All of Me (Compass Cove Book 3)

by Jeannie Moon

  “Of course you did.” Wine was Lilly’s thing. So was chocolate.

  As soon as the cooler was unzipped, it was plain to see that this was not a simple picnic.

  “Ummm…” Lilly lifted the glass food container from the bag. “Lobster tails?”

  “Wait. What?” Squatting next to her, Jack moved items around in the bag to get a good look at the contents. “Fresh fruit. Cheese. Lobster. French bread. Jeez.” A romantic dinner. His grandmother was refined, but she was not subtle. “No roast beef sandwich. Sorry.”

  Lilly rolled her eyes in an obvious attempt to lighten the mood. “Damn. I was looking forward to that sandwich.”

  Jack reached for the container she was holding. “If you don’t want the lobster—”

  She pulled her hand back sharply. “Excuse me? I didn’t say I didn’t want it.”

  “Fine, help me with all the food.” He pulled plates out of the top of the cooler, along with the silverware and napkins. While he held the plates, Lilly served the food, licking her fingers if a drop of something stuck there.

  “This is amazing. What made her do this?” Lilly only knew half the story.

  “Them.”

  That surprised her. “Them?”

  “Look in the bottom of the cooler. Dessert.”

  With her curiosity at peak, he watched as Lilly dug through the stash. “Oh, for Pete’s sake. Abuela.” She found the cookies. Jack’s favorite.

  “Yep. They were in on this together. Hatched, no doubt, after they talked to you this morning.”

  “Those sneaks.”

  Handing her the full plate, they settled back on the bench, facing each other. “They are, but this is delicious.” He took a bite of lobster. “God, that’s so good.”

  “It’s the perfect time of year for it, too.”

  He lifted his head curiously. “There’s a bad time?”

  “I wouldn’t say bad, but late summer and lobster just go together.” His face didn’t change, but his gorgeous blues stayed on her. Fixed. “You don’t agree?”

  He shrugged. “Like I said, I don’t think there’s a bad time for lobster. I miss it when I’m not close to home.”

  Lilly could relate. All the while she was in California, she missed the comforts of the east coast. Not that L.A. and the west coast weren’t gorgeous, but it had a different vibe. Food was different. The fish she could order was different.

  Nibbling on some potato salad, Lilly reveled in the taste of home. Nothing beat a good old New England style lobster boil, and their grandmothers had done their best to make it happen.

  Lilly relaxed and let the rays of the sun sinking lower in the sky bathe her face. The warmth and glow was something particular to this latitude at this time of year. It was as close to magic as anyone might experience.

  “The look on your face is positively serene.” Jack’s deep voice cut through the call of the gulls and the sea birds circling overhead.

  Opening her eyes, she let herself fall into his gaze. The same could be said for the mood he was projecting. The furrow that seemed perpetually between his eyes was less noticeable, and his gaze didn’t hold the intensity she’d seen over the past week.

  The two of them had been wrapped pretty tight since Gio came into town, and it was good to have some down time. It was even better to spend it together. “You look pretty relaxed yourself.”

  “I am,” he said taking a deep breath. “I am. Nothing like a sail.”

  “Agreed. Good food. The water…”

  He surprised her when he took her hand. “The company.”

  Her heart fluttered, but the soft expression on his face let Lilly know Jack wasn’t unaffected by her. Not at all. It was wonderful, and terrifying. She didn’t want to think that their closeness, which came about because of a crisis, wouldn’t last once the need was no longer there.

  Jack had a serious white knight complex, and while Lilly had never felt safer with anyone, she didn’t want that to be the only reason they were together. Their conversations didn’t feel that way. Neither did their kisses.

  Pushing the worry out of her mind, she scooted closer, pressing her hip into his, and fished through the bag for the container of Abuela’s cookies.

  Mantecaditos were a traditional Puerto Rican shortbread cookie that her grandmother had perfected over the years. Crispy on the outside, but soft and buttery on the inside, there was a hint of almond flavor laced throughout. Lilly loved the cookies plain, but Abuela made thumbprints in the top and filled the indentation with guava paste, fresh jam or sometimes a spiced dark chocolate. Tonight, the cookies were filled with raspberry and peach jams. Also made by her grandmother, the chef.

  Jack groaned when she opened the container and he inhaled the delicate aroma from the almond flavoring. “God. They are the best. I can’t believe she baked.”

  “For you,” Lilly said, “she’d do anything.”

  “No. Don’t exaggerate.”

  “Honey, no exaggeration. Food is love for Abuela. That roast she made when you came to dinner? It takes all day. That is not a summer meal.”

  He gave her the side eye before taking the container. It didn’t matter that Jack hadn’t finished his lobster; he picked a peach-filled cookie from the assortment. Taking a bite, he rolled his eyes. The look on his face was pure bliss.

  It triggered something in Lilly’s girly bits, something warm and tingly. She imagined what she could do to get that look for herself. Feeding him cookies was fine, but she had some other things running through her head that were sure to get them both hot and sweaty. She let her mind wander for a second, thoughts of touching him rolling her insides.

  She licked her lips and when she looked back, he was watching her with an expression as intense and hot as she was feeling.

  The desire shooting between them was enough to light the sky. But based on his expression, he was as blindsided by it as she was. All she knew was that at that moment, the want, the need to feel him, was as necessary as breathing.

  Lilly didn’t know if she’d ever feel this way again. If she’d ever have the courage to let someone get close.

  She should have known if anyone could get her to trust again, it would be Jack.

  *

  He didn’t know which one of them lunged first, but it was only a split second between his decision to kiss her and Lilly’s mouth being pressed against his. Their arms twined around each other in a knot, holding on tightly to what might happen next.

  They’d been headed for this since he walked into her salon last week. Everything about this should send him running, but her body was melting into his, becoming part of him, and he felt like he’d come home.

  Her mouth moved over his, sipping, nipping at his lips. The two of them devoured each other like they were starving, and maybe—just maybe—they were. Jack felt grounded when he was with her, like he could grow roots and stick around for a while. On the flip side, she looked ready to soar, like she’d found her wings. The world was Lilly’s for the taking, and Jack wanted her to have everything she wanted. Him included.

  He pulled her in, arms banded around her waist; she was so close he could feel her heart beating. Lilly cupped his face in her hands, and the kiss, which lingered and heated up with every wisp of scent that tickled his nose, was the kind of kiss that meant more because of what it represented.

  It was freedom.

  Lilly was letting go of whatever had hurt her, whatever held her back. She was staking a claim on his heart, and Jack relinquished whatever control he had.

  He drew his tongue over her plump lower lip and she opened for him, letting him tease the inside and take a taste of her essence. Her tongue darted out to meet his, and the fire ignited in his belly.

  Jack’s hands caressed the soft curves of Lilly’s body, running them up and down her sides, sliding them under the flowy top. She shuddered when his skin made contact with hers, and his body responded immediately. His erection, hard and straining, pressed against her belly. When Jack
opened his eyes, through the haze he saw Lilly’s mouth was turned up in a soft, playful smile. She was pleased with herself, and Jack was convinced he was the luckiest man in the world. Even if he was in agony.

  “So, what’s that joke about you being happy to see me?” she teased. Her voice was light, happy.

  “Please don’t.” He chuckled and pressed his forehead to hers. The ease, the fun between them even in the face of the intensity, sent a strong and powerful message. His hands stroked the bare skin of her back, forcing his erection into nuclear territory. The woman was going to end him.

  “So, ah… I have a question.” They were all alone, but she leaned into him, bringing her lips right to his ear. “Is there a bed on this boat?”

  Lilly’s warm breath teased his cheek, just like her words were teasing his heart. “There is,” he responded.

  “Why don’t we finish our picnic later on?” Her suggestion, as sweet and sultry as the summer night, was more than he could ever wish for. Jack felt like he’d been gifted a second chance with her, and he had no intention of messing it up.

  Chapter Eighteen

  They packed away the food, and Jack checked the line to the anchor before he led her downstairs into the living quarters. The boat had a galley, a head, and tucked into the bow was a small cabin with a bed that, miraculously, was made up with clean sheets. His overnight sail to the east end of Long Island hadn’t materialized, but being with Lilly was so much better.

  He flicked on the overhead light and watched as she surveyed the room. If she was anxious, it didn’t show. She seemed confident, comfortable, and it was sexy as hell. He hoped she wasn’t putting on a good face for him.

  “Are you nervous?” she asked.

  “Nervous?” Her question took him by surprise. Taking a second to think through his answer, it occurred to him that she might be projecting her feelings, but it seemed she really wanted to know.

  “I mean, you’re worried about me. I know you are.”

  Jack closed the distance between them, taking her hand in his. “I am, but I also know you. And I trust you to tell me the truth about how you’re feeling. You’re calling the shots. Yes, no… it’s all about you.”

  Her face was serene, peaceful… sure of what she was doing, and Jack accepted that Lilly knew exactly what she wanted.

  Reaching out, he brushed his thumb over the soft skin of her cheek and jaw. Lilly leaned in, turning her lips into his palm. The gesture was slow, and she let her lips linger on his skin.

  “I should be nervous,” she said. “But I’m not. I want to be with you, Jack.”

  There was always something special about Lilly. A strength, a sense of purpose, that made her seem more goddess than mortal woman. The glow that emanated from her was magic, and Jack was relieved to see it spark to life.

  Reaching for him, Lilly stepped into his arms, and the two of them held each other with the desperation of lost years.

  Turning her face toward his, Jack dropped a kiss on her lips, then moved to her face, kissing the line of her jaw, slowly inching down her neck.

  His hands slipped under her shirt, finding the waistband of her pants, gently easing them down over her hips until they dropped on the floor. Then he did the same with her underwear, wrapping the silky wisp around his fingers before it met the same fate as her pants.

  All the while, Jack was kissing her. Letting his lips travel over her shoulders, her neck, her jaw. He moved to her ear and let her know what he was planning next.

  “I’m going to touch you now, put my fingers inside you. Is that okay?”

  Her shuddering breath, the nod that came with it, was a first step. But each subsequent step would be the same, Jack would tell her what he wanted to do, and he’d only do it once she said so.

  Gently caressing her folds, Jack could feel the building wetness as soon as one of his fingers found her opening. Gently, because everything tonight would be slow and gentle, he stroked her before slipping one finger inside. Lilly drew a sharp breath, but her body warmed at the penetration, moist heat surrounding him. She pressed into his hand, letting him know she wanted more.

  A second finger went inside, and Jack moved them slowly, responding as Lilly went with him, setting a pace of her own. She held onto his shirt, her breath tickling his neck as she rode his hand to a slow build.

  He thought she was ready to go, when she suddenly pulled away. Her breathing was steady, but labored, her skin flushed. Jack stepped back, not knowing what to expect.

  “I want—” Lilly looked him square in the eyes, and he thought this might be all she could do tonight. When she grabbed his belt, he realized that wasn’t what she was getting at.

  “What do you want? Anything.”

  “I want you with me when I come. Inside me.” Her voice was small, sweet, but sure of what she wanted from him. Giving his shirt a tug, she pulled it out of his shorts, and ran her hands across his abdomen. Then, grabbing the hem, she pulled the shirt up. Jack finished the job, tossing his shirt into the corner.

  Lilly’s hands settled on his chest as she looked up and smiled. “Take me to bed, Jack.”

  Brushing the hair from her face, Jack had never been so invested in someone else. Everything mattered. Every touch, every sensation mattered. Reaching for the flowy top she wore, Jack watched as she tugged it over her head, dropping it to the floor. Her bra followed.

  He was going to lose his mind. She was bold and brave, more angel than woman, and he was the luckiest man to walk the earth. Lilly climbed into the bed and held out her hand to him. An invitation, an offering, a blessing.

  Undoing his belt, he pulled two condoms from his pocket and then rid himself of his shorts. Lilly lay on her side, gazing at him, a mischievous grin teasing her lips when he slid into the bed with her. They touched, skin to skin, heart to heart, and Jack felt like he had come home.

  His hands glided over her body, marveling at the silky smoothness of each curve. Her skin, golden in the dim light, was as warm as a tropical breeze. She was perfection, and for the moment, she was his. In his head, he marveled at the gift she was giving him, and he promised himself her pleasure, her well-being, were all that mattered. Lilly rolled to her back and reached for him.

  “You’re so serious,” she said. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing is wrong, I just want this to be good for you.”

  “It will be. I know it will be.”

  “Tell me what you want.” Lowering himself over her until they almost touched, he waited for her wish list.

  She blinked, licked her lips, then focused her gaze. Jack was falling into a trance, until her hand stroked his dick and electricity shot through him.

  “I’ve been waiting my whole life for you. I just want to feel everything. Everything.” She was breathless, but sure of what she wanted. Jack couldn’t ask for more than that.

  “I’ll make it good.” Jack would do anything to make her happy. The stakes were too high for anything else.

  “I know you will. I’ve always known.”

  The trust she had in him was humbling. In all his life, he never wanted to please a woman more than he wanted to please Lilly. To not just make it good, but to help her heal. To bring a little of the magic back to her life.

  “I want you inside me.”

  The command whispered in the moment was exactly what he needed to hear.

  The invitation, the thought of being wrapped up in her, heated his blood and made him think of fifty different ways to make her call his name. He would do all those things and more, but for now, slow and gentle was what she wanted, so that’s what he’d give her.

  *

  Lilly was a little drunk with power. If someone had told her a year ago she’d be talking dirty to the man of her dreams, she’d have thought the person was insane. Lilly didn’t think she’d ever feel safe with a man again, yet here she was.

  Jack was leaning over her, one hand next to her shoulder, the other brushing her waist, asking her what she wanted. Betw
een them, she could feel his erection pressed into her belly, and the thought of him being inside her brought a wave of pleasure rolling through her. Every nerve ending was firing, and Lilly was never so thankful.

  Finally, their lips met, but unlike other kisses, this one wasn’t meant to linger, this one exploded. It possessed her, and Lilly damn near died as he took her mouth with his. His mouth moved as his tongue swept inside, tasting her essence.

  As quickly as he landed there, he was gone, instead trailing kisses over her neck and chest. Every touch made her want him even more. It was an exquisite torture that only Jack could give her. When his tongue teased her nipple, flicking and circling the tip, she moaned.

  His eyes were closed as he licked and sucked, focusing intently on the task at hand, but he knew enough to hold her hips because she started to buck against him in response to his teasing. “Settle down, beautiful. You said to go slow, and I intend to follow directions.”

  Drawing a deep breath, Lilly draped her arm over her eyes, and focused on the sensations. He left her breasts and dropped kisses on her belly, moving down her body a little bit with each touch of his mouth. It was insanely good, and she could only imagine what he would do next.

  Lilly didn’t have to wait long to find out. As he passed her belly button on his travels south, his hands left her hips and grasped her knees, parting them wide. The intent look that passed across his face was intimidating at the same time it excited her.

  “You look like a man with a plan,” she said, trying to take back some of the control.

  “You could say that. I’m planning on driving you crazy. Are you okay with that?”

  He was asking her permission to go down on her. The man was perfect. Absolutely perfect. “You don’t have to, I mean, I’d love it, but…”

  “Then you shall have it.” Picking up her legs, Jack draped them over his shoulders, giving him easy access to her lady parts. “Try to relax.”

  His hands supported her hips again, and it wasn’t long before her body convulsed at the first touch from his lips. He licked and sucked, nipping at her folds occasionally, and driving her to the edge of reason.