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“All as in…” Maria trails off.
“As in all. A relationship with all of us.”
Oh shit.
My mouth drops at that declaration. Just that easy, he tells his aunt, his family, that we’re in a relationship, a poly relationship no less. He was so unbothered. My cheeks heat when she looks at me with a knowing twinkle in her eye and gives me the slightest nod.
We chat for a few minutes until she stands and goes off to do some work in her bungalow. She walks down the same path she took last night. Lake takes her place and pulls my feet into his lap, rubbing the tension out of my arches with his strong thumbs. He’s in a pair of shorts and a tank top. We sit there sipping coffee and listening to the sounds of the rainforest and the waves crashing on the shore a short distance away.
“Want to walk down to the beach?”
“Yeah, I’d love that.” I stand up and put my coffee down.
He links our hands together while he leads me down the sandy path. We’ve barely spoken since his aunt left us, but these quiet moments with him always feel intimate and peaceful. I don’t want to break the moment by speaking.
We get to the edge of the trees, and I can’t hold my gasp. The beach is beautiful, golden sand and bright blue water. There are a few rocky islands in the distance.
“This is heavenly,” I say, wriggling my toes into the warm sand. There are a few people walking all the way down at the other end of the beach, but other than that, it’s just us. “Is this a private beach?”
“No, beaches in Costa Rica are all public, but this one is only accessible by a dirt road big enough for an ATV. Unless you live in one of the private residences along this beach, it’s more trouble than it’s worth to reach it.” He leads me down to the water.
The briny scent of the Pacific surrounds me as the warm water gently rolls over my feet and ankles. I tilt my head back into the sun, soaking up the mid-morning rays. When I’ve had my fill, I look over at Lake to see him looking at me with unabashed desire flaring in deep brown eyes.
His eyes follow the quick dart of my tongue as I wet my lips. He steps up to me, pulling me into his arms and covers my lips with his own. My fingers run over his shoulders and into his short hair, tugging as he deepens the kiss. My lips part on a moan when he lifts me into the air, wrapping my legs around his waist. Our kiss lasts for what feels like ages, fueled by the passion of two people falling in love again.
We finally break apart, him still holding me in his arms. He gives me another quick kiss before we hear Nolan yelling our names. We both laugh when we see him jogging down to the beach in shorts with a bunch of chairs, a cooler, and towels. I drop my legs, and we both walk over to him. Grant and Sawyer emerge from the tree line with some more bags and a football. They’re all dressed in swim trunks and the view is amazing.
“I don’t have a swimming suit on yet,” I say as they start setting up. “I’ll run back to the house and change.” I start to walk away when Grant falls in step beside me.
“I’ll go with you.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.” I point toward the house. “The house is right there.”
“It’ll make us all feel better if someone is with you all the time.” He pushes his sunglasses down and looks at me with his gorgeous green orbs. “Please.”
I roll my eyes but motion for him to come along. When we get up to the house, he flops down on the bed, watching me rifle through my bags. I find a navy bikini and woven cream cover-up. I start walking to the bathroom to get dressed when Grant stops me.
“Where are you going?”
“To change.”
“Change here.”
“In the middle of a room with floor-to-ceiling windows and you sitting here watching?”
“Yes.” He nods. “That’s exactly what I want you to do.”
I look out the window, biting my lip as indecision hangs in my mind. I doubt anyone would be looking, but what if some of the family’s staff walk by and see? I look back at Grant who is sitting on the edge of the bed. He pulls me to him by the waistband of my shorts.
“I’ve been thinking about our night together.” His hand slides up my abdomen, under my shirt. “I have a theory that I’d like to talk to you about.”
“Okay.”
“I have this overwhelming need to erase every thought, touch, or hurt caused by Tripp. It’s the guilt I have, you know. You can tell me all day long that you don’t blame me, but I still blame myself.”
I start to interrupt, but he puts his index finger over my lips and shakes his head.
“You came alive under my hands, Liv. I felt it. You liked being dominated by someone you trust. You melted under my touch, and you obeyed my commands beautifully. I know that the other guys worship you. They touch you like you are their salvation, their angel, their goddess. I love listening to it, and I love watching it, but I’m not sure that I want to participate in it.”
