Chapter 3 #3
If there is a God in heaven, please let it be a bikini. And PS, you owe me one.
She eyed the bike with trepidation. “Where is this swimming going to take place?”
“Here.” He swung his left leg over the bike and stood, dwarfing her.
How had he failed to notice earlier that he had a foot on her?
Probably because he’d been too busy stuffing his tongue down her throat to pay attention to such trivial matters as height.
“Come on.” Gripping her hand, he led her around the lighthouse to the steps that led to the sand below.
“I don’t think it’s safe to swim down there at night,” she said, pulling back. “There’re rocks and stuff.”
“Do you always do what’s safe?”
“Yes. Don’t you?”
“Not always. Safe is boring.”
Apparently, she had nothing to say to that, which he took to mean she was considering whether or not she was safe in the dark with him.
They navigated the stairs, aided by the light of the moon, and landed in the sand, where Alex kicked off his shoes and waited for her to do the same.
At the water’s edge, he dropped her hand to remove his shirt and then waited for her to pull the dress over her head, revealing what looked to be a pink bikini.
Thank you, God. We’re almost paid up.
He spread the towels on the sand and held out a hand to her. “Ready?”
“I don’t know if this is a good idea. What if we get caught in a rip current or something? No one even knows where we are.”
“That’s what makes it fun. It’s you and me and the moon and the sea.”
“All right, Dr. Seuss.”
He turned his back to her and looked over his shoulder. “Hop on Pop. I’ll keep you safe.”
She laughed—hard—and then surprised him when she took him up on his offer, climbing onto his back and wrapping her arms around his neck. “Don’t drop me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Why in the world would he drop her when having her thighs pressed against his ribs felt so damned good?
With his arms hooked under her legs, he walked into the water and eased them in slowly, staying close to the shore because he wasn’t completely foolish about the risks of swimming at night.
“Ahhh, that feels good,” she said as the cool water washed over them.
Was it his imagination or did she tighten her hold on him? No, definitely not his imagination. “Sure does. I thought I was going to burn up today.”
“I couldn’t deal with being outside all day in this heat.”
“You do what ya gotta do.” He held on tight as he lifted her up and over the gentle roll of the waves. The water was as calm as it ever was on the south side of the island, perfect conditions for a nighttime swim. “Could I let go for one second if I promise to come right back?”
“Sure.” She released her tight hold on him and slid down his back.
Alex waited until she was standing before he let go of her and turned around to face her. “That’s better.” He drew her into his arms, arranging her legs around his hips. “Much, much better.”
Her arms curled around his neck, infusing him with a strange sense of comfort, which was odd, considering he knew nothing about her other than her first name and where she lived.
Maybe the comfort came from the anonymity and the relief of leaving his troubles behind for however long this latest interlude lasted.
“Did you think about what happened this morning after I left?”
“Not at all. Did you?”
“Nope. Just another day at the office. My female customers can’t restrain themselves when I’m around.”
Jenny snorted with laughter, which pleased him. That had been his goal. “They are only human, after all.”
“Right? That’s what I say, too. Although I’ve never had any of them throw stuff at me before.”
“I refuse to apologize for that. You woke me up at an ungodly hour!”
Alex smiled at her indignation. Enough with the talking, he decided, tipping his head and going in slowly to kiss her.
At first, he simply laid his lips over hers, waiting to see what she would do.
Would it be like before, when the passion between them flared like fire finding dry brush, or would it simmer more slowly this time?
He quickly had his answer when her tongue dabbed at his bottom lip, setting off a chain reaction that made him groan and pull her in tighter against him. Her arms gripped his neck, and her breasts flattened against his chest.
This whole thing was insanity, and he hadn’t done anything like it since he was in high school, when girls came on to him endlessly.
Once in a while, he let one of them catch him—albeit briefly—but he’d always known everything there was to know about them.
Even as he told himself this was insanity, he cupped her backside and squeezed.
Alex lost himself in the moment, allowing the sweet taste of her lips and the lush curves of her body to take him away from all his troubles and worries. Her hand on his face soothed and calmed him even if he felt anything but calm. He wanted more. He needed more.
Without breaking the kiss, he maintained his tight hold on her bottom and stood up to walk them to the shore.