CHAPTER 20 #2
“Take your time,” I call after her. “There’s no rush. This day is all about us.”
The bathroom door closes, and I can’t stifle the grin on my face. The day has started off in the best way, and now that I’ve got her all to myself, it is guaranteed to only get better.
?·?·?
“I ate too much,” Katie moans, two hours and three thousand pancakes later. “Why’d you let me eat so much?”
I gape at her from my spot, lounging in the deck chair next to her. She’s rubbing her belly and sighing a lot. She’s adorable. “I tried to stop you. You almost bit my fingers off.”
A pink tinge paints her cheeks as she throws me a cheeky grin. “Well, I wasn’t finished with that croissant.”
“It was my croissant,” I argue with a grin of my own.
She tosses her hair over her shoulder and shrugs. “Eh, you were taking too long to eat it. It was just sitting there.”
I chuckle, amused at this version of her.
During the hours—yes, hours—we spent at the buffet breakfast, Katie had shocked me by the sheer amount of food she’d consumed.
It was truly a masterclass in eating, and I learnt a lesson in what not to do in the face of a hungry Katie.
Do not get between her and the last piece of bacon.
“I can’t indulge like you can. I have to watch my weight,” I grumble. “It may be the off-season, but I can’t afford to pile on the pounds. It’s torture having to lose it all again.”
One downside of being a Formula 1 driver is the need to stay light. As elite athletes, we have bodies conditioned to build lean muscles without the bulk. And it’s a real pain to maintain, especially in the months when racing is in my rear-view mirror.
“From where I’m sitting, you’ve got nothing to worry about.
” Katie’s maple syrup eyes take a slow inventory of my body, lingering on all the muscles I work hard to keep on display.
By the look in her heated gaze, she appreciates what she sees, and every hour I spend in the gym is now very much worth it.
“Are you checking me out, Kitty Kat?” I tease.
Her eyes dart from my pectoral muscles out to the horizon before sliding back again. “I mean, I’m only human. And that”—she waves her hand up and down my body—“that is a work of art.”
My arms spread wide as a bolt of electricity zings through me. I want Katie’s eyes on me always. “Stare all you want, Kitty Kat. But just so you know, as you do, I’m returning the favour.”
Her cheeks flame as my words sink in. She’s been lounging next to me in one of those bikinis Rosie made her buy to torture me, and I’ve not been able to glance away for even a second.
With so much of her golden skin on display, my gaze has bounced from her taut stomach to the swell of her breasts covered in those ridiculous triangles, then down the length of her toned legs.
Katie may think my body is a work of art, but really, it’s hers that deserves to be admired and praised.
Her body, just like her mind, is a thing of beauty.
“Right then.” She pushes to sitting upright and rubs her hands together. “I think we need to cool off.”
My racing heart and raging hormones agree. If we spend even one more second here like this, I’m going to pounce on her.
“Yes,” I husk. “We definitely do.”
Standing, I follow her to the hammock she’s spent the last days staring at with longing and laugh as she manoeuvres her way to lying down, struggling and failing not to sink into the middle.
“It’s harder than it looks,” she says through her giggles.
“Let me see if I can help.” Careful not to disturb her, I crawl over to where she’s lying, shifting her so she’s on her side, pressed up against me as I lie on my back. It’s the same position we fell asleep in this morning, and from her expression, Katie seems to like it here. “Is this better?”
She rests her head on my chest and hooks her top leg over mine. “Yes,” she sighs. “Much better.”
We sink into silence, lulled by the gentle rocking of the hammock and the sounds of waves crashing in the distance.
The afternoon sun is hot against my skin, and the water below us is a refreshing reprieve when it rises to splash us.
With Katie here in my arms, this may be the most relaxed I’ve been… ever?
“This is nice,” she murmurs, her hand drawing lazy circles on my chest. “But are you worried that if we stay here much longer, you’ll end up with a tan line in the shape of my body?”
I tighten my arm around her, anchoring her in place in case she gets the crazy idea in her head that she needs to move. “I’d be happy to have that tan line, Kitty Kat.”
She peers up at me, nibbling her lower lip, an expression of doubt flashing over her flushed face. “You’d be happy to have my body branded on you?”
Oh boy. A thrill runs through me as my eyes dip to her lips. “I think I would.”
My soft words linger between us as Katie stares up at me. She licks her lips, and with a groan, I pull her up and crash my mouth onto hers. Our kiss is eager and wet and filled with passion, and I want more. I want all of this woman.
“We should stop,” she whispers, her body pressing closer, belying her words. “Before we can’t.”
She’s right. I’m so caught up in kissing her, I’d forgotten where we are. Hell, I’ve forgotten my damn name!
“You’re right,” I agree in a low tone. “But don’t move just yet. My Katie-shaped tan line isn’t complete.”
Her giggle is soft, and my heart soars at the sound of it. “You know, I don’t hate the idea of branding you. So everyone knows you’re mine.”
There’s that word again. Mine.
I stare down at her. “You want me to be yours?”
She pauses, staring into my eyes like she’s trying to burrow into my brain, and I wonder at the indecision on her face. Where did this doubt come from?
“Katie?” I urge after a long, long pause.
With her eyes locked on mine, I see the moment she makes her decision. “If that’s what you want,” she offers in a soft voice.
“It is,” I tell her in no uncertain terms.
Her eyes widen as my words settle. Without replying, she places her head back on my chest, wrapping her arm around my waist and pressing in closer. In the silence, I play with the hair cascading down her back, moving it to the side and running my fingers down her spine.
“And what about you, Kitty Kat?” I finally whisper.
Her gaze locks with mine once more as I whisper the words, letting them sit between us. “Are you mine?”
Her answering smile is brilliant as she reaches up to kiss me. “Yeah,” she sighs against my lips. “Yeah, I think I am.”
We kiss long and slow, like two people who know we’re going to kiss like this forever, and as we settle back into the peacefulness of lying together in this slice of heaven, it hits me.
This is what I’ve always wanted. This is the woman I think I’ve always wanted. Katie was always supposed to be mine, and now that I have her, I’m not letting her go.
She is mine now. And there’s not one thing fake about it.