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John Mercer tipped his chin to me, and I returned the greeting.
Sylvie King and Stumpy Larson got shoved in with us despite Royal trying to muscle his way into a grouping with his sister.
Everyone knew Stumpy was a creep, and I’m sure Royal was trying to keep an eye on his little sister. I couldn’t fault him for it, because I would have done the exact same thing.
Royal pinned Stumpy with a menacing glare as he jabbed one long tattooed finger in the air. “You keep arespectabledistance.”
Stumpy visibly swallowed and managed only a nod. Royal’s eyes slid to mine as if to communicate,Keep an eye on her.
I pressed my lips together in a silent agreement. The Sullivan–King feud may run back generations, but there were some lines we would never cross. Allowing Stumpy Larson to try anything with Sylvie was one of them.
The groups walked down the beach toward the marina. My back stiffened when we passed a fishing boat withNoble King Fishing Tourspainted on the back.
I recognized the sleek lines of the fishing boat my father once owned. Back when he was himself and operations on the farm had run so smoothly he was branching out into other tourism opportunities. The boat, and Dad’s dream of hosting guided fishing tours, had flown out the window when he’d gotten his diagnosis, and things went to hell so fast. It pissed me right the fuck off to see the King name onDad’s boat.I immediately regretted my kindness toward Royal.
Fuck that guy and his family. Especially his father, Russell King. He had never been an honorable businessman like his father, Amos. Russell was a scavenger. Even after all our families had been through, he was greedy enough to capitalize on our misfortune with Dad’s illness, and I hated him for it.
Annie’s hand pressed between my shoulder blades. She looked up at me with her big, round eyes and a soft, understanding smile. She knew how quickly everything had fallen apart for my family when Dad got sick. She knew how hard it was to see Dad’s dreams fade away along with so many of his memories.
I want that fucking boat back.
Refocusing on our date, I stepped one foot onto the charter boat, holding on to it while offering a steady hand to Annie. Carefully, she slipped her hand into mine and got her balance before climbing onto the boat deck. I took the opportunity to lace our fingers together and hold on. When she looked up at me, I gave her a wink.
Captain Jimmy instructed us to sit at the perimeter of the boat while he and his first mate and daughter, Stevie, got us out onto the water. Music pumped out of a small speaker, and the wind whipped at us as we made our way onto the open water of Lake Michigan. While Captain Jimmy navigated, Stevie was busy checking poles and the bait we would use.
As the boat cruised over the waves, the passengers bumped and bounced. We gripped the sides of the boat to remain steady, and Sylvie’s knuckles went white against the seat she was clinging to. On a larger wave, Annie yelped, then laughed at herself. Taking the opportunity, I pulled her onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her and keeping her secure. She looked back, then repositioned her hips.
“Don’t be a tease, Annette,” I whispered against her skin. “It will get you in trouble.”
Her head turned to me, her breath fanning over my face as she said, “Maybe I need a little trouble in my life.”
My fingers dug into the flesh of her thighs, my fingertips going white. I wanted to claim her, mark her. Leave behind pale purple signs of what she did to me and how she drove me wild.
With every bump of the waves my cock grew painfully harder. The thin fabric of her swimsuit and my trunks were the only barrier between us.
I imagined how easy it would be to slip between her lips and watch her eyes go wide as she took in my size. I planted a gentle kiss at the slope of her neck and used the opportunity to shift her closer, more fully seated on my lap. My heart thunked against her back as I held her close.
About fourteen miles offshore, Captain Jimmy slowed to an area he claimed was his “secret spot.” The afternoon sun was beating down, but the lake breeze made it almost bearable. Annie stood, taking up space at the back of the boat as she, Emma, and Sylvie whispered and shot glances my way. I stretched my arms across the back of the seat and let the June sun warm my skin.
As the captain and first mate arranged our gear, the group made small talk. I laughed at jokes and contributed to the conversation but never let my eyes wander too far from my girl. She’d given up her battle of wills against the heat and had finally stripped down to only her swimsuit. The back cut high up on her ass, and I could see the perfectly round apples of her butt.
Despite the heat, tiny goose bumps formed on her smooth skin under my gaze. Fire danced in her eyes and I had to turn away to prevent giving in to the urge to walk up behind her and squeeze that delicious ass. Over her shoulder, Annie shot me a smirk and my chest squeezed.
Oh, that girl knows what she’s doing.
Though she was still holding back, I could see her walls beginning to crumble. I held on to the hope that, however slowly, those walls were coming down.
Captain Jimmy and Stevie worked efficiently as they set each couple up with rods and bait. After a brief safety lesson and a demonstration on how to properly cast, we were left to try it out as they made their rounds to assist each couple.
The late-afternoon sun painted streaks of gold across the rippling waters of Lake Michigan. The waves were rougher than I’d anticipated, so to keep her safe, I locked Annie between my arms, abandoning my pole so she could keep her balance and concentrate on her cast. Each wave beat against the hull of the boat, rocking us together. I soaked in the hum of the engine and the call of the seagulls above us as I watched her purposeful movements cast the line into the water. It was a little awkward, with her having to maneuver around my body, but I held her centered.
Annie’s line disappeared into the shimmering waters of Lake Michigan as she slowly reeled the line back in. She smelled like sunshine and coconuts as her warmth enveloped me in a comforting embrace. Annie’s anticipation of a bite was palpable as she stared intently down into the water.
When her fishing rod jerked in her hands, she turned to me with wide, exhilarated eyes. “Fish on!” she yelled, as our captain had instructed us to do.
Captain Jimmy stepped up to guide her as she focused on the tug of the fish at the other end of the line. I reached into my shorts to pull out my phone and capture the moment. As she reeled it in, her laughter filled the air, blending with the sounds of splashing water and the joyous cries of seagulls.
Annie glanced over her shoulder and caught my eyes sparkling with pride, mirroring her own excitement. We shared the triumph and exhilaration of her catch, our unspoken connection deepening with every flicker of joy in her eyes. In that perfect instant, I snapped a picture, her wild red hair dancing in the wind and a wide, toothy grin smiling back at me.
