She stayed quiet for several moments, then swallowed hard. “I need some time to think about it.”
Although disappointment flashed in his eyes, he didn’t push her. “I guess I can’t ask for more than that.” Breaking eye contact, he picked up the remote control and turned off the television, the horrific images on the screen disappearing into black. “Are you hungry? Charlotte said something about going to Betty’s diner for lunch.”
“I could eat, I guess.”
Austin stood up. “Cool. I’ll get Charlotte. Meet me in the car?”
“Sure.” She chewed on her lower lip, not at all focused on the idea of lunch. Her thoughts were already a million miles away.
Later that night, Austin slid into bed and tried not to jostle Mari, who was sound asleep. Her reddish hair was fanned across the light-blue pillow, her lips parted slightly as she drew in quiet, even breaths.
She wasn’t going to come with him.
He knew it without a shred of doubt, and the depressing thought caused his chest to tighten with regret.
Let’s stay in Paradise. Together.
Her words buzzed around in his head, loud and persistent. He wished it could be that easy. Just stay in Paradise with Mari. There. Sounded simple when it was phrased like that.
But the problem was, Paradise wasn’t some perfect little bubble where only the two of them existed. His family was here. His mother and Rice. His parents.
This last week had felt like an uphill climb that never seemed to end. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to open up to Della. It was like there was an invisible barrier between them, one he couldn’t breach. The close relationship he’d once had with his mother seemed like a distant memory, and now when he was with her, everything felt so awkward and difficult. It just didn’t feel right.
In fact, being back in Paradise…that didn’t feel right either. A part of him truly wondered if maybe he just didn’t belong here anymore.
He remembered Mari talking about how she hadn’t fit in back in Des Moines, how she hadn’t seemed to belong, either. But ironically, she fit right in now. He hadn’t missed the bounce to her step as she explored Paradise, the happiness in her eyes when she spent time with Charlotte and Maddie. In the week she’d been here, she’d made friends, filled an entire sketchbook, even landed a job.
It suddenly occurred to him that he was a real ass for asking her to leave the first place she’d felt truly happy in.
A ragged breath squeezed out of his lungs as the realization sank in. He couldn’t take Mari with him to Malaysia. She needed to stay here. She belonged here, even if he didn’t.
“What’s that big heavy sigh for?” came her sleepy voice.
“Did I wake you?” he said gruffly.
She shifted under the covers and snuggled up to him. “Yeah, but I don’t mind. Where’d you go?”
“Just down to the kitchen to grab some water. I couldn’t sleep.”
Even in the darkness, he could see the concern in her big blue eyes. “Everything okay?” she asked.
Not really.
“Everything’s fine.”
“Good.” She moved closer, one warm hand grasping his chin and bringing his head down for a kiss.
The moment their lips met, a rush of desperation flooded his chest. He couldn’t believe how much he’d come to care about this woman, and in less than a month. Mari affected him like no other woman ever had. She was smart, funny, unbelievably caring. And she made him happier than he’d felt in a long, long time.
“I…” He broke the kiss and cleared his throat. “I think I’m falling for you.”
Surprise widened her eyes. “What?”
Rather than repeat himself, he kissed her again, a long, deep kiss that made her whimper against his lips. That streak of desperation returned, prompting him to roll over and cover her body with his. He moaned when their lower bodies made contact, rubbing his hardening cock against her warm mound.
“I need you,” he ground out.
Mari was already tugging on the waistband of his boxers. She freed his cock and wrapped her fingers around it, giving him a slow pump that made him shiver.
Groaning, Austin flung an arm in the direction of the nightstand and grabbed a condom. As he sheathed himself, Mari wiggled out of her PJ’s, revealing those perfect breasts that made his mouth water.
There was no foreplay, no more words exchanged. With one deep stroke, he buried himself inside her. The heat of her pussy surrounded his cock, her inner muscles clamped around him as if to trap him in place. His skin was on fire, heart beating fast against his ribcage in a sharp staccato.
And his pulse only raced even faster when Mari gazed up at him with those gorgeous blue eyes and murmured, “Make love to me.”