Chapter Twenty-Five
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
The next morning Scarlett woke up to Brayden’s muscular form sprawled in an armchair near her bed.
The dim light filling her room told her it was early morning, but his brown eyes were alert and fixed on her.
Her bed was so empty, and she ached for his body to be curled around hers. Why was he so far away?
Last night, as they’d been getting ready for bed, she’d expressed her exasperation when he’d taken a pillow to the couch. She’d hoped he’d change his mind about sleeping separately, but he hadn’t.
“Get in the bed, you idiot” were the exact words she’d uttered.
With a wicked smile, he’d obeyed and immediately peppered her with kisses.
She’d thought she’d won when he slid her pajama bottoms off, but after giving her a soul-shattering orgasm with his mouth, he’d gone right back to the couch before she could even begin to return the favor.
“That should help you sleep,” he’d said smugly. And as she’d closed her eyes, he’d stayed awake, watching her.
Now, in the morning light, she looked at him longingly while he stared back, and the corners of his mouth turned up.
“You did sleep, didn’t you?” she asked, her voice raspy.
He chuckled. “I got enough. My valor helps me regenerate with less sleep than the average person, so I don’t need as much as you.”
Interesting. Scarlett was jealous of that perk. “Were you watching me sleep?”
“Yep. Watching you sleep and thanking the Goddess you’re alive.”
“That’s sweet.” Her lips curved up in a smile as she let herself appreciate the view of him shirtless.
He was so fit from his daily workouts and his military training.
Speaking of which, he’d usually be out running this time of day.
“You know, we have a home gym and a treadmill on the ground floor. You can run in the mornings. There’s a television in there too. ”
His eyes lit with interest. “That’s handy.”
“I’ll show you where it is.” Scarlett rose, sitting cross-legged as she faced him. “Oh, and I had an idea while I was falling asleep.”
“Tell me,” he said.
“I want to take you to the beach today. I’ve owed Beni a trip for a while now, and I’m dying to take you surfing.” Her voice bubbled with excitement.
“I’d love that,” he said, his expression warm.
“Good. There’s more. If you’re up for it, I’m going to tip off a couple of members of the press that we’ll be there.
If we have pictures of me looking healthy, it’ll highlight to the public that Laylani’s a liar.
Also, we can publicize our relationship quickly and on our terms. Does that sound okay to you? ”
“Hell yeah,” he muttered. “No more magazines talking about you and Alastair as a couple would be nice. And we can mention Dad and what he does for Clair. Close ties to a military family could put people off hurting you.” He stood, pulling his arm over his head to stretch his lat muscles.
“Yes, take notice, ne’er-do-wells—I’ve got a father-in-law who can turn invisible, and by the way, he has a whole lot of guns.
” She shivered as she watched Brayden stretch, resisting the urge to pull him into her bed so she could run her hands all over his perfect body.
She didn’t want to be the one constantly coming on to him while he was in overprotective mode.
Hopefully, she’d get a bodyguard fast so he wouldn’t have to be constantly on guard.
It was still wonderful to wake up with him here, even if he hadn’t slept in her bed. If only he never had to leave.
They arrived at Lilac Beach well in advance of the time Scarlett had given the reporters, so they’d have some time to themselves.
She, Beni, and Brayden walked across the warm sand toward the ocean.
The beach was busy, as it always was during the summer holidays, but they still managed to find space to dump their surfboards and their bags on the ground.
Scarlett laid their towels out before pulling her white sundress over her head to reveal a dark green swimsuit that matched her eyes.
The bikini top was tied together in a knot between her full breasts and left little to the imagination.
As soon as the dress was off, Brayden’s gaze fixed on her.
He came closer and drew her into his arms, leaning down close enough to whisper in her ear.
“You look…” He groaned. “If only we weren’t in public right now.”
Heat pooled in her stomach as she watched his pupils dilate, and Scarlett laughed. Maybe tonight she’d be able to convince him to sleep in her bed. His presence was so reassuring that no part of her believed he wouldn’t be able to protect her and hold her at night.
“You can take it off later.” She winked at him and was rewarded with more of his dark, hungry gaze. “And you look pretty delicious yourself,” she added.
They’d stopped at a surf shop near the Lilac Island Dock, and he’d let her pick out some swimwear for him.
Scarlett thoroughly enjoyed seeing Brayden shirtless, in form-fitting shorts that cut off at mid-thigh.
She reached up to touch the thin silver necklace he’d worn today.
She’d never seen it before, and she never knew jewelry on a man could be so sexy.
Not that he needed it. Her eyes skirted over his broad shoulders, his defined—but not too defined—abs and arms. Reaching between them, she ran a fingertip over that sexy space between his belly button and his stomach, making Brayden shiver.
Biting her lip, she looked up. He stared at her, a small smile playing across his lips and his gaze still just as hungry.
“Come on—let’s get in.” Beni walked past them with his surfboard in hand. Ready to start catching the little waves that dusted this part of Lilac Beach, he rushed toward the water.
Reluctantly, Scarlett pulled away from Brayden, picking up her surfboard too. She waited till Brayden had his board, and then they both set off after Beni.
The sun warming her back was bliss as she walked with Brayden.
It was one of those gorgeous Soleil mornings before the peak heat of the day.
The pure smell of the sea and the lilac bushes was so much nicer than the sometimes musky smell of the city canals.
A group of teenagers were sunbathing nearby, and Scarlett smirked at their faces as they took in Brayden.
She reached for his free hand, and they walked the rest of the way to the water with their fingers intertwined.
Scarlett looked out over the waves at Beni where he’d begun to paddle on his surfboard. She released Brayden’s hand and faced him. “You’ve never done this before, right?”
“Never ever,” he said as the wind played with his hair. “Is it hard?”
“For a strapping young man like you? Nah. This is a great beach for learning. We’ll have you catching waves soon.”
Scarlett had Brayden practice getting up on the board on the beach a few times before leading him out into the water. There were a few surfers out there, but they weren’t close. Beni sailed past them on a wave, and Brayden grinned at the sight of him, so comfortable and at ease.
“This is a good spot,” she said once they were far enough from the shore. “When I tell you, start paddling with your arms toward the beach. When the crest of the wave reaches you, hop up like you did on the sand.”
“Easy,” said Brayden.
On his third try, he got up and rode a wave all the way into the shallows. Scarlett grinned at the sight. He was a natural.
“Ride one with me!” shouted Beni, who was watching from the beach.
Brayden pushed his wet hair out of his face and then followed behind her little brother out to where Scarlett still sat on her board. Her heart melted as they swam toward her together.
Scarlett paddled into the next wave and hopped up as it began to crest. Her heart soared as the wind blew her hair out of her face while she rode her board all the way in. She hopped off into the shallows and noticed that the group of teenagers had grown. They were all looking toward her.
Do they recognize me? she wondered. Or maybe they’re just watching us surf. She smiled. Or they’re admiring Brayden. Being spotted would normally stress her out, but given they wanted publicity, it didn’t really matter. She shrugged it off.
They surfed until Beni complained he was hungry. Scarlett gave him money for food, and while they waited for him to return, she stood next to Brayden on the sand and tugged him toward her, eager to taste the ocean on his lips.
Brayden didn’t hesitate, pressing his wet mouth to hers. The taste of the saltwater on his lips was delicious.
“Scarlett!” shouted a voice.
Scarlett, who’d been too lost in Brayden’s kiss to notice anything else, broke away and turned toward it. Two middle-aged photographers were standing thirty feet away in the sand. Their cameras clicked as she spun around to face them.
She gestured for them to come closer. “Good morning, gentlemen.”
“Good morning, Lady Heroux,” said Tom Bowles, a heavyset man with gray hair and glasses. She’d met him before at photo shoots for the Soleil Times and thought he was a good guy. He’d always respected her privacy when she’d asked him to stand down, and now was her chance to pay him back for that.
“Thanks for coming,” said Scarlett, nervous but excited for the photo shoot with Brayden.
“Our pleasure. Appreciate the invite,” said the second, a thin blond man she didn’t recognize.
“This is my husband, Brayden Maddox. We got married two days ago,” said Scarlett. “Please mention that in the article.”
“Congratulations,” said Tom as he adjusted the lens on his camera.
Scarlett went on. “I’ve also got some wedding photos. They aren’t professional, but it’d be great if you could print at least one of them.”
“Be happy to,” said the second photographer. He pulled a card out of his pocket and dropped it on Scarlett’s towel. “You can send the pictures you want printed to that email address.”