Page 37 of Seaside Strangers
That was all it took.
Their mouths met again, and the kiss deepened, stealing what little restraint he had left. “Honey… I can’t go slow.”
“I don’t want slow.”
The words settled something in him.
He gathered her close, holding her as she clung to him, and let himself stop thinking and just feel.
They spent the remainder of the day and night in bed, leaving only when they had to. Time slipped by in a blur of quiet laughter, soft touches, and moments that felt far too easy for something that wasn’t supposed to last.
Moriah couldn’t get enough of him.
She’d known, even before he carried her into the beach house, that she had to walk away. That staying—even for a night—was a mistake she couldn’t afford. But once she was in his arms, she hadn’t been able to stop herself.
She hadn’t wanted to.
Now, a few minutes after midnight, she lay beside him, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing as he slept. Careful not to wake him, she traced her fingers lightly over his chest, committing the feel of him to memory.
Everything between them had turned intense faster than she expected—consuming in a way she hadn’t been prepared for.
It had made her feel wanted. Safe. Seen.
And that was the problem, because it made leaving him that much harder.
She stilled her hand, her throat tightening as the truth settled in. This wasn’t just physical. It hadnever been, even though she’d tried to convince herself otherwise.
She turned her head slightly, studying his relaxed features in the dim light. He’d told her to be herself and not to overthink it. And for a few hours, she hadn’t, simply letting herself forget everything waiting for her outside the beach house.
Forget who she really was—a woman on the run from people who wanted her dead.
Sighing quietly, she rested her head against his shoulder, feeling his arm shift instinctively around her, even in sleep. The simple, unconscious gesture made her chest ache.
She couldn’t stay.
Maybe tomorrow she’d find a way to get him out of the house for a little while. It felt wrong—leaving without a word, without an explanation—but she didn’t see another option. If she stayed, her past would eventually catch up with her.
And if it did, it wouldn’t only be her life on the line. It was bad enough that KC would be there for another few weeks. What if the men chasing her found her while he was still there?
Her fingers curled slightly against him as that thought sent a shiver down her spine. She caredabout him too much to take that risk. More than she should. More than she ever intended.
So she would leave.
For now, though, she let herself stay where she was, listening to his breathing, memorizing every small detail. These were the moments she would carry with her—the ones she’d hold onto when everything else fell apart.
No matter where she ended up, a part of her would always remain here.
With him.
Chapter Sixteen
A sharp knockat the back-porch door the next morning, followed by Jinx’s familiar loud bark, dragged KC from sleep. He groaned, blinking against the light peeking around the edges of the window blinds as he loosened his hold on Maura. They shifted apart, both still half-asleep, the warmth of her body lingering against his.
He pushed himself upright and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Sounds like Uncle Dan.”
Maura was already moving, slipping out of bed and looking around for her clothes. The sudden urgency in her movements caught his attention as he swung his legs over the side and reached for a pair of sweatpants from his duffel.
“Calm down,” he said, tugging them on. “He’ll wait out on the deck.”
