Page 82 of Have To Be Mine

“I’m coming.”

She waded in slowly, making little gasps as the water rose higher, and then she dove in. Three seconds later, she surfaced a few feet from me. She splashed me and I splashed her back. Within seconds we were in a full-on water fight, laughing like idiots as we tried to dunk each other.

I caught her around the waist and pulled her against me. She wrapped her legs around my waist instinctively, her arms going around my neck. The laughter died as we stared at each other.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hi.”

I kissed her. Slow and sweet and tasting of saltwater. With her wet body sliding against mine, there was no way I could resist. I carried her out of the water with her clinging to me like a starfish. I stretched her out on the blanket and once again peeled away the bathing suit.

“We’re alone?” she whispered.

“Completely.”

She pulled me down for a kiss that made it clear she wasn’t the least bit worried about being seen.

26

KRISTA

The ferry ride from Mykonos to Santorini was peaceful. Dash and I stood at the railing, watching the islands pass by, his arm around my waist like it was the most natural thing in the world. We didn’t talk much. We didn’t need to.

Something had shifted between us on that yacht, and we both knew it. It wasn’t just the sex, although the sex was phenomenal. I didn’t think I would ever get enough of the man. He was so fucking perfect behind closed doors. It was all about stripping away that cocky outer layer and getting to the man under it all.

And I really liked that guy. That guy was hot. Sexy as sin.

I’d never felt this kind of contentment before. So settled. Happy. I wasn’t thinking about the next ten minutes or even the next ten days. I was in the moment, which rarely happened. It was strange but in the best way.

When we arrived in Santorini, I had expected him to book us into some five-star hotel with separate rooms and all the professional distance we should have been maintaining. Instead, he’d rented a villa.

“Two bedrooms,” he said when he showed me the listing on his phone. “But we’re sharing the space. Makes more sense logistically.”

I raised an eyebrow at that. “Logistically?”

“Yeah. We’re working together. We need to be able to coordinate easily. Plus, more guests are coming in for the show. Hotels are getting booked up. The villas are rented. I’m thinking ahead.”

He wasn’t wrong. But I also knew that wasn’t the real reason. I didn’t mind, though.

The villa was stunning. White-washed walls and blue shutters, perched on the cliffside with a view of the caldera that made my chest ache. It was stunning. I should have known it would be luxurious. As if the Blackwell family was going to stay in anything less than amazing. I had already learned that on this trip.

I moved through the villa and out to the private patio with an infinity pool that seemed to spill right into the sea. I walked straight to the edge of that pool and stared out at the water, already imagining what it would be like to slip in with Dash after dark. To feel his hands on me under the stars again. I wanted to christen this place the way we’d christened that yacht. And the beach.

I heard Dash talking and turned around, ready to suggest exactly that when I realized he was on his phone carrying his laptop to the outdoor sitting area. He sat down and was wholly focused on the screen.

Okay. I could wait. Dash was working, and the last thing I wanted to do was derail him. I meandered around the villa, checking out the fridge stocked with water, fruit juices, and an assortment of snacks.

I poured myself an Aperol spritz from the fully stocked bar and settled into one of the lounge chairs to watch him work. I told myself I should probably be working too, checking in with vendors, confirming final details. But I couldn’t bring myself to move. I was mesmerized. And he was handling it. My job was to watch him. I was. A lot.

He was in full business mode. He’d abandoned his shirt somewhere, which was making things even more difficult. I was only human. I was staring at eye candy and being told I couldn’t indulge. But I knew I could touch him if I wanted to, so I was only at war with myself.

I hadn’t been lying when I told him watching him be all determined and focused was a total turn-on. It was in every way. I listened to him negotiate with someone about seating arrangements. He wasn’t throwing money at the problem or using charm to smooth things over. He was solving it. Actually solving it.

“I understand that’s not standard,” he was saying. “But we’re talking about ten additional front-row seats for VIP guests. I need you to work with me here. What would it take to make that happen?”

He listened, nodding and making notes on his laptop.

“Okay. Yes. I can authorize that. Send me the updated floor plan and I’ll approve it tonight.” A pause. “Perfect. Thank you.”