26. Fox
FOX
I was still amped with adrenaline, heart pounding and lungs aching so hard, I thought my chest would burst. Ashley nearly knocked me off my wet, slippery feet and back into the water.
I closed my arms around her and staggered to catch my balance, something soaring in me at the feel of her crashing against me.
Her cheek pressed hotly to my cold chest. All of her was warm and there was so much naked back beneath these sexy criss-crossed strings that tangled up my fingers. I’d been trying not to think licentious thoughts about her, but now her slight shoulders were under my palms and her hair was soft and sticking to my wet skin. Her lips were damned near touching my nipple and her arms squeezed tight around me.
My nose nuzzled itself into the silky waves of her hair and my hands shifted on her back, trying to find a safe space. I wound up on that strip of fabric above the curve of her ass—which felt really intimate and not friend-zone at all, but nice. Really very nice.
“You scared me!” she accused, pulling back to glare up at me with those huge, dark eyes of hers. Her lashes were spiked with dampness, her mouth pink and trembling.
“I’m fine.” My voice had to be dredged from deep in my chest. I lifted one hand off her to stroke a damp strand of hair off her cheek and before I knew what I was doing, my fingers followed that flyaway mass to cup the base of her skull. My mouth was against hers.
It was pure instinct of the moment. We both froze before it became a real kiss. Her eyes were open, but I didn’t see rejection there. Only awareness that this was the line we had promised each other we wouldn’t cross. If I had drawn away in that second, it would have been nothing more than a stolen peck.
But her hand shifted against my waist. Her lips moved under mine. She might have pressed up onto her toes, but my arm tightened in the same instant, catching the pliant weight of her as the boat rocked beneath our feet. I enjoyed the sensation of gathering her in and up into a taut line against me. I liked it a lot.
And however it happened, one way or another, we were kissing proper.
And fuck did it feel good.
Her eyelids fluttered closed. I let my own drift shut, letting this become a dream. Letting myself sink into the fullness of the kiss.
Her lips were soft and receptive, parting and shifting in response to the hungry pull of mine. Her lips clung and opened wider with invitation for me to take more. I did, stealing a deep potent taste with a stroke of my tongue. I wanted to consume her.
All the nerves and muscles in me that had fought the beast of the ocean switched into that other biological urge. Fast. No gentle stir of desire here. Lust jabbed like a knife into my groin, tightening my belly and filling my mind with an imperative to press her beneath me. To cover her and spread her thighs with my own and?—
Someone laughed.
I made myself drag my head up. My heart was still on the verge of exploding, but now it was for a different reason.
Ash blinked as though waking up. Her mouth was shiny, her dress wet enough I could see the dark circles of her areolas topped by the sharp points of her hard nipples.
The only thing that saved me from showing more wood than that antique surfboard was the fact I was pressed up against her and wearing a towel over my clammy underwear.
“I’m in my jocks,” I reminded her. “Any idea where my clothes went?”
Embarrassment flashed into her eyes. She ducked away. “Here.”
I was dimly aware of the people around us making teasing remarks and laughing over our kiss. Ashley was trying to find a good-sport smile as she handed over my clothes.
“Good thing I didn’t go commando,” I told the goggling faces, trying not to think about how profound—and completely inappropriate—that kiss had been.
I clutched the towel and crouched next to the first mate who was still assessing the man I’d rescued.
“I can treat him while you...” I circled my finger to indicate the dinner cruise that had been interrupted.
“That’d be great, thanks.” Tala rose and asked for volunteers to help bring the life boat back on board.
“Let’s get you into a cabin. You can rest and warm up,” I said, helping the weak surfer to his feet. “And that’s the entertainment portion of tonight’s cruise, ladies and gentlemen. Be sure to give us five stars when you review online.”
I didn’t look at Ashley as I helped the man below deck.