Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires #3) by Lauren Asher

The man practically throws Cal’s phone at him before returning to his family.

“More!” Cami claps her hands.

“They’re coming,” Cal says.

Fireworks erupt above us, painting the sky in different colors. Cal keeps his arm wrapped around me during the entire show. At some point during the explosions above, Cami falls asleep.

“How is that even possible?” He removes her from his shoulders before cradling her against his chest.

My legs might give out from how hard I swoon. “I told you she can sleep through anything.”

Another firework explodes above us, proving my point as Cami doesn’t even flinch.

“See?”

“Damn. Do you want to head back?” His eyes slide from Cami to me.

I look up at the sky, taking in a few more seconds of the show before nodding. When I turn, Cal’s gaze is already fixed on me, although it burns with promise as he follows the curves of my body.

Between Cal showering Cami with love and attention, and his soft whispers when no one is around, I’m more than ready to head back.

Fireworks be damned.

I shut the door to Cami’s room behind me before sagging against it. There isn’t a single part of my body that doesn’t ache from walking around the park all day, and no amount of working out would have prepared me for that kind of soreness.

“She went back to sleep easily?” Cal sits up on the couch.

“Yup. Out like a light.” I hated waking Cami up after she knocked out, but I refused to let her go to bed covered in theme park germs and butterfly face paint.

“It’s impressive how she can sleep through fireworks, a screaming baby on the ferry, and the entire walk up to the room.”

“If only the rest of us could be that lucky.” I fall face-first into the cushions of the couch across from the one Cal sits on.

He lets out a low laugh. “Tired?”

“My whole body hurts from head to toe.” My voice is muffled by the cushions pressing against my face.

The couch creaks under him. “I think I have an idea.”

“If it’s not a full-body massage, I don’t want it.”

“That can easily be arranged, so long as you return the favor.” He lowers his voice. “Preferably without clothes on.”

I blindly launch a throw pillow in the direction of his laugh.

The door to his room clicks shut soon after. I nod off for a bit before I’m woken by Cal coming back to lift me into his arms like a bride. I’m too tired to object, and honestly, I doubt I would either way. It feels good to be on the receiving end of being spoiled after spending all day on my feet.

He carries me into his bathroom and sets me on my feet. The sound of water rushing out of the tap drags my eyes away from his face.

“A bubble bath?” The deep tub is almost filled to the top with bubbles nearly spilling out of it.

He reaches over to shut off the tap. “I added some bath salts to help with your sore muscles.”

I drop my head back with sigh. “I love you.” The thought slips out by accident, and my eyes fly open. “I…” I can’t finish the rest of my sentence. It’s not that I don’t love Cal, but I don’t want to give that love away so freely again. Not without being able to trust that he won’t shatter my heart for a second time around.

“Don’t worry about it.” He offers me a tight smile.

“But—”

Cal shuts me up with a hard kiss that puts our awkward conversation to an end. I deepen it, earning the sweetest groan against my lips.

My hands find the hem of Cal’s shirt, and I lift the material over his head. He breaks apart from our kiss and does the same with my shirt, both of them landing on the floor. The pile quickly grows as we ditch our shorts and underwear.

“I don’t know where to start with you.” His gaze runs down my naked body.

“I have a few ideas if you need inspiration.”

His eyes darken. “Like what?”

“A bath for starters.”

His short laugh makes me smile. “Not what I was going for, but fine.”

He helps me into the bath first before settling in on the opposite side of me.

“Afraid to sit next to me?” I flick water at him with my toes.

He latches on to my foot and tugs me closer, making me sink deeper into the water. I open my mouth to object, only to be cut off as he begins kneading the sore muscles.

My head drops back against the tub. “Oh, God.”

His pressure intensifies. “Feels good?”

“Like heaven.” I sigh.

A small smile tugs at his lips. My eyes droop with each minute that goes by, the ache in my muscles easing with every pass and push of Cal’s hands. Eventually, the pain morphs into something else altogether.

Pleasure.

Cal must sense the shift in mood because he abandons his massage and stands. Water droplets slide down his muscular body, tempting me to wipe them away with my tongue. His thick erection stands as proud as him when he finds me checking him out.

I give my head a shake. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere without you. Scoot forward.”

I do what he says, and he slides in behind me. His hard length presses against my back as he gets comfortable and places both his legs on the outside of mine.

I sink deeper into the bubble water and place my head in the crook of his neck. “I might never leave.”