Matt sat on his lumpy hotel room bed and tried to pay attention to the television.His meeting today with Summer hadn't gone as well has he'd hoped, but it had gone better than he had any right to expect. She hadn't told him to take a flying hike, but he was still stuck here while she was in her lonely bed, miles away. At least now she knew he was real. What was it going to take to convince her he was serious about her, about them? He'd spent his whole life falling in love with Summer. He didn't want to wait months or even years for her to fall in love with him.He'd done more walking than usual today, and his hip ached. Since he was trying to keep his use of pain pills to the bare minimum, he went down to the hotel's pool area and lounged in the hot tub for a while, letting the heated jets relax the stiffened muscles. A small spa was definitely something to consider for his backyard. He figured it could be added unobtrusively, without significant damage to the landscaping. That thou

It was time to bite the bullet. Summer dragged in a deep breath. "In my room. It's kind of designed for kids, but with three of the others married now, I got last pick." Except for poor Sam, who would be stuck up in the overhead loft on a sleeping bag. At least her room had a full-sized bed, even if it also had a pink canopy and a shelf full of kids' books and toys. If the family grew any larger, they'd have to start renting two houses for their summer vacations."You sure?" His voice dropped to a husky rumble, and all thoughts of canopies and children's books disappeared from Summer's mind.She looked up at him and smiled. Who did she think she was fooling? She'd known from the moment he appeared on her beach that they'd end up in the same bed sooner rather than later. "I'm sure. It's the one at the far end of the hallway."Suitcase in hand, he motioned for her to lead the way. Once inside the tiny bedroom, he laughed. "You weren't kidding, were you? I'm going to hang over three, i

When they both ran out of breath, Matt reluctantly pulled out of Summer's snug, wet heat and all but collapsed on his side next to her.She rolled to face him, face glistening with sweat, her eyes gleaming and a smug smile on her face. Reaching up with one shaky hand, he smoothed a strand of hair off her cheek."Wow." She blinked and dragged in a lungful of air. "I always thought the dreams exaggerated reality.""Me too." There was a box of tissues on the nightstand and a trash can beside it so he rolled over and dealt with the condom before turning back to her. "I guess we both learned something new.""Now it's my turn to explore," she said with a wicked grin. She rolled on top of him, forcing Matt to his back.He went without a fight, content to let her have her turn."You're leaner than you were a year ago but still in good shape. Did you lose some weight in the hospital?""A little." Damn, she was observant."And all these new scars." She knelt above him, kissing each and e

"Can I take you out to dinner then? I think maybe we should slow things down, spend some time together doing the so-called normal things." He clenched the table in both hands as he waited for her answer, and she'd bet he didn't even know he was doing it. The fact that she had the power to make him nervous made her want to forgive him all the more."I know a great barbecue place not too far away," she offered. "We wouldn't have to dress up or anything. Just throw on some flip-flops and go.""You're asking a Texan to go to a barbecue place in South Carolina?" The teasing glint was back in his eyes and her heart lifted."Boy, you haven't tasted real barbecue until you've had Charleston barbecue." She stood and shook out her mostly dry hair. "Come on. Tonight you can drive and I'll buy dinner." She hoped he recognized an olive branch when he saw one. And a test. Could he stand to let her buy dinner?"Yes ma'am." He drained his glass and stood. "Anything you want."Well, at least he's

Matt picked up one of the strips of toweling and knotted it to the foot rail of the bed. "No safe words, no games. Just say no or ask me to stop at any time, and I will, no questions asked. Okay?""Perfect." Summer looked up at him, her eyes wide, her smile trusting. Lifting her foot for him to secure it, she stayed otherwise utterly still.He looked up at the wetness coating her pussy and could practically taste her on his tongue. It didn't take him long to tie the other foot, spreading her open for him."Hurry," she murmured. He could tell she was struggling to keep her hips from wriggling. "I want you, Matt.""I want you too, darlin'. But part of this game is that you only talk if I ask you a question. Got it?""Yes, Matt." She licked her lips and watched him tie her right hand to the headboard.Finally, when he had the left secured, he stood next to the nightstand, stripped off his jeans and rolled a condom onto his aching cock. He looked down at Summer, who eyed his erection