Page 46 of The Cherry Blossom Boathouse

A low moan emerged from deep in his chest as his hands gripped her hips hard enough to leave marks. In one swift movement, he hitched her legs higher around his waist and drove into her with a force that had her gasping.

Gone was the careful lover, replaced by something primal and untamed. His thrusts became harder, deeper, almost desperate as he finally surrendered to what his body had been demanding. The muscles in his chest bulged, his thighs threaded with veins. The raft rocked violently beneath them, water slapping against the hull in time with their movements. His hands were everywhere, tangling in her hair, palming her breast, gripping her hip to hold her steady.

This was what she wanted: Luke Rhodes, undone and magnificent, eyes wild and movements unleashed.

She felt the moment he lost control. His rhythm stuttering, his grip on her hip tightening almost to the point of bruising, his breathing harsh and uneven against her neck. With a final, powerful thrust, he buried himself as deep as possible, his entire body going rigid as he pulsed inside her.

For long moments afterward, they lay tangled together under a blanket from the boat. Sophie felt utterly boneless, her body humming with satisfaction, little aftershocks of pleasure still rippling through her.

“Well,” she managed finally, her voice slightly hoarse, “that’s one way to take in the lake view.”

“HEY THERE, LUKE! THAT YOUR NEW NEIGHBOR?” a voice suddenly called out.

Twenty

Luke

The booming voice cut through their haze like a bucket of ice water. Luke sat up, head whipping toward the sound. A boat was chugging past, not twenty yards away, Luke’s old friend Ray waving enthusiastically from it as if he hadn’t just interrupted the most intense moment of Luke’s recent existence.

“NICE DAY FOR A PICNIC!” Ray continued at full volume, either oblivious to or deliberately ignoring what he’d sailed in on.

Sophie froze against Luke, her face buried in his shoulder, body shaking with what Luke realized after a moment was suppressed laughter.

“Morning, Ray,” Luke called back, aiming for casual and probably missing by a mile given the rasp in his voice. “Just showing Sophie the floating garden.”

“IT’S A BEAUTY! HOPE TO SEE YOU BOTH AT THE FOOD TRUCK SOMETIME!”

Luke raised a hand in acknowledgment, hoping Ray would take the hint and move along. Thankfully, Ray gave a final cheerful wave and his boat puttered onward, leaving a wake that gently rocked the platform.

“Oh my God,” Sophie whispered, finally lifting her head. Her lips were swollen from his kisses, her dark hair mussed where his hands had tangled in it. “So much for nobody being able to see us.”

Luke couldn’t help the rueful smile that tugged at his mouth. “Welcome to small-town life where it turns out privacy’s a rare commodity, even at this time of the morning.”

Luke wrapped his arms around her, his body still running hot as their breathing steadied.

“You okay?” he asked, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“Apart from risking indecent exposure charges, I’m…amazing.”

“You sure are,” Luke said as he pressed his chest against hers. “I’ve got to admit, this is…not how I planned the morning going,” he said.

“No?” Sophie looked up at him, eyes bright. “And here I was thinking the Luke Rhodes dating experience always included exhibitionism and fishermen.”

He snorted. “Not part of the standard package, no.”

“We better get decent,” Sophie said, reaching for her dress.

“Prefer to get indecent again…but yeah, the lake’ll be getting busier now.”

“So,” Sophie said as they got changed, “what exactly is this between us, Captain?”

The question hung in the air, weighty despite her light tone. Luke took a breath, considering his answer carefully. He wasn’t good with words, with naming feelings. But Sophie deserved his honesty, not just his desire.

“Don’t know exactly,” he said slowly. “But it’s…something. Something I haven’t felt in a long time. Maybe ever.”

Sophie nodded, her expression thoughtful. “For me, too.”

“I know it’s fast,” he continued. “You just got here. You’re building a life, a business. And I’m…well, I’m not the easiest person to be with.”