Chapter 12
JAXON
When I woke up the next morning, it was with the feeling that someone was looking at me. I opened my eyes to slits, finding Lindsay sitting awake and dressed in the chair next to my couch.
“I’m ready for the day,” she said when she noticed me stirring. “Tick tock. We’re burning daylight.”
“What time is it?”
She checked her watch. “Six a.m.”
I groaned and turned over so my back was to her, pulling my blanket over my head. “It’s my day, and we’re sleeping for at least another thirty minutes.”
A soft sigh sounded in the room, and it sure as fuck hadn’t come from me. I could practically hear her impatient thoughts, but she didn’t say anything or go anywhere.
It didn’t take me long to realize she wasn’t going to go back to sleep. I rolled my eyes at her as I sat up. “You do realize the sun is only rising now, right?”
“Yes, but we talked about this yesterday.” She leaned forward, giving me a way too tempting view down the front of her loose, flowing top thing. “I like getting an early start because it allows me to make the most of the day.”
“Go get dressed for the beach then. It’s a shame we haven’t spent much time out there and I’m definitely going to need a dip to wake up properly.” And to cool down, but she didn’t need to know that.
With her reacting the way she did to mere comments, I shuddered to think what she would do if she had to see the serious morning wood I was sporting. Probably try to drown me in sterilizer or holy water.
Just as she got to the doorway to the bedroom, she turned around and fixed me with a serious expression.
“What are we going to do on the beach? Obviously if we’re taking an early-morning dip, I need a bathing suit but are we going to be walking and keeping active, or lounging? As in, do I need a towel and a book?”
“We’re flying by the seat of our pants today. If you want a towel and book later, I’ll come get it for you.”
She frowned, looking like she wanted to argue before she lifted a shoulder. “It’s your day. If you want to spend it running up and down to get things we could’ve just taken with us to begin with, that’s your business.”
Disappearing into her room, she gave me all of three minutes before she came out wearing a very skimpy white bikini and a sheer black coverlet. I sighed internally, convinced that I was being punished for something to have to live with a woman who looked like her without being able to touch her.
What was more was that I actually liked her despite her more compulsive tendencies. Maybe because of them. She was an enigma with her easy smile. She was willing to try just about anything—even having Fijian iguanas crawling all over her—while still not being at all carefree.
She planted her hands on her hips and stared at me. “Why are you still in bed?”
Because I need a fucking minute before I can get up. “I sleep in my underwear. You might want to wait for me outside. I’ll be right there.”
Her gaze dropped automatically to the sheet covering me, lingering there for a second before she jerked it away. “Don’t take too long.”
Swiping the blackout drapes away from the window with her arm, she didn’t look back before practically running from the room. Once it was safe to get up without showing off my raging fucking hard-on, I scrubbed my hands over my cheeks and willed my body to get over it.
Thankfully, after thinking about nothing but sea urchins and the severe injuries they can cause while brushing my teeth and changing into swimming trunks, I was finally ready to go.
Lindsay was standing on the small patio outside the bungalow, facing the ocean and leaning with her shoulder against a pillar.
Her arms were crossed loosely over her chest and her expression was thoughtful. Intentionally not taking the time to check her out in that ridiculous fucking scrap of a bikini, I strode past her and tossed her a grin over my shoulder.
“You’re burning daylight, Flinn. Swim now. Think later.”
She pushed off the wall and rolled her eyes when she caught up to me. “As if I’m the one burning daylight. What are our plans for the day anyway? You couldn’t seriously have meant it when you said we’re flying by the seat of our pants.”
“Oh, I meant it.” We passed the hedges to the beach, the sand soft and still cool beneath our feet. “Whenever we see an opportunity, we’re going to take it. Until something comes up, we’re just going to do whatever we feel like. Right now, I feel like a swim in the ocean.”
“What if I feel like coffee?”
I glanced at her when she stopped walking. “If you feel like coffee, go get some coffee. The dining room does breakfast as well. I’m sure they’re open by now.”
“Want anything?” she asked after chewing on her lip for a few beats. “Breakfast is included and we haven’t really made use of it so far. We might as well eat before we get stuck doing nothing on an empty stomach.”
“We’re not going to do nothing. I’m going for a swim and you’re going to get breakfast. That’s something, right?”
“I guess.” She released her lip and gave me a cheeky smile. “I have some ideas for later in the day if you need any help. In the meantime, do you want anything for breakfast?”
“If they let you take food away, I’ll have a ton of bacon and a coffee. Thanks.”
“Coming right up.” She started to turn away from me, pausing at the last second to add, “I’ll put something healthy on the plate too. I wouldn’t want you having a heart attack on our honeymoon, baby bear.”
“Baby bear, huh?” I rubbed the stubble underneath my chin. “I don’t like that one either, but I can live with it.”
Melodic laughter rang out after her when she completed her turn and headed off to the restaurant. She took her time before coming back juggling a plate piled high with crispy bacon, one piece of lettuce on the side, and two takeout cups of coffee.
When I saw her walking back to the beach, I swam to the shore to meet her and took the plate and a mug off her hands. She eyed my wet trunks before sitting down. “You’re going to be covered in sand. You should’ve just let me bring a towel.”
I dragged my hands through my hair to slick it back and keep it from dripping into my food while I ate. I lowered myself down beside her without a second thought. “I’ll be okay. It’s just sand. It’ll come off when it dries. Where did you find the lettuce?”
“It was garnish on one of the platters of cold meats. Told you I’d bring you something healthy.” Her eyes shone with amusement. “I’m all about taking good care of my husband.”
“You’re the best, angel face.” I grinned and popped a piece of bacon into my mouth, chewing while she moved her lips from side to side.
“I can live with that one if you can live with baby bear.” She flicked a hand up and pointed at the signs of life starting up all around the beach. “Should we have a look around at the available activities?”
I looked over in the direction of the cabanas she gestured toward. My gaze snagged on the nearest one. “No need. That sign says parasailing, so we’ll start with that and see what happens after.”
“Parasailing?” Her brows jumped all the way up. “Uh, no. I’m not great with heights.”
“Just not great with heights or do you have a genuine fear?” I cocked my head while chewing the next bite of my breakfast. “There’s a big difference.”
“If I say I’m just not great with it but not genuinely afraid, you’re going to make me do it, aren’t you?”
“Yep.”
She sighed, her head shaking as she burrowed her toes into the sand. “I’m not deathly afraid. I just prefer to keep my feet on the ground.”
“Well, I’d prefer to sweep you off them, so we’re doing it.” I grinned. “I’ve done it a million times. We’ll go tandem. I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”
Her blue eyes were filled with doubt when they met mine, searching for something that she must’ve found because eventually she nodded. “Okay, but if I want to, I’m keeping my eyes closed the entire time.”
“I’ll even keep them closed for you. If that’s what you want, I’ll keep one hand clamped over your face until we get back to the beach.”
“I really might take you up on that.” She motioned to my almost empty plate. “Eat up. We’ve got parachutes to fly and drowning to get to.”
“I won’t let you drown.” I polished off the last of the bacon, stood up, and offered her my clean hand to help her up. “Trust me, okay? We’re both going to be just fine.”
She slid her hand into mine, not letting it go once she was standing next to me. “Can I? Trust you, I mean.”
“You can.” I held her gaze for a beat, letting her see the resolute determination in mine. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Linds.”
“You used my actual nickname there.” She squeezed my hand. “I’m guessing that means you’re serious.”
“I am.” We walked to the parasailing booth where we talked to a guy with dreadlocks who got us geared up. Lindsay’s eyes were wide with fear as the boat took off, contrary to her expectation of keeping them shut.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her to me even though her harness was also fastened to mine. Bringing my head forward, I spoke into her ear once we were in the air.
“You’re doing fine. Just breathe. Take a look around. It’s fucking beautiful up here.”
I felt her chest expanding as she followed my instruction, then heard her gasp when she noticed what I was talking about.
Floating above the crystalline blue waters with the sun only just starting to warm us up and the gentle breeze, we had a view only seabirds used to get.
It was absolutely majestic, and her breathing evening out told me Lindsay thought so too.
“This is incredible.” She whooped, relaxing against me as she took it all in. “Doing what you want to do might not end up being so bad after all.”
“Just wait and see. The day is only beginning now. By the end of it, I think I’ll have converted you.”
She laughed before starting to point out landmarks on the hill behind the resort. Our ten-minute trip flew by, and when we landed, my supposed wife was smiling wider than I’d ever seen her smile before.
Throwing her arms around me when we landed safely on the beach and returned the gear, she pressed her body to mine and let out an exhilarated laugh. “That was amazing. What are we doing next?”
I hugged her back, holding her tight for a long minute before stepping away and taking her hand. “Follow me, young thrill-seeker. I think I know exactly what we’re doing next.”