Monica was too weak to open her eyes but when she felt the bed move, she forced herself to watch as a naked Landon walked across the room to retrieve a condom packet from his slacks, then sheathed himself. This was the first time she had ever seen a man do that. It suddenly hit her how many firsts she was sharing with Landon. For a woman who’d never experienced an orgasm before, he’d given her two of them within thirty minutes.
“Ready for more?” he asked, returning to the bed.
She was about to suggest they take a nap first when he leaned in and began licking around her mouth, moving his body over hers. He was ready, and she wondered how he could have so much energy. It then dawned on her that the two times she had climaxed, he had not.
“Monica?”
“Umm?”
“Look at me, baby. I need you to look at me.”
She forced her eyes all the way open. He was such a handsome man and the sight of him above her sent all kinds of sensations rushing through her. Then he leaned in and kissed her, and this kiss made her entire body throb.
Reaching up, she curved her arms around his shoulders—those sexy shoulders she liked so much—and could feel the hair on his chest rub against breasts he’d sucked on moments ago.
When he released her mouth, she felt his knees parting her legs, and then his hands lifted her hips. Holding her gaze with his, he slowly entered her.
Monica felt him penetrate her completely. Then he began moving, setting the pace, withdrawing slowly and then reentering her again, establishing a sensuous rhythm that took her breath away.
His thrusts started slow, and then built from there—over and over, deeper and faster, entering and withdrawing. Never had she experienced such excruciating pleasure. Each stroke into her body was precise and perfect, and her hips automatically rose to receive him.
Suddenly, another climax hit her, starting in her core and spreading throughout her body, then ending with uncontrollable shudders. “Landon!”
Within seconds of screaming his name, he threw his head back and hollered hers as he began pumping harder and faster into her, relentlessly, over and over, until another erotic contraction ripped through her. Monica wrapped her legs around him, needing to feel their bodies locked together.
As the spasms slowly began wearing off, Landon shifted his weight off her and gently pulled her into his arms. Even this, having him hold her tenderly while placing small kisses on her face, was a new experience for her. She snuggled closer to him, and as they lay in each other’s arms, she was in awe at what they’d just shared. What he had given her.
He’d definitely kept his promise.
Landon lay awake while Monica slept in his arms. He loved her.
Momentarily closing his eyes, he thought about that. Such an admission should be a lot for him to digest and accept, but honestly, it wasn’t.
He thought back to his family’s history. Most of the men in his family had been lucky in love, having the ability to immediately recognize the woman meant for him. His father had known it the first time he’d met his mom, and Landon had felt the same way when he’d met Simone.
What he hadn’t known was that Simone was only meant to share his life for a short while. They’d had several happy years and he would always appreciate the time he’d had her in his life. But it hadn’t been forever.
Landon now believed that he had fallen in love with Monica the first time he’d seen her in St. Paul. There had been something about her that he’d never been able to forget. Now he realized that it was because she was meant to be his.
That was why their paths had crossed again, why they were together on this ship now. It was fate. Fate was the reason he was holding her in his arms after making unforgettable love to her, being her first in so many ways tonight.
Landon reopened his eyes and silently thanked God for giving him a second chance at love. He knew, at that moment, that he loved Monica more than he could ever love anyone else. She brought out so many emotions within him. Emotions that had been dead for six years.
His biggest challenge, he knew, would be in convincing her that this was how things were meant to be. But he had time—they’d be on the cruise a while yet. By the time they returned to Sydney, he was determined that she would know what she meant to him…and that he intended to make her a part of his life…forever.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sebrina
“SO, TELL ME ABOUT your new housemate, Bree,” Kennedy said. She had dropped by to visit her cousin for lunch.
“There’s nothing to tell, really,” Sebrina said, moving around the kitchen. “He’s working days, so I rarely see him.”
“Okay, then. Tell me about the parts you have seen. Is he cute? Fine? A toad or what?”
Sebrina grinned, shaking her head as she placed sandwiches and iced tea on the table. “Hey, aren’t you a married woman now? I wonder what Haddison would think about his wife asking about another man.”
Kennedy laughed. “Haddison knows he has nothing to worry about. I am crazy about him.”
“And he’s crazy about you. I am so happy for you and Victoria. Every time I see you guys, you’re smiling.”
“Umm, our men give us a lot to smile about.”
“Evidently.”
“So, stop trying to change the subject. Tell me about Parker Stanhope, Bree. I hope I didn’t make a mistake by letting Rae’jean talk me into letting him stay here.”
Sebrina released a deep sigh as she sat down across from Kennedy. “I hope you didn’t make a mistake, too.”
Concern flashed in Kennedy’s eyes. “Why? Is there something about him that I should know?”
Sebrina took a sip of iced tea and said, “Nothing other than the fact that he’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.”
Kennedy stared at her. “Wow, he’s that hot?”
“Probably hotter.”
Kennedy leaned closer to Sebrina. “Honestly?”
Sebrina didn’t say anything. She was close to all her cousins but there had always been a special bond between her and Kennedy. She had been the only one Kennedy had told when she’d fallen hard for Haddison.
“I actually drooled the day I opened the door to him. And everyone at work is raving about him. All I hear, all night, every night, is what a fine specimen Dr. Parker Stanhope is. You wouldn’t believe how the female staff is acting, married or single, nurses and doctors.”
Kennedy smiled. “But of course, you are keeping a level head.”
“Of course.”
“Why? If you want to get to know him better, you have an advantage. You both live under the same roof.”
“Thank God nobody knows about that, at the moment. I’d never live it down.”
“So what? You have an advantage. You should use it.”
Sebrina frowned over at her cousin. “Kennedy Bennett Wolf, don’t you dare put ideas in my head.”
“Why not? Don’t you think it’s time that you forgot about Wade Simon, once and for all?”
Sebrina rolled her eyes. “Wade hasn’t been in the picture in years,” she said of her teen crush who she’d thought she would love forever.
She thought back to the times she couldn’t wait to visit her father every summer in New Jersey, just so she could spend time with Wade, her first love. His parents had been neighbors of her father and grandparents.