“Yeah, we’re here. Do you know how to snorkel?”
“Of course. Last one in the water buys dinner tonight.” She grabbed her gear, climbed over the bench seat, and jumped off the boat’s platform into the shallow water around the sandbar. “You’re too late. Looks like you lose, Devon,” she taunted.
“If ‘losing’ means I get more time with you tonight, I’ll take ‘losing’ any day.” With a flying leap, he jumped into the water next to her.
She squealed with laughter when the wall of water splashed her. It turned to playful laughter when his hand wrapped around her ankle, and she knew he was about to pull her underneath the water with him. Without a second to spare, she drew in a deep breath, and her head disappeared under the water. He wrapped his strong arms around her waist and resurfaced with her attached to him.
Water dripped off their faces, and the slight waves lapped around them while he kept a tight hold on her. “Now that you’re at my mercy—” he smirked “—don’t lie to me again. I can tell—I canalwaystell. You became upset with me when I said you’re Jeff’s little sister. Why?”
Resigned to being caught dead to rights, she decided to come clean with him. It was time to spill the secret she’d harbored for as long as she could remember. “I wanted you to see me as more than some little girl from your hometown. More than your friend’s little sister. But apparently, our roles are set. I was just disappointed. That’s all. It’s fine—don’t worry about it.
He nodded slowly, studying her face and her eyes. “You think the way I look at you is simply as my friend’s little sister? I don’t think you heard exactly what I said. I have toremindmyself of it constantly, because that’s not at all what I see when I look at you now.
“You’re gorgeous, without a doubt. You’re strong and fearless and smart and determined. You are kind, genuine, loving, and funny. I couldn’t have made a more perfect woman if I’d made you myself. You’re fucking sexy as hell, every inch of you, every part of you, inside and out. Before you get it in your head that I don’t want you, think again.”
He watched with rapt attention as a droplet of water rolled down her cheek and onto her lips. In a rare lapse of self-control, he couldn’t resist licking the water from her lips. With a light swipe of his tongue across the part in her lips, he sampled her unique flavor and was immediately addicted. One taste only made him want more. He took every bit of what she willingly offered. With his head tilted to the side, he slanted his mouth over hers and drove his tongue inside.
His tongue slid against hers, and she gripped his hair tightly. Every silky-smooth pass of her tongue on his pushed him closer to the edge of losing all restraint. Low moans emanated from her chest when she wrapped her legs around his waist, crushing her thinly covered chest to his bare one. His hips surged upward involuntarily, brushing against her clit through her barely there bikini bottoms.
He gripped the hair on the back of her head and pulled lightly, separating them and ending their sensual hold. His voice deepened, and his intent gaze pierced her soul. “Don’t ever think I don’t want you. It takes all my willpower to think of anything other than the things I want to do to you. With you. Things I want to watch you do.”
“Maybe you should reserve your willpower for more important things.”
“You’ll be the death of me yet.” With a surrendering groan, he crushed his lips to hers for one more taste. “Now swim over to the sandbar and get your gear on so we can snorkel while we’re out here. Before I change my mind and choose more interesting activities.” He lowered his head and licked up her neck, sending chill bumps across her skin.
He reluctantly released her as they made their way to the shallow water. Once they were both ready, he led the way to the reef. They explored the underwater sanctuary like two overgrown kids who’d found sunken treasure. Minutes turned to hours, and by the time they climbed back aboard Devon’s boat, Elle’s energy had been depleted.
With the gear stowed, she plopped down on the bench seat and lay back, her arm bent across her face to shield her eyes. “I just remembered something. I was supposed to rest and hydrate today so I’d be ready for the lights and cameras tomorrow. Guess I completely messed that one up, huh?”
“Yeah, you really did. Maybe they’ll fire you, then I’ll have you all to myself for even longer.” He stood over her holding a cold bottle of water, letting the small pieces of ice and water droplets fall on her bare skin.
When the ice hit her stomach, she jerked up with a start and came face-to-face with the bottled water. “I heard you need to hydrate.”
“So thoughtful of you.”
“It’s good of you to notice. I do try.”
When they returned to land, it was late afternoon, and Devon found he wasn’t ready to let Elle leave. “You’re tired, aren’t you, darlin’? It’s been a long day. Flying across the country late last night, shopping, snorkeling, trying to have your way with me. You’ve been very busy.”
“Trying to have mywhat?” she laughed, playfully punching him in the arm.
“Why don’t you go take a hot shower, curl up in the bed for a nap, and I’ll wake you when it’s time to eat? We’re only about an hour from your hotel, so I can still have you home before your curfew.”
She eyed him suspiciously for a few seconds, then relented. She didn’t want their time together to end, and she decided taking him up on his offer was the best all-around solution. “I can’t turn that offer down. Don’t let me sleep too long, or I’ll be up all night tonight.”
“That’s not much of an incentive for me to wake you up soon.”
“You are going to be the death of me,” she quipped, throwing his earlier words back at him.
That odd expression quickly passed over his face then disappeared again. She watched him closer this time, waiting to see if he revealed anything else. His eyes softened, but his face gave nothing else away. She raised up on her toes and placed a light kiss on his full lips. He returned it and cupped her face with his hands. He continued holding her face when she broke off the kiss. “What was that for?”
“You said you can tell when I’m lying. Well, I can tell when you’re hiding something. For whatever reason, you don’t want to tell me what it is. But I want you to know, I’m here when you’re ready to talk about it.”
She left him alone to mull over her offer while she showered, changed back into her clothes, and crawled into the bed. Once her head hit the pillow, she was fast asleep with dreams of Devon replaying the day’s events. His words. Their kiss. The feel of her body crushed to his. How protected she felt in his arms. Every superb sensation brilliantly repeated in her mind’s eye, where she felt loved, desired, and sheltered.
The scent of food cooking pulled her from the best sleep she’d had in weeks—and the best dream she’d ever had, period. She rolled off the side of the bed and walked into the kitchen. Finding Devon shirtless, in his form-fitting jeans, and barefoot would’ve been enough to ignite any woman’s libido. When she realized he was cooking dinner, her heart melted. When he turned and saw her standing in the doorway, he smiled and pitched the hand towel over his bare shoulder. Her gaze traveled down his chest, over his stomach, taking in the happy trail and sexy V, and landed on his unbuttoned jeans.
Her mouth opened, and she sucked in a surprised breath. Her tongue darted out, reflexively wetting her lips as she continued to stare. When she met his knowing gaze, she didn’t have enough wits about her to be embarrassed. She was too busy enjoying the view.
