She was already fighting off an instant orgasm, because she didn’t want it to end. She wanted to keep feeling him, keep having him.
“Don’t hold back,” he said as if sensing she was trying to do just that. “Come for me. Let go and give it up, baby.”
She shook her head. “No.”
With one arm wrapped around her waist, the other came up to grip her hair, forcing her to look him in the eyes.
“I want you to come,” he said and thrust harder.
She bit her lip because she was going to. Any moment, the sparks of pleasure already flying through her veins like freshly lit dynamite would engulf her completely.
“No,” she said around gritted teeth.
“Why?” he asked as he continued pumping in and out.
Because I don’t want this to end.
She couldn’t say it out loud. Couldn’t even admit it to herself. Because this was the end. It had to be. When she met his gaze, something honest and a little scared flickered across his face. She had to take control. Had to feel him, please him, if only to pretend she was independent.
She tightened her grip and threw herself into him as powerfully as she could.
“Whoa there, princess…” he said. But instead of slowing down, he sped up. His grip tightened, and he fused his mouth over hers.
Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t hold back. She screamed with her release as it flooded like a dam breaking beneath her skin, and Dex caught every octave of her cries with his mouth and swallowed them down.
His body tensed as his own climax hit him. And yet he continued to thrust. Even when she was spent, he kept those heady aftershocks kicking through her. She clung to the fading pleasure of her orgasm the same way she was clinging to the fading pleasure of being with him. But seconds later, the pleasure was gone, the same way she knew this relationship would be.
“I think we were successful in getting dirty and clean at the same time,” she breathed against his mouth, keeping him inside of her and refusing to unlock her legs. A more independent woman wouldn’t cling like this. Which was what terrified her. Because she should let go. Should be the woman she’d been trying to be. Instead she just hugged him harder. Because once she finally let go, she’d let go for good.
He brushed a palm over her face and smiled. “You’re right. And just think, we could also count this as water training.”
She gave a small laugh. “Best training ever.”
Chapter Twelve
Dex couldn’t put it off any more. Maybe after tonight, Michelle would want to discuss where to go from here. This didn’t have to be over. Maybe they could make some kind of relationship work. He just had to see if she was open to that. He had strong hopes that she was. She’d clung to him, held him, and wrapped around him like she didn’t want to let go. Surely this couldn’t be just about sex and her list…
So he sent her a text inviting her to one final survival lesson. If he succeeded, she’d stick around with the guy no one stuck with. If he failed…
He wouldn’t fail. Failure wasn’t a part of his reality.
His phone buzzed with a text.
Michelle: What exactly is GPS training?
Dex: Getting lost in the dark and finding your way. We can practice in your bedroom. Fair warning. I may have to use my hands excessively to feel my way around you.
A few seconds passed. He waited like a teenager hoping his first crush showed any sign of interest. Jesus, he had it bad.
Then her reply came.
Michelle: I’ll meet you at your place as soon as I close the shop.
Michelle blushed reading Dex’s text. He was casual, fun, and always had some sexy remarks waiting for her. She’d promised to help him with all his hours, and she’d stick to that. No matter her decision to walk away, she owed him at least that much.
She’d thrown herself into her work these past few days. Crunching numbers and receipts. The math wasn’t looking good. She needed a few good weeks, maybe a solid marketing gimmick to really push her into the black.
She ran her hand over the pile of bills and invoices near her cash register and sighed. She couldn’t fail. But now it looked like that was inevitable.
The door dinged on her little shop, and she put her phone down to acknowledge the customer. Only it wasn’t a customer. It was…
“Mom?” she asked. “Dad?”
Bile rose in her throat as they walked into her boutique, both in matching Michael Kors fall collection styles and so much arrogance that her shop could barely hold it all in.
“Hello, Michelle.” Her mother came to her and gave her an air kiss on her cheek. Ah, affection from her mother could never be topped…
“What are you two doing here?” Michelle asked as shock settled in.
Her father walked through the store and examined everything. He didn’t say a word. Just looked and judged. Much like Dex’s mom had looked at her last week. Only with a different kind of judgment in mind. Her parents were clearly not impressed with her. And Dex’s mother was obviously sickened with Michelle’s “impressiveness.”