I came with ungraceful thrusts, a rough grunt, capturing her lips again as I spilled inside her. Her arms encircled my shoulders, and she held me until I was empty and sated. I crashed to the bed, disposed of the condom, and pulled her half on top of me, holding her close and burying my nose in the crook of her neck.

Holy shit.

“How was that for spontaneous?” I whispered huskily as my hand wandered down her naked body, finding her clit and rubbing.

“You p-pass with flying colors,” she answered on a moan, shifting against me.

I smiled, satisfied, and used my other hand to palm her pert little backside and squeeze. I slid a finger inside her and groaned at the feel of her.

When she came for the second time, it was harder, more intense. The way she breathed, how she shook when she orgasmed was branded into my memory. We lay in peaceful quiet for a little while, just holding each other. I absentmindedly stroked her breasts, her stomach, her collarbone. Mine now.

“Are we going to be late?” she asked, breaking the silence.

“For what?”

“For wherever you’re taking me.”

“Oh.” I’d forgotten about our date. Well, the details of it, anyway.

“No. We’re not. Not at all.”

She bent her neck to smile up at me. “Good.”

I waggled my brows at her. “So, are you having a good time on our first proper date?”

This made her laugh. “I think we might be incapable of doing things the normal way around.”

“That’s only because we’re both outstandingly magnificent.” I grinned.

“Well, I can’t disagree with you there.”

I stroked her hair and gazed at her lovingly. It was official. I was in love with this woman.

***

Eventually, we did put our clothes back on. It was both a sad and happy moment. Sad because she was covering all that perfect skin; happy because I still held her knickers hostage, so when she bent over to put on her leggings I got a glorious eyeful of her arse.

We climbed the stairs and she went outside to the back lounging area while I claimed the captain’s chair. I brought the engine to life and set the course. The day was cold and crisp, but sunny, and there was a light wind. I glanced behind me at Eilish, who was looking around the marina, taking it all in.

Walking back to her, I asked, “Have you something to tie your hair up with? It’ll be windy where we’re going.”

She reached in her pocket and found something. I took it from her and snapped it over my wrist. “Turn around.”

Hesitantly, she turned, and I gathered her long tresses in my hands. Then I pushed all her hair over one shoulder and dug my fingertips gently into her neck, massaging.

“You spend your whole day easing other people’s aches and pains, but nobody ever eases yours,” I whispered and continued working my hands into her tight muscles. She stayed quiet, then after a minute, she relaxed and sank back into me. My heart beat wildly. I ran my thumbs down her neck, back up again, down, up. I did my best to forget the fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra or underwear beneath her clothes. And failed.

She trembled, and I wanted to drag her below deck again so badly I practically burned with need.

But I didn’t.

I wouldn’t.

She deserved a proper date, not more shagging on my friend’s boat. If we were going to shag all day, it needed to be on our boat. It would have taller ceilings and we’d buy it together once we were married.

Whoa, slow down there.

Eilish let out a tiny sound of pleasure. Unable to help myself, I bent and pressed a light kiss to the base of her skull. Breath whooshed out of her.

I gathered her hair up again, this time pulling the band off my wrist and using it to make a ponytail.

“There,” I whispered, not wanting to let her go.

“Thanks,” she whispered back.

“Stay here, enjoy the view. I’ll start taking us out.”

She only nodded, and I made my way to the front again. We were cruising for a good ten minutes when I felt Eilish come up behind me and wrap her arms around my middle. I stood frozen, the affection from her totally unexpected.

“It’s so peaceful out here. I rarely get to see Dublin from this angle.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty,” I managed, my voice husky.

We were both quiet then, plowing through the sea. I loved the salty air, the freshness of it. I loved how there was nothing all around but us. Perhaps that had been my motive all along, to get her alone, have her all to myself.

Her hand moved inside my jacket, stroking along my stomach for a second, then dipping under my shirt. Her fingers brushed my skin and I had a hard time holding it together. For a split second I wondered what it’d be like if she just went all out and grabbed my crotch. I knew it wasn’t something she’d ever do, but a bloke could dream.

Speaking of dreams.

“Eilish.”

“Yeah?”

“Tell me about the night we met.”

Her hand paused mid-stroke.

“Why?”

“Because I honestly hate myself for not being able to remember. Sometimes I have these flashes of memory, but I can’t tell if they’re real. Maybe if you tell me how it all went down it’ll come back to me.”

“Is it that important?” she whispered.

“So fucking important. Please.”

She sucked in a breath, her hand sliding from my body. “Okay then.”

“Oh, and Eilish?”