Kade groaned, his eyes drifting shut. His hands tangled in my hair as I lightly sucked. The taste of him, the feeling I got when I watched his face transform into one of pained ecstasy, was like a drug. Moisture dripped from me, coating my inner thighs as I slid him in and out of my mouth, my hands cupping his amazing ass. Soon, he forgot himself, his hips thrusting his heavy cock in my mouth. I was so aroused, I thought I might come from just watching him, knowing I could do this to him. Kade panted, his chest glistening with a light sheen of sweat, moans and gasps falling from his lips. I couldn’t stand it anymore and I lowered a hand to ease the ache between my thighs.

“No,” Kade gasped, abruptly pulling away. “Want to be inside you.”

He’d scooped me up off the floor before I’d even processed what he’d said, then we were on the bed, my legs wrapped around his waist.

Grasping my hands, Kade interlocked our fingers and stretched my arms over my head before burying his cock inside me.

I was so aroused, it didn’t take long before I was coming, my cries cut off by his mouth on mine. Kade moved hard and fast, prolonging my orgasm. He came seconds later, tearing his mouth from mine as he cried out, his body shuddering, the thick length of him pulsing deep inside me.

I was breathing hard and it was difficult to tell whose heartbeat I felt, his or mine. Kade’s head was buried in my neck, then he was kissing me again, a long, lazy kiss that made my toes curl.

“You’re so fucking amazing,” he murmured against my lips. “God, I love you.”

“Ditto,” I managed to reply. “On both counts.”

We lay there like that for a while, both of us getting our breath back, before Kade moved to lie beside me. I turned to face him.

Rays of moonlight scattered across the room and the bed as we each looked into the other’s eyes.

“Thank you,” I said softly.

“I know I’m good, but there’s no need to thank me,” he said, his lips quirking up at the corners.

I laughed, punching him lightly on the arm. “Not for that,” I said. “For today. It was beautiful. Perfect. I couldn’t be happier. Thank you for that.”

Kade reached an arm around my waist, pulling me close to the cradle of his body. “I would do anything for you,” he said simply.

I nestled against him and heaved a deep, contented sigh, the soothing sound of the ocean lulling me to sleep.

Kade woke me during the night. I’d turned in my sleep, my back to his chest spoon style. Now my leg rested on top of his as his cock moved inside me. His thrusts were slow and deep, his fingers slipping between my legs to tease my clit. His lips were pressed against my neck, the touch of his tongue sending a shiver through me. I turned my head and he kissed me. My body felt like molten heat, the fire he was building spreading through me. Soon I was panting, begging for him to move faster, harder, but he wouldn’t, and I didn’t even see my orgasm coming until it overwhelmed me. I splintered apart under the force of it, stars exploding behind my eyes.

Kade groaned at the feel of my body gripping his straining cock, his fingers digging into my hip. Then he was moving me to my stomach. My body felt boneless as he pushed my knees underneath me, lifting my backside up, then I cried out again when he pushed inside me, my flesh overly sensitive.

This position let me feel every inch of him as he pounded into me. Kade losing control was something I couldn’t resist and soon I felt my body tensing again. His hands held my hips steady, and the sound of our bodies coming together and our combined moans and gasps filled my ears. This time when I came, I took Kade with me, both of us flying over the edge together.

Kade was still asleep when morning came, whereas I was wide awake. I grabbed the tuxedo shirt he’d shed the night before and pulled it on. There was a small television in the living room, so I closed the French doors to the bedroom and made a pot of coffee, then turned on the TV. Hawaii was five hours behind the time back home, so even though it was early on Oahu, it was a fine time to call Alisha.

I switched on my phone for the first time in over a week, unsurprised to see a ton of voice mails, all from Alisha. I cringed as I listened to them. Kade had some serious apologizing to do to Alisha and Lewis. After I’d listened to the last one, I dialed her number.

“Oh my God, I thought you were dead!” were the first words out of her mouth.

“I’m not,” I assured her. “Though I could very well have been if Kade hadn’t shown up.” I thought I’d better start greasing the wheels immediately for her to forgive him.

“What happened?” she asked. “Did you get my messages? Did Kade tell you what he did? He is such a bastard, Kathleen!”

Okay, it might take more than grease. Kade might have to send Alisha and Lewis a couple of first-class tickets to Hawaii, too.

“I’m so sorry about that,” I said. “Is Lewis okay?”

Alisha spent the next several minutes telling me how he was doing, and it seemed he was healing nicely—and from the sound of it, he was also enjoying the resulting attention Alisha was lavishing on him maybe a little too much.

“But don’t think for a second that I’ve forgiven Kade,” she said. “And why didn’t you ever tell me he could be so . . . so . . .”

“Scary?” I provided.

“Among other things,” Alisha said. “The way he just stood there and pulled the trigger so easily. It scared the shit out of me, Kathleen.”

“I’m really sorry,” I said. “He’s not like that. I mean, he is, but he’s not. Not really. I’m just . . . I’m sorry.”

Alisha gave a huge sigh. “It’s okay. Lewis is okay. And thank goodness you’re okay. You are, right? He didn’t hurt you or anything?”

“Of course not,” I said. “I’m doing good. I’m in Hawaii. And . . . I’m married.”

That took a moment to sink in and then my ear was splitting. “You’re married?” Alisha shrieked.

I grinned. “Yeah. Last night. Kade and I got married. I guess I’m on my honeymoon now.”

“Oh my God, Kathleen, that’s wonderful!” Alisha squealed, her earlier animosity toward Kade apparently forgotten. “I’m so happy for you! And in Hawaii? How romantic! Tell me everything!”

So I told her pretty much everything, the Reader’s Digest Condensed version, right up through the purple flowers and sunset wedding.

“I heard about the senator,” Alisha said when I was through. “It’s been all over the news. That’s the guy who threatened you if you didn’t break up with Blane, right?”

“Yeah, that was him,” I confirmed.

“Blane’s been on the news, too,” she said hesitantly.

“Is he okay?” I asked, suddenly worried.

“He seems fine. He’s been doing the press thing about his uncle. I think the funeral is tomorrow, maybe?”

My eyes slipped closed and I rubbed my forehead. I ached to talk to him, know how he was doing, and I wished there was a way I could still be someone who provided comfort to him, though I knew that wasn’t possible right now.

“You know there’s talk of the Massachusetts governor appointing Blane to the empty seat, right?” Alisha asked.

My eyes flew open. “What? No, I didn’t.”

“Yeah. There’s been a lot of coverage about Blane, including that thing where they arrested him for Kandi’s murder when someone else really killed her—and lots of people like him. I guess there’s just under two years left of that senator’s term, so they’re saying since Blane was his great-nephew and only heir, the governor might appoint him. You know, kind of like a Kennedy.”

“Wow,” I breathed. Blane, a United States senator. That would be something.

“I know, right?” Alisha said.

We went on to talk about other things and I told her a little bit about Hawaii, but my mind was stuck on what she’d said about Blane. I wondered if he’d want a position like that, then chastised myself. Why wouldn’t he? He’d been running for governor. Why wouldn’t he jump at the chance to be a senator?