Spread the Love
. . .
Ellie
Whiskey was one evasive kitty, but he eventually took pity on me and dropped Mac’s drink umbrella after I tripped over a third chair while chasing him.
Mac had already gotten a new umbrella by the time I returned, huffing and puffing, but hopefully Whiskey had learned an important lesson.
Stealing was wrong.
I had just enough time to finish my second chocolate croissant—and debate grabbing a third—before Dr. Lovejoy sent us off to spend quality time with our partners.
Turns out Cade’s idea of “quality time” was to mostly leave me alone in a strange new place while he did his own thing.
He stayed in the room on his laptop, so I put on my cute blue swimsuit—without even glancing at the swimwear options Cade’s team had provided, because I’d crocheted it myself and was ridiculously proud of it—then grabbed my yarn and joined the other couples, who’d all stayed to sunbathe on the main deck.
Whiskey entertained himself by traveling between my and Mac’s loungers, while I crocheted him a captain’s hat to go with his adorable life jacket.
When others asked where Cade was—especially Harrison—I claimed he was sleeping off the jet lag. I wasn’t even sure if that was how jet lag worked, since I’d never been on a plane or left this time zone.
A new patch of itchy spots appeared on my arm after the lie, and I subtly scratched it.
Cade rejoined us when we docked at his grandfather’s island after lunch.
The sun beamed high overhead, and a scenic beach welcomed us like we’d stepped straight into paradise.
The tide crawled up the shore, gentle waves smoothing the sand before retreating.
There was a luxury-resort-style area with loungers and a charming cabana that easily cost more than Kitty’s café.
Past the wide stretch of sand were flourishing trees and lush plant life.
I couldn’t stop gaping at all the beauty.
While the rest of us deboarded, Whiskey happily stayed behind in our cabin. I left him with plenty of food and the TV set to his favorite channel—British quiz and panel shows.
I think he enjoyed their accents and sense of superiority. I’d tried to sway him over to American game shows, but he wasn’t a fan of all the loud sound effects.
I’d barely gotten a chance to wiggle my toes in the hot sand before Dr. Lovejoy glided her way to the front of the group. “Let’s pause here for a moment!”
The whole group came to a stop, and Cade moved in behind me as Dr. Lovejoy pulled four bottles of sunscreen from her giant tote bag.
“Our first activity today is called ‘Spread the Love,’” she explained while handing out a bottle to each couple.
Cade made no move to take one, so I accepted it with a smile.
“With health being an important priority in our lives, what better way to show you care than by keeping your partner safe from harsh UV rays? You’ll apply sunscreen to each other, but take your time with it.
Be present. Know that as you spread lotion on your partner, you’re protecting each part of their body. Embrace that feeling.”
The measured sigh from behind me showed just how much Cade hadn’t warmed to Dr. Lovejoy’s methods yet.
“This activity is rewarding to both the applier and the receiver,” she continued, closing her eyes and slowly sliding a hand up her own arm.
“So take turns with the sunscreen. Enjoy both being cared for and being the caregiver. Once you and your partner are all set, you’re free to make the most of your beach day. ”
Madison eagerly began rubbing down Harrison before Dr. Lovejoy finished speaking, while Candace wasted no time untying her bikini top and letting it flutter to the sand.
“Oh!” Completely caught off guard by the impromptu stripping, I abruptly turned around, eyes wide.
If I was expected to go topless, too, we were going to have a problem.
“Make sure to get everywhere, babe,” Candace purred to Fletcher, who’d already squirted a huge glob of sunscreen onto his palm.
“Trust me, I’m on it,” he said, followed by the very distinct smack of a hand slapping against an ass.
Candace’s laughter rang out while a hot blush engulfed my face in flames.
Time for a distraction.
“I’ll go first,” I blurted to Cade, darting behind him because it seemed safer to start with his back. He stood still in a pair of dark swim trunks, leaving just as much body on display as in his towel this morning—something I’d never forget.
The sight of his abs had almost convinced me to take up swimming.
It was a test of my focus to not get distracted by all the smooth skin and muscles of Cade’s back.
I flitted down his body, gliding lotion-smothered hands over wide shoulders, impressive arms, and muscled calves.
By the time I moved to his toned front, I was a blushing, bumbling mess.
I even poked a lotion-covered pinky into his belly button, earning an unamused look from Cade.
On my way back up his stomach, a thought gave me pause.
Did nipples need sunscreen?
I assumed yes.
But I wasn’t exactly sure how to do it without making things weird.
Especially now that I’d already rubbed sunscreen all over the areas around them, leaving two little circles of untouched sensitive skin.
If I singled out his nipples now, it felt almost too intentional.
Like I’d saved them for last or something.
I should’ve just rubbed them at the same time as everything else when I had the chance.
Now it’d just be weird.
“Ellie?” Cade muttered, startling me out of my staring contest with his nipples.
My head snapped up. “Yeah?”
A slow, distracting smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “You finished?”
“Um, almost.” I winced, but then sucked it up because I didn’t want Cade to get skin cancer.
Holding my breath, I squirted out more sunscreen and rubbed it in a general arc over his smooth pecs, making sure to get full coverage of each nipple.
When I finished rubbing it in, I handed over the bottle. “There. All done.”
Cade was all business during his turn. He rubbed the lotion between his palms before applying it over my arms and legs in brief, controlled swipes. No rubbing, caressing, or massaging in sight.
I glanced over at the other couples—happily taking their time and groping each other—before clearing my throat.
“Um, this isn’t believable,” I murmured.
Cade’s hands paused on my calf. “What’s not believable?”
“Us. Our acting,” I whispered, digging my toes into the sand and nodding toward the others. “Look at the rest of them. They’re all over each other, while you’re rubbing lotion on me like I’m your sister, not your fiancée.”
He straightened with a frown. “I’m rubbing it normally.”
“That’s the problem. We’re engaged, Cade,” I reminded him. “Yet you’re focusing on the lotion instead of trying to cop a feel. We should be acting madly in love.”
“That won’t work.” He went back to his precise applying, this time on my shoulders. “Harrison is already suspicious. If I start acting all starry-eyed around you, he’ll think you drugged me.”
My brows shot up. “Won’t he still question it if you don’t loosen up at all? It doesn’t have to be anything drastic. How about we hold hands after we finish with the sunscreen? That’s easy enough.”
Cade’s hands dropped from my shoulders. “I don’t hold hands.”
The finality in his tone made me squint. “… At all? What if your fiancée really liked holding hands?”
“Then she wouldn’t be my fiancée, because we wouldn’t be compatible.”
“Huh.” I paused, eyeing him thoughtfully. “That actually explains a lot.”
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me your ‘services’ include psychoanalyzing, too.”
“No, that wasn’t covered in our training,” I quipped, fighting a smile. “But I’m sorry. I won’t ask you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”
“Now you’re being ridiculous,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not uncomfortable. It’s just a preference. I don’t enjoy holding hands.”
“Of course,” I said lightly. “That makes sense, since it can take a lot for some men to show affection in public. Not all of you can.”
He cocked a brow. “Reverse psychology again?”
I smiled innocently. “It worked last time.”
The whisper of a smirk was all the warning I had before Cade yanked me against his front.
My palms slapped against his stomach to catch myself, while his hands were already sliding down my back and over my butt to grip the part of my cheeks not covered by swimsuit.
He took a firm hold and massaged the lotion in, leaving me struggling to catch my breath.
The sunscreen was cool at first touch, but it warmed quickly the more he rubbed.
I couldn’t help fixating on the size and strength of his beautiful hands.
Cade’s head leaned down next to mine while he worked, and his lips brushed my ear in the softest of touches. “Comfortable enough for you?”
The low murmur injected a shot of heat straight into my veins.
“Um—” I swallowed, failing to gather my scattered thoughts.
While I tried to string two words together, Cade’s magical hands shifted to my back and continued rubbing. His thumb snuck underneath the string of my top, the touch more like a caress as it summoned an army of goose bumps in its wake.
I hadn’t realized just how big his hands were until they glided down my sides and practically circled my waist.
That was nice.
“Darling?” Cade’s voice cut through the haze, amused. My head snapped up and almost headbutted him. The corner of his mouth twitched. “Turn around.”
I didn’t get a chance to move on my own before he was nudging me around and sliding a hand against my stomach to pull me back against him—until my butt fit snugly against his front.
My entire face radiated heat.
The love spreading continued. Cade rubbed lotion over my arms, shoulders, and neck, while I soaked in the thorough massage. His height made it easy to reach around me, rubbing the sunscreen into my stomach and up to my chest.
Where I’d hesitated at his nipples, Cade rubbed lotion over my cleavage like a pro. It probably should’ve felt inappropriate or uncomfortable, but I enjoyed it too much to care.
The other couples may as well have vanished in a puff of smoke. All I could focus on was the self-assured way Cade touched me. His hands moved with a confidence that suggested he knew my body way more intimately than he did.
And I loved every second.
When he finished, Cade grabbed my hips and guided me back around to face him.
I could only stare at him, breathing way too heavily.
“Well?” The knowing tilt to his lips made my skin burn for reasons completely unrelated to the sun. “Was that convincing enough?”
Clearing my throat, I tried to focus on anything other than his hands.
“Yep,” I squeaked out. “I think that should do it.”