“Hurry up.” She wiggled her ass in his direction.

“Damn. I’m on my way.” He ripped the package open carefully and rolled it on.

He moved behind her, enjoying the view. She looked over her shoulder and winked. He teased her with the tip of his shaft and her mouth fell open on a soft sigh. She pushed back and took him deep. They both cried out.

He twisted the long fall of her hair around his fist and pulled gently as he rocked back and forth, taking her deeper with every thrust. Before long he was powering forward as she pushed back, their hips coming together with savage intensity. It was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. Being inside her was about more than just desire. Every inch of him felt alive when he was with her and he wanted nothing more than to please her in a way that no other man could.

“Jackson. Jackson.” Her head fell forward as she panted his name and her fingers twisted in the sheets again. He was overcome with a sense of supreme masculine satisfaction. She might have a life in Florida that he wasn’t a part of, but he was willing to bet she didn’t have this. Maybe he couldn’t keep her here but he’d be damned if he wouldn’t give her something worth remembering.

He closed his eyes as she tightened around him, crying out his name again. The way she called his name made him feel almost primal. He cupped her breasts, leaning over her back and biting her shoulder gently as he sank even deeper.

“Oh, damn. I’m coming.” Tremors raced through him as he clutched her against him. He closed his eyes and let out a long groan as the last spasm left his body.

He pulled out gently and they fell back against the sheets in a tangle of sweaty limbs.

“Wow.” Ridley turned her head to look at him. “I like our new plan.”

He chuckled and pulled her closer for a quick kiss. “I like it, too. Stay with me awhile?”

“Okay,” she whispered.

“Be right back.” He went to the bathroom and disposed of the condom. On the way back, he peered out into the hallway to make sure the boys’ bedroom door was still closed.

She was watching him curiously when he got back into bed.

“I just wanted to make sure we didn’t wake them.”

A shy smile spread across her face before she pressed her face into the pillow. “I was loud. I couldn’t help it.”

He smirked. “I don’t want you to help it.” He slid under the covers and moved over until he was in the center of the bed.

“By the way,” he whispered. He waited until she looked over at him sleepily. “I’m sorry.”

She grinned and snuggled up against him.

“You are so forgiven.”

*   *   *   *   *

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, RIDLEY sat on the edge of the bed staring at her cell phone. Jackson had asked Katie to meet them at the park so the boys could play while they talked things over. From the screeching and loud sounds below her room, the boys were already excited.

If she was going to make her call, this was the best time to do it. Otherwise, she’d get caught up and lose track of time and if she put it off any longer she’d end up taking the easy way out by buying something new. But in the end her pragmatic nature won out and she decided to just get it over with.

Due to the time difference it was doubtful that Raina would actually answer. She could just leave a message and then deal with the teasing later.

Hearing her sister say “I told you, so” wasn’t something she was looking forward to.

“Hey, Ri! How are things back home?” Raina answered the phone as if she were still on East Coast time instead of it being early morning the way she knew it was in Singapore.

“Oh, hey. I’m so sorry to wake you. I didn’t think you’d actually answer.”

There was a soft whooshing sound in the background and Ridley wondered if their connection was really that bad or if she was just hearing things.

“It’s not early here. I’m in the Bahamas now. We’re in the same time zone you are.”

She’d completely forgotten that her sister never stayed in the same place for long. Although she supposed she could have at least pretended to pay attention when they’d last spoken and Raina had told her where she was going next.

“Well, the thing is, I have a favor to ask. And I don’t want you to worry that I’ll be upset if you say no.” She took a deep breath. “It’s just that Jackson has asked me to go to this industry party, but I don’t have anything to wear. I was going to buy something but I thought, why do that when I know you’ve got tons of dressy stuff at your house.”

There was silence before Raina said, “Jackson asked you out?”

Ridley struggled to keep her voice neutral as she replied, “No, he didn’t ask me out. It’s for work. It’s some party his label is throwing for a new jazz singer. You know how much I love jazz.” Stop babbling Ridley.

“Oh my god, you slept with him, didn’t you? You dirty slut!” Raina crowed.

Even from another country, no one could embarrass her quite like her sister.

“Raina! It’s not like that. I mean, yes we did, but it’s not like I just jumped on the man.” Okay, I kind of did but whatever. “I really like him,” she surprised herself by saying.

“I can tell. I’m happy for you, Ri.” Raina did sound happy for her. She was quiet for a moment before she said, “The code is Mom’s name spelled backward. So just type out the letters N-A-O-J on the keypad. You still remember where the spare key is, right?”