Pulling up the new text from Tanner, I scoff out loud. “Really?? An eggplant, a question mark, and a pouty-face emoji?”

Jesse cackles, to which I scowl at him. His fingers trace my chest while he sighs through an unrelenting grin. “It’s not my fault I’m irresistible.”

“That you definitely are,” I mumble, fighting my own smile as I hand him the phone. “Are you afraid to tell him you’re unavailable?”

His eyes glimmer up at me. “Is that what I am? Unavailable?”

“You, sweet thing, are available only to me.” I press a soft kiss on his velvety lips. “And I’m available only to you.”

“Well, if that’s not a declaration of love, then I don’t know what is,” he chuckles on my mouth.

Sighing once more, he types out a reply to the asshole, with me peeking anxiously at the screen the whole time.

I read the text out loud as he hits send. “Sorry, homie. We’re done. I’m seeing someone. And it’s serious.” My brow arches at his face and he smirks. To which I laugh and kiss the corner of his mouth. “You’re fucking adorable.”

“Facts,” he breathes, tossing the phone away and taking my jaw in his hands.

“You know Tanner is a stupid name, right?” I murmur in between kisses.

His sweet laugh rumbles into me. “I don’t know… I kinda liked it. Jesse and Tanner… like Full House, if Uncle Jesse took Becky’s last name.”

I squint at him. “Okay, so by that logic our names are way better… I mean, come on. Jesse James?? That’s epic.”

“Epic,” he continues to giggle roughly while his fingers roam my skin. “You’re right. Famous outlaw definitely trumps John Stamos.” I let a laugh slip, and he smirks. “Although… he is sorta hot…”

Grabbing his hands forcefully, I pin them above his head. “All this sass is going to get you in trouble, kid.”

He writhes beneath me, rubbing my erection with his own. “Bring it on… Daddy.”

And only minutes later, I’m inside him, pushing and pulling between his legs, lost in the heat and the sensation of him, of us. Of everything we are together.

“I love you, Jesse,” I release the truth, hoarse and falling apart so splendidly for him.

And he unfurls for me, in my arms. “I love you so hard, James.”

He’s mine, and I’m his.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Ten Days Later…

“My ass hurts.”

James gives me a look I can read, even beneath his sunglasses. “You want me to rub it?”

I laugh out loud. “Like you need an excuse.”

“Point well made, kid.”

We’re lying on a chaise lounge on our own private beach in St. Barth. We’ve only been here for a few days, but it’s already been the best time of my life. Nothing but sex and good food and fun in the sun, all day, every day.

I could get used to this.