Chapter 17 #2
His tongue slid against mine, tasting, teasing, a leisurely dance that made heat pool in my stomach.
His hands, warm despite the cool water, moved from my face to tangle in my wet hair, tilting my head to better angle our mouths together.
I melted against him, my hands sliding up his chest to wrap around his neck, fingers threading through his short hair.
What started as gentle exploration gradually transformed into something hungrier, more urgent.
Keir’s arm circled my lower back, pulling me flush against him until I was practically in his lap, our chests pressed together, heartbeats syncing.
His other hand cradled the back of my head, holding me in place as the kiss deepened further, turning almost desperate.
I could feel every hard plane of his body against mine, the warmth of him seeping into my cooled skin.
His tongue stroked deeper, more insistent, claiming every corner of my mouth as if memorizing the taste of me.
I responded in kind, pressing closer, trying to eliminate any space between us, suddenly needing more of his heat, his strength, his solidity.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, he pressed his forehead to mine, his eyes still closed as if savoring the moment. His hand remained at the nape of my neck, thumb stroking the sensitive skin there in a way that sent shivers down my spine.
From this vantage point, we could see the beach clearly.
Drew was engaged in what appeared to be a splash war with Logan, while Cade helped Aunt Vivian set up the small portable grill she’d insisted on bringing.
Mochi was paddling in circles around Drew, occasionally barking encouragement, while Boba had found a comfortable spot next to Aunt Vivian’s chair, watching the water activities with judgmental disinterest.
“They look happy,” Keir observed, following my gaze, his arm still wrapped possessively around my waist.
I nodded, watching as Aunt Vivian said something that made Cade throw back his head and laugh—a rare sight that made my heart squeeze. “It’s been a good week,” I said softly.
Keir’s hand found mine on the sun-warmed rock. “It has,” he agreed, his thumb tracing circles on my wrist. “Better than I expected.”
I glanced at him, surprised by the admission. “What did you expect?”
He was quiet for a moment, his eyes on the horizon. “Resistance,” he finally said. “Anger. You running at the first opportunity.”
“I still might,” I warned, though we both knew it was an empty threat.
His fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around mine. “No, you won’t.”
The certainty in his voice should have irritated me, but instead, it sent a warm shiver down my spine.
Because he was right. Somewhere in the past week, the idea of running had lost its appeal.
The thought of leaving them—leaving this—behind made my chest ache in a way I wasn’t ready to examine too closely.
“We should head back,” I said reluctantly, “before they send a search party.”
“Let them search,” Keir replied, stealing another quick kiss. “But you’re right. Cade’s probably already suspicious.”
“Race you back?” I challenged, already pulling my hand free and sliding back into the water.
Keir let me have my escape, though I had no doubt he saw right through it. He followed me into the water, and this time, he let me win, hanging back just enough that I reached the shore first, triumphant and breathless.
Cade looked up as we emerged from the water, his eyes tracking the droplets running down my chest with an intensity that made my skin heat despite the cool ocean breeze.
“Having fun?” he asked, his voice deeper than usual.
“I won,” I announced, dropping onto the towel beside him. “Keir’s getting slow in his old age.”
Keir snorted, shaking his head like a dog to spray water over all of us. “Keep telling yourself that, little fox.”
Aunt Vivian handed me a water bottle, her knowing gaze moving between us. “You boys seem to have worked things out,” she observed casually.
I choked on my water.
Keir, shameless, just grinned and stretched out on the sand beside me. “We’re figuring it out,” he said.
Vivian nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Good. It’s about time.”
I had just finished my water when Logan emerged from the ocean, water cascading down his toned body in rivulets that traced every defined muscle. He caught me staring and a slow, predatory smile spread across his face—that knowing look that always made my breath catch in my throat.
“Finn,” he called, beckoning me with a casual wave. “I found something interesting down the beach. Come see.”
“What is it?” I asked, already standing despite myself.
“You’ll have to come see,” he replied. “It’s just around that bend.”
Drew shot me a knowing look as I brushed sand from my shorts. “Subtle,” he muttered, just loud enough for me to hear.
“Don’t be too long,” Aunt Vivian called after us. “I’m starting the grill soon.”
I followed Logan along the shoreline, watching as he occasionally bent to examine something in the sand. He’d point out interesting stones or unusual pieces of driftwood.
“There’s a beautiful piece just over there,” he said, gesturing toward a narrow opening between two large rock formations. “Come look.”
Curious, I followed him through the narrow passage, which opened into a small, secluded cove completely hidden from the main beach. Smooth stone walls curved around us, creating a natural alcove with soft sand underfoot and the gentle lapping of waves providing the only soundtrack.
“Where’s the—” I began but never finished the question.
In one fluid movement, Logan had me pressed against the smooth rock wall, his body caging mine, his mouth descending onto mine. This was pure hunger—demanding, consuming, almost desperate in its intensity. He was possessive, his kiss staking a claim that brooked no argument.
His hands gripped my waist, lifting me effortlessly until we were eye level, my feet dangling several inches off the ground. Instinctively, I wrapped my legs around his waist, my arms circling his neck for balance, his strength evident in the way he held me as if I weighed nothing.
“Been watching you all day,” he growled against my lips, his voice rougher than usual. “Watching Keir touch you. Watching Cade look at you. Driving me crazy.”
His mouth trailed down my neck, teeth grazing the sensitive skin there in a way that made me gasp. One of his hands slid up my back to tangle in my hair, tugging gently to expose more of my throat to his attention.
“Logan,” I breathed, not even sure if I was asking him to stop or begging for more.
He seemed to take it as the latter, his mouth returning to mine in a kiss that was even more demanding than the first. His tongue swept past my lips without preamble, tasting, claiming, conquering.
I could do nothing but hold on, my fingers digging into his shoulders as he pressed me harder against the rock wall.
The contrast of sensations was overwhelming—the cool stone at my back, the heat of his body against my front, the slight roughness of his stubble against my skin. When his hand slid from my waist to my chest, thumb brushing over my nipple, I couldn’t suppress a moan that he swallowed eagerly.
“Love the sounds you make,” he murmured, breaking the kiss to trail his lips along my jaw. “Love knowing I’m the one making you make them.”
His thumb circled my nipple again, more deliberately this time, drawing another sound from me that seemed to please him immensely. His hips pressed forward, pinning me more firmly against the wall, the evidence of his desire hard and insistent against me.
“We can’t—” I gasped, trying to remember why this was a bad idea. “The others?—”
“Are far enough away,” he finished, though he did ease the pressure of his body slightly. “But you’re right. This isn’t the place.” His eyes, darkened with desire, held mine. “Tonight, though.”
The promise in those words sent heat flooding through me, making it hard to think straight. He must have seen it in my face, because his mouth curved in a satisfied smile before he leaned in for one more kiss—this one slower, deeper, but no less thorough.
When he finally set me down, my legs were embarrassingly unsteady. He kept an arm around my waist, steadying me as I found my balance.
“We should head back,” he said, though he made no move to release me. “But first…”
He bent down to pick up a large, perfect spiral shell from the sand at our feet. “Can’t return empty-handed,” he explained. “Have to maintain the illusion.”
By the time we made our way back to the main beach, I was painfully aware of my appearance—hair tousled from Logan’s fingers, lips swollen from his kisses, a small mark forming just below my collarbone where his teeth had been particularly enthusiastic.
I clutched the single shell like it was the most precious treasure, as if it could somehow explain our extended absence.
Drew took one look at us and rolled his eyes. “Find anything interesting?” he asked dryly.
“Just this,” I replied, holding up the shell with what I hoped was casual nonchalance.
“Must have been deeply buried,” Drew commented, eyeing the mark on my collarbone with pointed amusement. “Took you long enough to dig it up.”
Logan just smiled, dropping onto the sand beside Cade with the satisfied air of a cat who’d gotten into the cream. “Some treasures are worth taking time to uncover properly.”
Aunt Vivian just laughed, shaking her head. “You boys aren’t nearly as subtle as you think you are.”
Heat flooded my face, and I suddenly became very interested in examining the single shell in my hand. Logan, shameless as always, just grinned and draped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his side in a way that only made my blush deepen.
“We weren’t trying to be subtle,” he replied which made Aunt Vivian laugh even harder.