Exposed (Let Me Love You #3)

Chapter 30

30

BOAT RIDE

PEPPER

S imon started falling asleep around 7:00 p.m., and Matt doesn’t like his parents driving late at night, so everyone is gone by 7:30 p.m.

“I’ve got someplace special I want to take you,” Matt announces as soon as everyone leaves. “Bring a change of clothes and your toothbrush.”

“Is it a surprise?” I ask.

“Yeah, wifey. Let’s go.” He twirls his parents’ classic car keys around his fingers.

I blush at him calling me “wifey.” This may be a marriage for the sake of his custody issues, but it doesn’t stop butterflies from taking flight in my stomach. I’ve never had someone want to surprise me before, and it makes me giddy.

An hour later, we’re cruising along the Aveline coast in Matt’s family boat. Matt took his shirt off as soon as we got on the boat, and watching him drive a boat shirtless is hotter than I expected. Honestly, whatever he does shirtless keeps my attention.

Sitting in the passenger seat, I pull my legs up to my chest as the cool ocean breeze blows past us and ruffles my hair.

We slice through the glittering ocean water, and when I look over the side of the boat, the water is lit up with a neon blue color.

“It’s glowing,” I squeal. This is incredible.

“Bioluminescent dinoflagellates. When the water gets stirred around, the algae lights up. Usually they aren’t visible until later in the year. Even the plankton want to be around you, princess,” Matt announces over the noise of the boat.

As our boat cuts through the water, the algae illuminates in what seems like a thousand different shades of blue, and I feel like I’m on another planet. We pass a few couples kayaking in the water, checking out the bioluminescent algae, too.

“I never thought I’d see this in real life. You grew up seeing this, you lucky duck. It’s breathtaking,” I remark.

There are a few people walking along the shore, stirring up the algae with their feet in the surf. It’s mostly quiet, though, which is a stark contrast to Miami’s rowdy beaches.

Since I’ve been Simon’s nanny, Matt’s brought me to Aveline a few times to have dinner or lunch with his family, and it seems like a peaceful place to grow up.

Not for the first time, I wonder what would it have been like to have a childhood like his. Simon is going to grow up like a little prince, he’ll be so treasured. My mind dances with visions of being there to watch him learn to walk, throw a ball, ride a bike, see this bioluminescence and learn all about the world around him.

What if my marriage to Matt were real? What if I got to stay with Simon and Matt for the rest of my life? Simon is a special baby, and his dad is one of a kind. I kind of wish this marriage were real.

Sighing, I glance heavenward, and the night sky is bursting with twinkling stars and a crescent moon. I don’t know if we’ll be able to clear my name. The rest of my days could be spent in a jail cell for crimes I didn’t commit. I can’t sit here and dwell on a future with Matt and Simon that may never happen.

My days of living outside of prison walls could be numbered. Whoever framed me could be hot on my tail and find me tomorrow. That last thought plagues me every night.

Pushing all those possibilities out of my head, I focus on the present. Tonight I’m free, and I get to be with Matt. Hopefully, it’ll be our first night of actual sex. We’ve gotten each other off and done oral several times, and I’m ready to go all the way with him.

Not to mention, I couldn’t ask for a more perfect setting for our first time. Tonight, I’ll pretend I’m a princess, because Matt is a real life Prince Charming. For now, he’s my husband. I said he’s a lucky duck, but for the time being, I’m one, too.

Between the glow-in-the-dark ocean water below and the twinkling night sky above, it’s hard to take my eyes off the beauty surrounding us.

Except Matt is so sexy, with his veiny, muscled hands and forearms flexing as he turns the wheel of the boat, then kills the engine.

He’s definitely my favorite nighttime view.

“Oh, wife. That’s fucking hot of you to say. You’re my favorite view all the time,” he grins.

I said that out loud, and I laugh at his response. “Thanks, Matt. This is freaking awesome. I’ve never been on a boat before, much less seen bioluminescence.”

He looks at me with a sly grin. “Gonna give you another first tonight.” He drops the anchor with a splash, then lights a candle and sets it on the driver’s seat. The smell of salty ocean air mixes with a coconut fragrance.

“Another first? I’m not swimming with the sharks.” I draw that boundary fast and hard.

“No swimming tonight,” he agrees with a chuckle.

Matt spreads a big blanket on the open space at the front of the boat. “Lay down with me.”

“What the…?” The blanket is the same super soft, lush material as Simon’s blanket. Except instead of the blue color, a beautiful sunflower print covers it.

“Happy wedding day, wife.” He’s grinning at me when my eyes find his again. We lay together, and he props himself up with one elbow and faces me.

“The sunflowers at the ceremony were gorgeous, Matt.”

“Yeah, they turned out great.”

Matt always seems open to listening to me, so I share more of myself with him. “At show-and-tell one year in elementary school, one of the rich girls brought photos of herself in a sunflower field. There were several big sunflower fields near where I grew up in Newburgh, New York. I always wanted to go to one but never had the chance. Thanks for going to all that trouble today.”

“It was no trouble. My family helped, and they recruited my friends to help.”

“Your family and friends are saints,” I whisper. “My own family would’ve never done that for me.”

“Your family was horrible for not treating you like the precious gift you are.” His lips meet mine in a sensual kiss, his thumb caressing my cheek as he cups my face. He’s slow but purposeful. Each stroke of his tongue in my mouth has me imagining him doing the same on my clit.

He breaks the kiss but keeps holding my face. “This isn’t a regular marriage, but you’re my wife now. I’ll protect you and make sure we find out who framed you, Pep. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for helping me try to get sole custody of Simon.”

“I’m here to help,” I whisper. Truth be told, I like feeling needed.

Matt’s lips find mine again, and I melt against his body. Without Simon here, there’s no rush. Waves lap against the boat, creating a rhythmic, zen-like sound. The boat gently sways back and forth, and we’re rocked by the waves as Matt’s hands explore up under my clothes.

Every guy I’ve been with, my affinity for them waned the more I got to know them. It’s the opposite with Matt. The more I get to know him, the more I fall for him. Sometimes, I think I’m going to wake up and realize meeting him was all a dream. But I sure hope not .

After a little while, Matt pulls back with a relaxed grin. “I’ve got a couple of surprises for you.”

I got something for him, too. For both of us really. When I became Simon’s nanny, Matt gave me a credit card to buy whatever I needed. I use it sparingly, but I did find something I think he’ll like.

“I brought something with me,” I admit.

“You first.”

I get up and retrieve the package from the bag I brought with me.

“It’s spermicide.” I show him the package with an aerosol can inside.

By showing him this, I’m basically telling him I’m down for sex on this boat. The railing is high enough to cover our bodies if we’re laying down. Plus, the darkness covers us. I’ve never had sex outside, but with Matt, I’m open to it.

“Spermi-what?” Matt’s face is a show of confusion.

“It’s a foam you insert into me, and it kills your sperm.” I hand him the package so he can read the back label. “The efficacy rate, especially paired with a condom, is incredibly high. I researched the pill, and it usually takes three months to be effective.”

“Oh, huh.” He almost looks disappointed as he reads the back label.

“We don’t have to use it,” I back pedal.

“No. It’s not that. This is good. Thanks for planning ahead,” he murmurs as a lopsided grin forms on his face. “This mean what I think it means?”

“That I want your cock inside of me? Yeah,” I grin.

“Let’s fucking go,” he shouts. “Here’s one of my gifts for you.” He grabs a new vibrator out of his backpack next to him and hands it to me. “I want to see how many times you can come with this.”

It’s got a suction cup flower shape on one end, and the handle can be turned around and used like a dildo. Fancy.

“I like,” I smile.

“There’s your other gift.” He points to the candle.

“A candle?” I question.

“Wax play,” he grins.

“Oh.” He’s opening my eyes to a whole new world. Sex with other guys was never like it is with Matt. He’s open, generous and adventurous, and I am totally here for it.

“We’ll take it slow. You come a few times first, then we’ll try it. The wax melts at a cooler temperature, so it won’t burn you. This one is actually a massage candle, so it won’t even dry hard on you. Pain isn’t my kink.”

“Okay,” I nod.

“Strip for me, wife. I want you laid bare for me on this boat.”