Jim and I walked along the shore, holding hands. The water was too cold to swim, but dipping our feet in it was surprisingly pleasant.

The wine and Jim's kisses made me warm and fuzzy. I hadn't missed a chance to lean into Jim or touch him since we rose from the blanket. Judging by the grin on his face, he noticed.

"I'm not tipsy." I nudged his bicep. "Just happy."

"Better." Jim patted my behind. "I'd rather you remembered everything."

"You made the day worth remembering."

Jim smiled, looking at his feet and then at me. "Way to make a guy feel good. I'm glad you liked it. Just so you know, the day's not over yet. It's barely after six."

"What else did you plan?"

Clasping my hand in his, Jim led me back to the blanket and sat on it, pulling me onto his lap. "Whatever we feel like doing. There's no plan and no pressure. We belong to ourselves and can do whatever we want."

"Eating cake for breakfast?"

Jim pressed a kiss to my shoulder. "We've done that."

"Dancing?"

"Definitely a good idea."

"Watching sunset by the lake?"

Jim frowned and pointed ahead of us. "See the clouds over there?"

"They are far, and they didn't promise rain."

Jim moved me off his lap gently. "I don't wanna be a killjoy, but we'd better hurry.

"For real?"

"You'll see."

We barely had time to collect our things when the first raindrop fell. Stormy clouds covered the sun, and the sky wasn't blue anymore -shades of gray-tinted it, making everything around us look darker.

Jim and I hurried to the forest. Tree branches provided us with temporary shelter from the pelting rain, but the cold drops assaulted us when we turned onto the path leading to the Victorian.

Our feet slapped against the wet grass as we ran in the direction of the house. Jim extended the blanket over our heads, but it only managed to slow us down.

The wet fabric clung to my skin. I laughed, breathless, struggling to keep up with Jim.

He took my hand in his and ran faster.

"Jim!" I squealed.

"Almost there."

We dashed to the porch and climbed the wooden steps, panting.

"Damn." Jim pressed his forehead to the front door, trying to slow down his breathing as he searched his pocket for the key.

The first clap of thunder echoed in the distance when we stepped into the house and closed the door behind us.

Jim pushed his wet hair back and caressed my cheek. "You must be freezing. There's hot water, and I brought a hair dryer."

"What about you?"

"I'll use the bathroom downstairs. Take your time."

I left my sandals by the front door and trudged up the stairs. In the bedroom, I rooted through the contents of the drawer and pulled out a black lacy bralette and matching panties, followed by a long silk robe.

The hot water did wonders to my cold skin. When I was done bathing, I blow-dried my hair and went back to the bedroom.

It was dark. The wind howled outside, and heavy drops hit the window glass. I hugged myself, looking at the almost-black sky.

"Ava."

Jim's quiet voice sounded behind me. I swiveled my head to meet his gaze.

His eyes trailed over my body, making me feel both exposed and admired.

My eyes lingered on his toned torso. In nothing but a black tee and a pair of shorts sitting low on his hips, Jim looked handsome. He was handsome. Mine.

"I was going to offer you a cup of something hot. Would you like that?"

"Yes, please." I smiled.

Jim waited until I was next to him to grab my hand and lead me downstairs.

In the kitchen, he turned on the light and busied himself with the tea while I leaned against the counter, watching him.

Jim handed me a mug. "I bought it the other day. It's good."

"Thank you."

The slightly citrusy flavor coated my tongue as I took the first sip. "Bergamot?" I asked Jim.

"Yeah. I like it."

"Me too."

We looked at each other over the rims of our mugs. The heat that rose to my cheeks had little to do with the drink I was sipping. Jim seemed nervous as well- being so quiet was unlike him.

I rested my mug on the counter and approached him. He pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tightly. "Ava."

"Yeah?"

The light went out, leaving us in the dark. Jim's brows furrowed as he flicked on the light switch on the wall. Nothing happened.

"The power went out," he said. "The guys who fixed the roof told me it happens quite often."

"So, what are we gonna do?"

"Refill the mugs and go upstairs. The fireplace in the bedroom works. We'll be warm."

Jim knew what he was doing. Bright orange flames licked the firewood in barely five minutes, and the air grew warmer.

"Come here," Jim called, dragging an armchair closer to the fire.

He sat on it and pulled me toward him. I landed on Jim's lap and pressed myself to him, circling his neck with my arms and putting my head on his shoulder.

Jim turned his head just barely, but it was enough for his lips to brush against mine.

Enough for me to crave more.

Every nerve ending of mine stirred, tingling with anticipation. My heart rate spiked, and my breathing turned shallow.

"Ava," Jim whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I need to know what you want and expect. I need you to tell me where the limit is tonight."

His gaze was serious, and so was the tone of his voice.

I caressed his cheek. "I want everything, but I also feel nervous. Is it okay to be nervous about something you're sure of?"

"A hundred percent sure?" Jim's voice turned thicker, huskier.

"A thousand. I just... I know it might hurt. More than that, I... I'm afraid to disappoint you."

"It's my job to make it painless. Even if you feel discomfort, it shouldn't be pain. I won't go through with it unless you're ready. And fuck, you would never disappoint me, baby. Whatever you do, I'll love it. I love you. Okay?"

"Okay," I said.

My pulse ramped up when Jim kissed me. This time, it wasn't measured and slow. This time, it was a promise of what he was about to do.

The tip of his tongue traced the seam of my lips. Jim's hands glided over the silk of my robe and undid the knot of the belt. The fabric slid off me. Jim stopped kissing me and tossed the robe onto the bed. His lips returned to mine, and the smoldering heat of the kiss was almost too much to bear.

Jim's tongue swiped a slow stroke followed by another one. He sucked on my tongue gently while his deft hands wandered over my curves.

"So perfect," he said, brushing his fingertips over my breasts. I took advantage of him breaking the kiss to lift my chin and expose my neck to Jim's lips.

"Do you trust me?" Jim asked, placing tender kisses on the column of my throat. There was a slight tremor to his voice, from nervousness or anticipation, I couldn't tell.

"Of course, I do," I whispered, clenching my eyes shut.

"Straddle my lap, baby."

My eyes opened. I put my legs on either side of Jim, and he caressed them, moving his palms up to my thighs.

Every movement of his was slow, teasing. I stared into his eyes and moved forward slightly so that my chest would press against him.

Jim stopped me. He trailed his fingertips up my front and hooked them under the lacy straps of my bralette to tug the fabric down.

"I know who the luckiest man tonight is," Jim murmured, cupping my bare breasts with his hands. The sensation made my head spin.

His lips latched onto my neck, and his fingers rubbed the aching peaks. Jim went on to press wet kisses to my skin. His fingers followed the rhythm he set with his mouth, teasing my nipples until I couldn't hold in the moans.

He moved one of his hands down to my front and pushed the lace of my underwear aside. I lifted myself off his lap to make the access easier. Warm mouth covered my breast, and a finger slipped inside me.

"Jimmy." My fingertips dug into Jim's shoulders. All of it- the movement of his finger in and out of me, the way his wet lips trapped my nipple between them and sucked hard - was the most incredible sensation I'd felt.

Jim's mouth moved from one breast to the other, and his thumb pressed against the tight bundle of nerves, massaging it.

I rocked my hips, lost in him, needy and shameless. Jim watched me through his thick lashes and cussed quietly when I clenched around him. My heart rate spiked, and the air struggled to get into my lungs. I buried my hand in Jim's hair, holding his head to my chest, afraid that he'd stop kissing me.

He kissed me faster until all the tension transformed into pleasure so great I failed to muffle my cry.

Jim stopped touching me. Carefully, he rose to his feet, holding me in his arms, and put me on the white sheets.

He got rid of my underwear and yanked his shirt over his head. His shorts were still on.

"Those have to go." I reached forward, slipping a finger under the tight band.

Jim's long fingers circled my wrist. "I have to get something from the bag."

"You told me you did the tests."

Jim cleared his throat. "Yeah. Not because I...you know I haven't been with anyone since December."

"I'm on birth control. If you want to, we can, but we don't have to."

Jim leaned forward, bracing his hands on the mattress on either side of me. "It's up to you. It's your decision to make. Tell me what you want, and it's enough."

"To feel all of you." I kissed Jim's chest. "And be with you."

My words spurred Jim on. He hooked his thumbs under the band of his shorts and yanked them down. Nothing was underneath. I caressed his hot, pulsing length, admiring his entire body for the first time the way he did with mine.

Cupping Jim's backside, I tugged him toward me and kissed the V his muscles formed. My lips lingered on his hipbone.

"Your tattoo," I said. Thin tree branches spanned over Jim's skin, but one of the branches had small letters. I touched them.

"My family's initials. I'll add the ones of my wife and my child. Or children," Jim whispered, burying his hand in my hair.

I dragged the tip of my tongue over the design.

"Ava." Jim threw his head back, his expression tortured.

I wrapped my fingers around him and moved my hand up and then down. Jim put one of his knees on the mattress and leaned down, gently pushing me onto my back. My palms pressed to his back as I silently asked him to lie on top of me.

It'd been the first time my naked body touched his, the first time I let him see all of me and saw all of him.

"Spread your legs, baby," he asked, his voice unsteady. When I did, Jim braced his weight on his forearms and covered my mouth with his.

Our tongues rubbed against one another. I couldn't get enough of kissing him, and the noises Jim made in the back of his throat only made me ache for him more.

He kissed my breasts, my collarbone and neck, and then my lips again. Jim's fingers found me ready. He pressed his tip to my opening and stilled with his hand on my cheek. "If you have doubts-"

"None," I said, tracing the contours of his jaw with my thumb.

We kissed again, slowly, gently. "I fucking love you," Jim rasped, rocking his hips. My lips parted. I stared into Jim's eyes and took a deep breath, readying myself for what was about to happen.

With one measured thrust, Jim was fully inside me. He kissed me softly and lifted himself off me a fraction to look at my face.

I winced at the slight discomfort.

"It doesn't hurt, baby," I said, seeing the worry on Jim's face. "Just feels different."

An incredible kind of different.

"My sweet girl," Jim whispered, placing a string of kisses on my shoulder and neck. "I want you to come with me inside you."

Jim's mouth found my nipple. His tongue caressed it, and his fingers did the same with my clit. I was close again.

The pressure grew stronger. Jim started to move when it became unbearable, rubbing and kissing me faster, sliding in and out of me. My muscles spasmed, and I let go with Jim's name on my lips. He thrust hard, several times in a row, growing harder and thicker with each movement. His face clenched. Jim's body tensed, and then, I felt him let go, moaning my name.

"I love you," I said, stroking a hand down the damp skin of his back.

"I love you," Jim mumbled, nuzzling into my neck, wrapping me protectively in his arms.

We listened to the rain outside with our bodies still joined and our hearts beating in unison.