11. Sylvie
ELEVEN
SYLVIE
It took a few more tries to get my balance and be steady on my feet, but I did it. It didn’t matter how many times I wobbled or forgot all the small adjustments Duke had instructed me on—he never got frustrated or annoyed when I didn’t get it right.
Instead, he smiled up at me and let me try again until I was satisfied.
Finally, after I was steady, I was able to paddle a few circles as Duke followed me into slightly deeper water and called out encouragement.
After the last time I stumbled and hit the water, I climbed back on the board and sat, letting my legs hang and watching the waves lap over my knees.
Duke slid in next to me, holding the board steady in the waist-deep water.
Droplets clung to his thick dark hair, dripping onto his sculpted shoulders.
They burned a path down his chest and back, and I fought the urge to drag my tongue up that line just to see what the crisp lake water tasted like on his skin.
I had convinced myself that the kiss behind the Sugar Bowl was some kind of fever dream.
I desperately wanted him to do it again, but so far he’d kept an annoyingly respectful distance.
I pointed to a small sandy tree-lined clump of land in the distance. “What’s that place over there?”
Duke followed my gaze, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the proximity of his bicep to my leg. I carefully widened my knee and touched it to the outside of his arm. When he didn’t move away from my touch, I relaxed into the warmth of his skin on mine.
“Want to go check it out?”
I nodded as excitement danced through me. “Let’s do it.”
“All right, hold still.”
I gripped the edge of the board with one hand to balance myself and watched as Duke effortlessly pulled himself onto the paddleboard.
He widened his stance, his corded leg muscles on full display, and held out one hand to me.
I gently placed my hand in his and let out a small yelp when he hauled me up to standing.
My free hand clamped around his waist. I stared down at the cut lines of his abs—that little V that apparently made all women, including me, stupid.
Duke cleared his throat, and when my eyes whipped to his, a sexy smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He reached for the paddle in my opposite hand, and I released it.
Duke centered himself and glanced over his shoulder at me. “Just try to keep steady, and I’ll get us over there.”
I rested my hands on his hips. “Is this okay?” I whispered.
He grunted in response. “Yeah. It’s okay, Sylvie.”
Heat pooled between my legs as I inched closer, resting my front against his back. I hated that our life jackets kept me from capturing his warmth. I was playing with fire, but the seclusion of the beach and the freedom of the lake made me not care.
Duke’s muscles rippled as he paddled us through the water toward the small island. Despite seeing the beach in the distance, it felt like we were miles away from civilization—miles away from a life that told us that being here together was so wrong.
Beneath us, the crystal waters of Lake Michigan revealed rocky formations below the surface as fish swam around and scattered as he moved us through the water.
When we got close enough, he turned his head to me again. “All right, hop down. We can walk from here.”
Gently hopping off the board, I let myself sink below the surface before my vest popped me up, and I wiped the water from my eyes.
Duke continued watching me. Heat rose in my cheeks, and I lowered my lashes.
I followed him, and when we reached the beach, it was softer and sandier than the main coastline.
Long lake grass dotted the area and led to small groupings of trees around the island.
I took in its seclusion. “Think anyone else is here?”
He shrugged. “I doubt it. The only way to get to it is by boat or board, and I didn’t see anyone else around.”
It was an island oasis all to ourselves.
Excitement danced through me as I walked with Duke toward the beach.
Once we were there, Duke dropped the paddleboard and paddle, along with his vest and bag, near the edge of the tree line.
I unclipped my life jacket and stripped it from my body, letting the cool breeze ice my skin.
“Are you cold?” For the briefest moment, Duke’s eyes flicked down to my hard nipples, and I didn’t have the audacity to tell him that I was burning up, and that it was standing so close to him that had turned them into needy little pebbles.
I shook my head and he looked away. As we walked, exploring the small island, I couldn’t help but inch closer to Duke. His kiss proved he felt something for me—there was definitely something more than casual friendship going on between us—but indecision and nerves kept my hands at their sides.
Finally, Duke’s wide, rough palm smoothed down the inside of my arm from elbow to wrist before he clasped my hand in his and gently squeezed.
He towered over me and looked down at our joined hands. “Is this okay?”
I swallowed hard as I was internally screaming . “Yeah, it’s okay.”
I smiled up at him. He had no idea just how okay it was.
Together we walked hand in hand, exploring the small, secluded island. With Duke there weren’t awkward silences, simply quiet stretches where I let my mind wander and imagine what if.
I leaned into him, and he gripped my hand harder. With him I felt alive. Free.
I felt like me .
Putting a little distance between us as we walked along the beach, I kicked up some water, splashing him. His fierce scowl forced a bubble of laughter to escape me. His jaw flexed before he growled.
Laughing, I released his hand and took off running. His footsteps pounded behind me, and I didn’t make it five steps before his arm banded around my waist and I was hoisted in the air.
I released unbridled laughter. Duke tossed me over his shoulder, throwing me into a fit of giggles. He stomped and splashed in the water, soaking us both. His playful laughter mixed with mine, and I couldn’t recall a sweeter sound.
I slid down his front as he placed my feet in the water. When my eyes met his, they were dark and intense. “Are you dating Charles Attwater?”
My cheeks flushed. His hand held mine as I shook my head. “After the auction date remix, we pretty quickly realized there was no magic. No spark. So we parted as friends?—”
Before I could even finish, Duke’s hands were on my face, and his mouth was on mine. A soft, surprised squeak escaped me, and he used it to deepen the kiss. I melted into him, pressing my chest against him as he held my body up. One hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me into his chest.
It wasn’t a dream—Duke Sullivan is kissing the fuck out of me.
The kiss went against everything I’d ever been taught to do, and I didn’t care. Everyone and everything dissolved around me in fizzy bubbles.
Duke’s throaty grunt sent sparks of electricity through me, igniting my need.
I went slick for him as his mouth moved across mine.
His kiss was warm and deep and mine as his tongue moved against my own.
My hands roamed over the hard planes of his body.
Time and physical labor had hardened every part of him, and my hands explored his muscles.
My nipples scraped against his hard chest as heat spread through me. Waves lapped around our legs. At my hip Duke was rock hard.
And huge.
A fresh wave of need moved through me as I imagined everything I wanted him to do to me with that monster of a cock.
With his hands still gripping the sides of my neck, he stopped the kiss and stared down at me. “I know this is unexpected. Do you want me to stop?”
I shook my head, breathless. “Hell no.”
It was all the permission Duke needed. He bent his knees, wrapping his hands around the backs of my thighs and hauling me against him. My legs straddled his waist, and his hands moved over my ass, pressing me into him. I tilted my hips, grinding my aching clit against any part of him I could.
Duke’s powerful legs carried us out of the water, and he lowered me to the sand at the edge of the tree line, where it met the soft beach. He laid me down on the paddleboard beside our discarded bag and vests. When he looked down at me, his eyes revealed one thing.
Possession.
And I wanted to be possessed by him—owned in the best way possible. He took my mouth again as his hands skated over my breasts. When he broke the kiss, I was a panting, needy mess.
“Take those tits out and let me see them.”
I had never imagined Duke being so bold and filthy with me. I loved it.
Emboldened, I leaned back, slowly pulling my bikini top apart and showing him my breasts.
I loved the flare of heat in his eyes when he finally looked at them. His body covered mine, pushing me into the board. His thick cock pressed into me, and I wound my legs around him, digging my heels into him and begging for more. His hand tangled in my hair as he took the kiss deeper.
He pinched one nipple and ground his hips into me, and I moaned into him.
I slid my hands over the expanse of his back, skating over the muscles and sinew.
He was broad and powerful. The soft hair on his chest teased my sensitive skin, and I wanted to feel all of him—to explore his body as he kissed and licked and sucked.
“Duke,” I panted.
He broke the kiss to stare down at me.
“Please,” I pleaded, and my hands moved to the band of his swim trunks. Hunger flashed in his eyes. I shook my head. “I know this is reckless, but I want you. I need you.” My palm moved over his hard length through his trunks, and he bit back a moan. “Right now.”
On his face, desire and need were at war with the consequences of my begging.
“Just this once,” I added before he could shoot me down. “And we won’t tell anyone.”