

The view is incredible. It's miles and miles of rocky coastline and endless blue water, and with the sun high in the sky, it's almost like parts of the ocean are glittering.

"Now I get to experience it with one of my favorite people," he almost whispers as he pulls me close to him.

His hands reach for me, moving from the sides of my face and settling on the nape of my neck. Tripp puts his nose to mine, his thumbs caressing my jaw. When the air around us crackles and sparks, I realize I'm holding my breath like I don't want to disturb a single thing.

This is one of those moments that you'll recall with daydreaming eyes and a full heart. Being here, in this snapshot of time, in this place, makes me feel complete. Almost like I've never been more myself with another human than I am with Tripp. It's startling. My stomach drops.

"Tripp—"

But then he kisses me. His lips tell secrets of need. Want. Urgency.

His hands reach into my hair and he kisses me like I'm the air he needs to breathe. I part my lips, letting his tongue touch mine. I push myself into him, wanting to touch as much of him as possible. That's when I feel his erection touching the fabric of my maxi dress.

I can't hold back the wicked groan that escapes my mouth. Tipping my head back, I give Tripp more access to me, and let my hips push further into him.

He nips and kisses up and down my neck. His hands reach down and grab my ass, causing me to stand up straight .

"Fuck, Lo. See what you do to me" He looks down to his dick, hard in his jeans. His hands knead and grab my ass in a way that makes it hard to think.

"I know the feeling," I say, breathy and quick. The ache in my low belly throbs with desire, craving him.

My hands find his stomach, muscles flexing strong and firm. When my fingers walk a path, low and intentional, to the top of his jeans, Tripp puts his own head back. The way he gives himself to me, and the pleasure I know I can give him, is another thing I crave.

I slowly undo the button, pull down the zipper and dance my fingers down until I'm gripping his shaft. I slowly stroke, up and down, tilting my head and tossing my wind-blown hair to one side. I feel the bead of moisture at the tip and can't help but bite my lip.

His hips move with and against me to get the pressure and placement he needs. He moves faster, using one hand to grab my shoulder to help with some leverage.

"Stop. You have to stop. Or I'm going to come," he says while leaning back. Pulling his dick from my hands.

"Isn't that the point?" I grin.

"No, because I want to fuck you, Lo. That's how I want to come." He pulls my dress up until my pink lace panties are exposed. He loops his fingers in and takes them off.

"These are soaking wet," he says, holding my panties, like they're a badge of honor.

After my panties are off, he stops, his eyes taking me in. I don't run or cover myself, I let him see me. All of me.

"Oh, Lo. Let me see that dripping pussy." He takes a finger and swipes to test my wetness. "Is this all for me?" he asks, painfully slow.

"Yes," I say like I'm pleading for help .

He pulls his jeans further down, his dick springing from his briefs. I'm two seconds away from laying down on this sandy floor until he picks me up, letting my legs wrap around him. He gently pushes my back against one of the beams.

His cock is so close to my entrance it's infuriating. He uses his strength to basically hold me up, just right against the beam, so he can thrust into me. This is the angle I didn't know I needed. He's tender at first and then picks up the pace, the beam is unforgiving, but it doesn't matter. I spur him on with moans and calling his name.

My hands reach inside the neck of his shirt, finding the backs of his shoulders. I dig in, scratching as the pleasure builds. The anticipation is killing me. It feels like I've been on the edge since that first kiss.

When Tripp's eyes catch mine, he slows for a second. I lean forward and kiss him. My hands pull his hair and wrap around his neck as I move my hips on his cock, my clit finding friction.

"Look at my dream girl, going for it." He almost growls.

I pick up the pace, each thrust has the beam pressing into me, but it's the perfect blend of bliss and being slightly uncomfortable.

I tilt my hips, just enough, to get exactly what I'm looking for.

"I'm going to…" I try to get the words out in time, but I don't. My orgasm rips through me. One hand stays on his shoulder while the other reaches back for the relentless beam. My pussy clamps around Tripp's length and it's almost too much, with my vision going hazy.

"Unravel for me, Lo," Tripp's voice says like gravel as I shake and tremble. He holds me up, strong and in control, while taking the lead, still fucking me. I'm still riding the edge of my own when I feel his full cock fill me up with more than his length. His orgasm is drawn out and strong, with his breathing quick and ragged. I ride out every last twitch and shock with Tripp inside me .

When we're both spent, Tripp slowly sets me down. The moment is tender, with him helping me clean up, and kissing me like he can't quit. My body, and soul, are sated at this point, and I wish it was always just the two of us.

I look around, making sure there's not a soul on the beach. I then start to giggle.

"What's funny?" Tripp asks, wearing his own half smile.

"Just haven't done anything like that before. Sex in a public place. Sex against a wooden beam. Sex with someone with muscles like yours that give me just what I want," I say.

What I don't say is I want to do anything and everything under the sun with him. I want to walk every coast, hand in hand. No one knows me like him.

I'm trying to make sense of this. How this thing between Tripp and I has grown into what it is. I've never shown myself to someone like this. Raw. Open.

"I love hearing that. I want to do everything with you," Tripp says the words like he steals them from me.

I couldn't be happier.