Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Kins,” I groan when I’m close, “if you don’t want me to come in you, you’re gonna have to move now.”
Instead of her moving off my lap, she shocks the hell out of me when she pulls my face to hers and fucks me harder, kissing me like I’m the air she needs to breathe as we both find our release.
As we catch our breath, she leans in and nuzzles her face into my neck. “I never thought I’d feel like this again,” she murmurs softly.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m not so broken.”
“I can’t believe it’s raining.” Kinsley pouts, staring out at the buckets of rain hitting the pool while I make us breakfast.
Yesterday, it was nice out, so we spent some time in the heated pool before we walked down the beach to a local bar and restaurant, where we had dinner and hung out, listening to the band play while we had a few drinks. But today, since the moment we got out of bed, it’s been pouring down rain.
“That’s New York for you. One minute, it’s snowing, and the next, it’s ninety degrees. Then, you turn around, and it’s pouring outside.” I set her bowl of Greek yogurt and iced latte on the island and walk over to her.
“I used to love the rain,” she admits, her gaze staying locked on the outside. “Until that night.”
I wrap my arms around her from behind, and she sighs into me.
“How can something so beautiful be so devastating?”
I don’t answer since I know she’s not actually looking for one. She’s lost in herself, stuck between the present and past, and all I can do is be there for her until she’s back here with me.
“Rain used to make me think of good things, like dancing in the rain, skinny-dipping during a storm.”
Through her reflection in the sliding glass door, I can see the silent tears sliding down her cheeks.
“It reminded me of a new day. It’s what makes the grass grow and the flowers bloom.”
“It can still mean that,” I tell her, an idea coming to me.
I reach into my pocket and pull my phone out and find the song I’m looking for. Taylor’s played it a million times over the years, and when the words start up, I know I’ve found the right one.
“Dance with me,” I tell Kinsley, pushing the slider open and extending my hand.
She looks at me with confusion etched in her features until her brain wraps around the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s “Fearless.”
She takes my hand, and even though no words are spoken—both of us letting the lyrics speak for themselves—we can feel the shift in the moment.
I pull her outside, and with the song playing loudly—even over the rain pelting the area—I hold her in my arms and sway to the music.
The rain drenches us, and at first, Kinsley doesn’t smile, still lost in her thoughts, but then I spin her around playfully so she glides away from me and then straight back into my arms, and her eyes light up with mirth.
“It’s so cold!” she yells, wrapping her arms around my neck as we continue to dance. “But it feels so good.”
I bend down and capture her mouth with mine, and she hops into my arms. We dance like this for several minutes, in the cold rain, our bodies and mouths connected, and then I do something she doesn’t see coming. I run us toward the pool and jump in.
Kinsley screams as we plunge into the water, and then she’s laughing so hard that she can barely catch her breath as she holds on to me for dear life.
Her hair is a mess, and the bit of makeup she put on when she woke up is dripping down her cheeks, yet she’s never looked so damn beautiful.
“I can’t believe you did that.” She shakes her head, her smile still in full force.
“I love you,” I tell her, pushing several strands of hair that were sticking to her forehead out of her eyes. “There are going to be good days and bad, but I promise, no matter what happens, I’ll be right here, dancing in the rain with you.”
I press my lips to hers, and she wraps her arms around me tighter, like I’m her lifeline.
“I want that too,” she murmurs against my lips. “I want to dance in the rain with you.”
TWENTY-THREE
Kinsley
“I should go,” I say, making no move to leave.
We got back to Shane’s house a couple of hours ago and have been lounging on his couch, watching reruns of trash TV ever since. He didn’t ask if I wanted to be dropped off at home, and I didn’t suggest it, not ready for our weekend to be over yet.
Despite the crappy weather, we had an amazing time at the cottage, creating memories that will last a lifetime.