After the Rain by Lisa de Jong Page B

on him. After we both catch our breaths, I lay my head softly against his chest and let his fingers skim my back.
    “How do you feel?” he asks quietly.
    “Perfect,” I reply, kissing his chest.
    “Every moment with you is perfect.”

One-Year Anniversary - September 2013

    K ATE AND I HAVE BEEN TOGETHER for one year today. Time seems to move so much faster when I’m happy, and I’ve been grinning like a fool for months now.
    Today is also our last day in Carrington before we head back to college, and I plan on taking Kate to the lake one last time before we leave. We’ve been there almost every day this summer so it seems right to say goodbye.
    “You ready to go?” I whisper in her ear, wrapping my arms around her from behind.
    “Yep, let me grab the cooler, and I’ll meet you outside.”
    I kiss her cheek and when she looks back over her shoulder, I loosen my grip, resting my hands on her hips. “Don’t take too long, beautiful. I can’t wait to see you in that new blue bikini.”
    “Beau.”
    “Yeah?”
    “The quicker you let me go, the quicker you get your wish.” She smiles and tries to move away from me, but I pull her back.
    “One more kiss,” I say, spinning her around to face me. Not giving her time to answer, I press my lips to hers and envelop her in my arms. I start slow and gentle at first before pulling her lower lip between my teeth. The soft moan that escapes her just makes me crave more. Her heart races against my chest, and I know if I don’t stop now, we’re not going to make it to the lake. Just as her arms snake around my neck, I pull back and say, “Hurry up, and we’ll finish that when we get there.”
    She bites her lower lip, knowing how fucking crazy it makes me. When I try to pull her into my arms again, she steps back. “Go wait in the truck.”
    “You better hurry,” I growl, playfully smacking her ass before walking backward toward the door.
    As I step outside, I realize that the most gorgeous girl in the world is in that house, and she’s all mine. We all find people in this world who we are attracted to because of their beauty, but with Kate, that beauty shines on the inside and out. My only job is to make sure she always sparkles, even on our darkest days.
    I climb into my truck and roll my window down to let some of the stale, warm air out. After I turn on some country music, I sit back and watch the door, waiting for her to come out. When the door finally opens, I can’t keep my eyes off her. It feels like an eternity before she’s finally in my truck.
    “It’s about time,” I say as she climbs in.
    “Beau.”
    “Yes, beautiful?”
    “Just drive.” She smiles, waving her hand out the window.
    The short drive to the lake is quiet. There’s nothing better than having the fresh summer air whipping through your hair as you drive, listening to guys croon about the women they love. It’s my idea of heaven, really, especially with Kate here.
    As I pull into the parking lot by the beach, her face lights up. I know she loves this place just as much as I do.
    “What are you waiting for?” I ask, running my thumb along her cheekbone.
    “I was just thinking about how much I love this place,” she smiles, looking over at me.
    “It holds a lot of memories,” I say, tucking a few strands of loose hair behind her ear.
    “That it does. Let’s go make new ones.” She gives me the seductive grin that brings my cock to life. She’s told me a few times that she thinks she’s an amateur at seduction, but I know she’s wrong; she gets me every time.
    As we drive closer to the lake, my nerves start to boil over. Today is going to be a big day for me, and I hope that it’s just as big for Kate. I think I’ve known this day would come for years now, but we hit a few bumps along the way that made me doubt everything I thought I wanted. Sometimes, though, life takes us on a wild journey to force us to appreciate more what we’re given. Now, I have to work hard to