Longing For The Beach Billionaire Daddy
Chapter 24

*Shelby*

Standing in his bedroom, after my confession to him about Todd being my ex, Michael kissed me.

He was gentle at first. Then, before we knew it, we were locked together, his tongue gently teasing me to open my mouth until my lips parted, and he pushed between my lips with an urgency that had my skin tingling and my core lighting on fire. His fingers set the skin of cheek ablaze.

My heart drummed in my chest at the anticipation in the air at our closeness. We were so close that I could almost feel the sharp edges of his stubble that had dusted his face as the day grew to a close.

Releasing my lips, he whispered, “I can’t imagine not knowing you, Shelby.” His breath was warm against my lips. The small vibrations sent waves of energy through my entire body. Goosebumps prickled my arms. The sweet smell of cinnamon on his breath, and his sandalwood cologne, mingled perfectly together.

The sensation was too much for me to bear, so I closed my eyes, letting Michael take over, as I tried desperately to etch every second of the moment into my memory.

“I can’t imagine not knowing you either, Michael,” I said breathlessly, my eyelashes fluttering with anticipation.

He pressed his lips softly to mine, the heat of our lips combining. The warmth spread through my entire body, even to my bare feet against the cold tile floor. As softly as it started, I wanted to feel the pressure of his strong arms around me, crushing me against his muscled torso.

I leaned into Michael’s chest, his muscles so tight they were unmoving. He responded to me by sliding his hand up my back and pressing me to him. His lips matched the sudden intensity, and I parted mine, and he pulled my bottom l*p between his.

I held back a m**n as he softly bit my bottom l*p, but I could not help my hands making their way into Michael’s hair. As my fingers slipped through the softness of his perfectly styled locks, the scent of sandalwood intensified.

Before I could register the change, Michael’s hand, which had started out on the side of my face, was cradling under my butt, and Michael pulled me up off of the floor and even closer to him.

I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist. I felt the thumping of his chest as my body rested against his, and we deepened our k**s. I could feel the hardness of him between my legs and pulled myself closer, unable to keep my body from satisfying my craving for him.

Time felt as though it stood still as Michael held me to him, my hands lost in his hair. Just as quickly as it had all started, the moment shattered.

His cell phone beeping was deafening against the silence of the room and broke us out of our entangled trance. My feet hit the floor, the cold tile shocking me back to reality. We both stood there for a moment, breathing hard, our hearts racing as we tried to come back to reality.

“Shelby, I am so sorry. I lost control of myself for a second,” Michael said. I wished he’d lose control more often.

I touched my hand to my mouth, where his lips had just been. I ached at the absence of him. He ran his hands through his already mussed hair and took a few steps back from me.

“That’s okay,” I said, trying desperately to catch my breath. It took all I had not to run back into his arms. Didn’t he sense that the feeling was mutual? I wanted him just as badly as he wanted me. Maybe more so.

“Let me turn this off so we can talk…” Michael’s face fell as he took his phone from his pocket and read the text message on the screen.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, watching the worry lines reappear between Michael’s eyebrows.

“I am so sorry. I have to deal with this,” he said, swiping his finger across the screen.

“I will leave you to it,” I said, walking toward the door. I needed to be alone to understand what had just happened between us anyway.

What had I just done with my friend’s dad?

“We will talk about this, about us, I promise,” Michael said, looking longingly into my eyes before turning back to his phone.

“Bruce, what did you replace out?” Michael said into the phone. That was my cue to leave.

I silently picked up my shoes next to the door and slipped out into the hallway. I closed the door softly, silently clicking the latch into place.

I leaned against Michael’s door, listening to his muffled voice as he talked on the phone. Even through the door, I could tell that whatever the news was, it wasn’t good.

Laughter sounded at the opposite end of the hall. Knowing what it would look like to come out of Michael’s room, shoes in hand, I retreated away from his room and the approaching voices. The last thing I needed was for Lauren to think I had slept with her father.

My feet pattered against the marble flooring in the hallway. I considered going back to my room, but I knew I would not be able to sleep after the k****s I’d just shared with Michael.

I felt like I needed to make an appearance back at the party before Lauren noticed my absence at the same time that her father was gone. However, I couldn’t seem to catch my breath, so I walked as slowly as possible back to the kitchen.

I stood for a long time, watching people laughing, dancing, and raising their drinks in silent speeches I couldn’t hear. My mind was still too caught up in what had happened with Michael.

Eventually, I opened one of the kitchen doors to the back patio, and the engagement party was still in full swing. Clearly, no one had noticed Michael and me heading into the house together. I was thankful for that, at least. I should’ve known I wouldn’t be missed by this crowd.

I spotted Todd with Lauren and made sure I was out of their eyesight quickly. I grabbed a glass of champagne and leaned against the wall by the pool looking out at the ocean. It felt like I could still feel the tingle of Michael’s lips against mine.

I felt good, despite the toxic situation with Todd. Michael was clearly as attracted to me as I was to him. I replayed our k**s over and over in my mind. I still couldn’t believe it’d happened. Finally.

But then, what did this all mean? I still had so many questions….

I finished my drink and sat the empty glass on a table, turning to walk toward the kitchen when I heard someone yell.

“Cannonball!”

A man with long brown hair splashed into the infinity pool, soaking me in the process. I watched the ripples disturb the surface of the pool and water spill out the edges. I left quickly, before the man reemerged and retreated back inside as a wave of laughter hit my back.

“Is this whole trip taking every opportunity to slap me in the face?” I mumbled to myself, taking off my heels again as I headed for the stairs. I took the steps two at a time back to my room.

If someone had wanted to follow me, it would have been obvious where I was headed. I left a dripping trail of water all the way there. I couldn’t help but remember walking into AmoreBelle in a similar state when Michael had bought me the dress in the first place.

I hung my cocktail dress to dry in the shower, hoping that it wasn’t ruined. Maybe I would send it to the dry cleaners when I returned to New York. I had no idea how to care for a dress so nice. I knew if I tried to clean it myself, I was sure to ruin it.

The smell of chlorine that clung to my skin nudged me toward the pedestal bathtub at the far end of the bathroom. I turned on the tap and let the steam from the hot water fill the room. I grabbed a glass of water and turned on some music.

Slipping inside the warm embrace of the water, I was instantly taken back to the heat of Michael’s body pressed to mine. My lips pressed delicately against his. The feel of my body wound tightly around his. The way he smelled. He was intoxicating.

I couldn’t believe I’d just kissed Michael. I had thought about it a few dozen times, always talking myself out of it because he was my friend’s father, but no amount of imagination could compare to those few blissful minutes. He was so much more than I’d imagined.

A text flashed on my phone, which I’d set on a towel next to the tub. I dried my hands and picked up my phone to replace a text from Lin waiting for me.

Lin: There was a last-minute cancellation on a flight out tomorrow. Do you want us to change your booking for you? I can still meet you at the airport to pick you up. Let us know ASAP.

This afternoon I would have texted Lin back instantly, begging for her to get me on the soonest flight out of here. However, that was before my shared moment with Michael. Even with Todd being here and constantly trying to get me to sleep with him, I didn’t know if I wanted to leave.

“What would he think if I jetted off the day after we kissed?” I asked the ceiling of the bathroom.

I sank lower, covering half of my face in the warm water.

The water had completely cooled when I’d finally made up my mind. I drained it out of the tub, and with pruny fingers, typed out a response to Lin.

Shelby: I need one more day. Something big happened. I will explain everything when I get back. See you in two days.

I couldn’t leave yet. I’d just let Michael know how much he’d come to mean to me. How could I leave now? I’d wanted this for longer than I let myself admit. I’d wanted this since the first time I saw him.

I had to see Michael one more time before I left.

If I left now, I’d never know what might happen between us. I wasn’t willing to risk that, not to escape Todd or Lauren’s wealthy friends.

I had to talk to Michael; I had to know what this was.