One Good Reason (Boston Love #3)(81)

“True,” I murmur. “Still… it seems a shame, to have a place like this — a view like this — and not wake up to it every single day.”

“Maybe…” He trails off, as though he’s afraid to finish the thought.

“Maybe what?” I ask softly.

“Nothing.”

“Please… tell me. I want to know.”

His eyes find mine through the darkness and even in the shadowy light I can see the stark longing in his eyes. It’s enough to make my knees buckle.

“Maybe it wouldn’t be so lonely if I had someone to share it with.” He takes a step toward me. “If I’m being honest, since the moment I found out you were in trouble, the only thing I’ve wanted to do was pick you up in my arms and bring you out here, where I know nothing can get to you.”

I close the last bit of space between us. “And now that you have?” I murmur.

His eyes flare. “I might never let you go.”

I wind my arms around his neck. “Good answer, sailor.”

His mouth crashes down on mine — a warm contrast to the cool wind. I don’t care that it’s freezing, or that there are a million things I should be worrying about.

Because I’m standing on top of the f*cking world, kissing a man I’m dangerously close to falling in love with, and nothing else matters.

Not one damn bit.





18





The Reason




We’re lost in each other, devouring with lips and hands and teeth against the rail of the lighthouse, until the sun sets entirely.

Parker pulls back to look at me. “It’ll be Christmas in a few hours.”

“Think we’ll be able to see the sleigh go by from up here?”

“Oh, definitely. I slipped Santa a twenty – he’s going to do a fly-by, just for you.”

I roll my eyes.

“What do you want for a present, Zoe?” He nuzzles my neck. “Jewelry? Lifetime supply of chocolate peanut butter cups? A new computer strong enough to hack the CIA?”

“Nothing.” I laugh. “Nothing at all.”

“Well, I fully expect a gift of some kind.” His tone goes husky. “Want to give me my present now or later?”

“Definitely now,” I say, arching up to kiss him again. “Right f*cking now.”

I feel him grin as he scoops me into his arms, throws me onto his back in a fireman’s carry, and proceeds to climb down the ladder like a crazy person with me draped over one shoulder.

“You’re going to drop me!” I screech, watching the ground get closer as I hang upside down. I pound a fist against his back. “You caveman!”

He chuckles, never breaking his careful strides. When we hit the ground, he sets me gently on the bed. “I’d never drop you, darling.” His grin is wicked. “Back in a flash.”

He scampers back up the ladder to close the hatch as I lay there contemplating my near-death experience.

He almost killed me, the idiot!

I’m going to murder him.

That’s clearly the only option.

Shockingly, as soon as Parker’s frame hits the mattress beside me, all concerns of mortality vanish. He unzips my insulated jacket in one swift tug and rids me of my suspenders and weatherproof pants in record time.

“If I’d known you were only in underwear beneath those, I would’ve crashed the damn boat against the rocks,” he growls, his hands making quick work of removing his own coat and pants.

I grin in the dark.

His hands slide over my skin like they were made to fit my curves, playing me like a song, shaping me like a memory, breaking me like a promise. I explore his skin with equal passion, tracing my lips along the muscular planes of his chest as his silhouette hovers over mine, his hazel eyes glowing gold in the shadowed room.

And as he makes love to me — hands and lips and hips all working in tandem to drive me to the brink of pleasure — I wonder how I ever lived without this sensation of total completeness. As he fills me, body and soul, I cry out at the feeling of utter fulfillment.

Long after our heartbeats have slowed to normal, I lay wrapped tight within the expanse of Parker’s arms, his mouth pressing soft kisses into my temple, and revel in the sensation that for once in my life I’m incredibly f*cking lucky to be exactly where I am.

I can only hope he feels the same.

“Did I ruin your Christmas?” I force myself to ask in the darkness.

“What?” I feel him shift to look at my face. “Why would you say that?”

“This holiday… It’s clearly a big deal in the West family. I saw the size of Phoebe’s tree, not to mention your ugly sweater collection and your obsession with Christmas movies.”

“Zoe.” Parker shakes his head. “Trust me. You didn’t ruin a thing.”

“But you’re out here in the middle of the ocean, instead of spending the day with your family.” I chew my lip. “I definitely ruined your Christmas, playboy. It’s okay — you can tell me. I can take it.”

He rolls, so he’s staring straight down into my face. “Listen to me, Zoe. You didn’t ruin anything. I mean it.” His eyes are intense. “In fact… this is probably the best Christmas I’ve ever had. Screw the tree, the ornaments, the whole damn thing. Being here with you… that’s the best gift I could ever f*cking ask for. I mean it.”