He may think that he can’t write for shit, but to me his words are the most beautiful that I’ve ever heard before, because they came from him.

Little red firecracker . . .

I don’t even realize when the song ends, because I’m still lost in my own little world, slightly insane and imagining that the song could possibly be about me. I’m sure he just added the firecracker part to put me in a better mood, or I’m just giving it a double meaning when in fact it would be no different than him singing it to another friend. Those are the only reasonable explanations.

Whatever the reason, I’m smiling so big that it hurts.

Alex appears next to me, grabbing my chin and tilting it up. “There we go. There’s that fucking smile that I needed.” He throws his arm around me and pulls me against his side. “Now let’s enjoy this night, firecracker.”

I try to speak, but every time I look at him I smile even bigger, unable to contain it, so I just nod my head and quickly ask for a drink.

I might need a few of those Daiquiris now . . .

I CAN’T WRITE FOR SHIT and I know my song was crap, but it put a smile on her face and that’s all that matters to me. That damn song is probably the closest that I’ll get to being able to tell her how I truly feel. I threw it together in fifteen minutes, so there’s more that I wanted to say, but didn’t.

The party is coming to an end now, and seeing her relaxed and having fun with Harley makes me so fucking happy. I can’t stop smiling like an idiot as I watch them dancing together and laughing.

“Dude . . .” Ace appears next to me, tilting back his drink. “You’ve got it bad, man.”

I don’t even bother denying it this time, because even a blind person can see how much I love that girl. “I do . . . really fucking bad.”

Ace smiles and turns his attention to the girls. “Harley is looking damn beautiful tonight.”

I nudge his shoulder. “Then why the hell aren’t you over there, bro?”

He finishes off his drink and crushes the cup. “Because I’m not good enough for her.” It’s the first honest, sincere thing that I’ve heard out of his mouth since I’ve known him.

I finish off my own drink and squeeze his shoulder. “Then learn to be . . .”

With that, I walk away wishing that I could do the same. I may not be able to give Tripp everything that she needs, but for tonight, I can give her me.

Ace takes my lead and makes his way over to Harley once I pull Tripp away and start leading her inside. The party can find its way out.

Tripp wraps her arms around me as soon as we close the door behind us. “I feel like swimming.” She grips my shirt and starts pulling me toward the pool room. “Let’s swim, Alex.”

I watch her as she quickly strips down to her bra and panties, turns around to smile at me, and then jumps into the water, splashing me.

“Come on . . . get those clothes off and join me, Stud.”

I smirk and pull my shirt over my head. “You know how I like to swim, babe.” I toss my shirt aside and start undoing my jeans. “I never swim with clothes on.”

She bites her bottom lip and reaches behind her to undo her bra. “No clothes . . . and just the two of us.”

“Fuck me, Tripp. Swimming will never be the same.”

She slips off her panties and tosses them out of the pool as I step out of my briefs, hard as a fucking rock for her. “That’s what I’m counting on,” she breathes out in a soft tone.

Not bothering to hide my erection, I walk into the pool, grabbing Tripp’s face as soon as she’s within reach. I press my forehead against hers and slip my hands into her hair, gripping it. “Do you want me inside you, baby?” I suck her bottom lip into my mouth, before releasing it. “You want me to make love to you? I want to so fucking bad right now, but I won’t unless you tell me you want it.”

She swallows hard and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling herself up to wrap her legs around my waist. “I want you to make love to me.” She presses her forehead to mine, before sinking down onto my cock. “I love you inside of me. I need it.”

With those words I wrap my arms around her and slowly start lifting her up and down on my dick, being sure to sink deep into her with each thrust.

Our touches become desperate, our kisses deep and passionate, as if this is the last moment that we get to be together this way. That thought causes me to give her all of me, every inch of me physically and emotionally.

We make love for what seems like hours, me slowing down when needed to keep this moment from ending. I can go all fucking night, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing. This woman deserves all of me, and that’s what I’m giving her. I won’t stop until she orgasms so many times she can’t withstand anymore and is exhausted.

“Alex,” she moans. “I’m about to come again. I can’t. . . . I can’t.” She grips onto me as tightly as she can, digging her nails into my back as we both release at the same time. “It’s so sensitive.” She shakes in my arms and jumps when I move a little bit inside of her, making sure that I’m as deep as I can get.

“Damn, baby . . .” I kiss her hard and deep, pulling her as close to me as I possibly can. “I love watching you come undone around me.” I rub my thumb over her cheeks. “You’re the most beautiful woman in the world to me, babe.”

A tear slides down her cheek that I quickly wipe away with my thumb. “You mean that?” She questions with hope.

“I do,” I whisper.

A few more tears slide down her cheek. Not knowing what’s going to happen in the next couple days, I just hold her and comfort her. I hate to see her cry. I fucking hate it so damn much.

We stay like we are for a little while longer, before I walk us over to the shallow end and finally pull out of her. I’m surprised that I’m actually still somewhat hard, but I can’t help it when it comes to her.

Setting her down, I help her out of the water and grab my shirt. “Come here, babe.” I slip my shirt over Tripp’s head, before reaching for the small towel that I left in here earlier, and slip it around my waist, tucking it.

“I’m hungry,” Tripp says with a cute little smile. “Want some ice cream?”

I kiss the top of her head and smile. “Lead the way.”

Once we get into the kitchen Tripp pulls out a tub of her favorite ice cream and grabs two spoons, digging one in and scooping out a spoonful. “Cookie dough okay? There’s chocolate if you want something else.”

Answering her question, I bend down and take her spoon in my mouth, sucking the ice cream off. “I’m having what you’re having, babe.”

She laughs as I bite her spoon and pull it out of her grip. “Alex . . . you’re so damn cute that it’s ridiculous.”

I flash my dimples and playfully lift my brows at her, while removing the spoon from my mouth. “Who me? Should I apologize?”

She leans in and licks the side of my mouth. “No.” She smiles. “You’re messy too, by the way.”

I suck my bottom lip into my mouth, getting what she missed. “I know . . . I did it on purpose.”

Everything is perfect right now. This is what I can see myself doing for the rest of my fucking life, and never getting tired of being with her. I want this moment to last forever . . . but I know that’s not an option. Or is it?

The back door opens and we both look over in shock as Lucas walks in and sets his suitcase down. He looks around at the messy kitchen. “Party night . . . I missed it. Shit.”

My heart starts beating out of my chest as he walks over and grabs Tripp’s hand, pulling her up to her feet. An overwhelming feeling to kill this motherfucker takes over. I watch his every move as if my life depends on it.

“Lucas, what are you doing back so soon? I thought . . .”