Page 34 of Rum Sips and Salty Lips

“Nope, it looks good. Functional.” I shove my hands into my pockets so she doesn’t see me clenching my fists. Anything to distract me. I don’t know how she made a swimsuit so sexy and at the same time ready for whatever activity its wearer has in mind.

Everyone is occupied. No one will miss us if we venture back to the boat and to the forward cabin. It’s a few feet away. We could be there so fast.

She wades in farther. The water is crystal clear and calm, with gentle waves lapping at us. I’m so used to reading the surface of the water, studying the waves for the wind, comparing it to the wind in my sails. But even as my reflexes tell me to look around, to watch the horizon, to check the radar, to notice everything at once, I can only look at her as her body slowly disappears under the surface.

My body desperately misses hers. I’ve never craved a woman the way I crave her. Not even after great sex before. It’s not that she’s rejected me andthatmade her sexier. That would be fucked up, but logical for some people. Instead, this means she’s something more to me and there’s nothing I can do about it.

I follow, unable to resist her pull. We’re the only two not fishing. No one pays attention to us. The water is shallow, so we’re able to wade far from the beach. She leads, taking us to the other side of theTwisted Riggingso her friends aren’t in our direct line of sight. Is she doing it on purpose? Or is she letting the water carry her?

“Better than Boston?” she asks. She turns to face me and does a modified water treading action. She can touch the bottom sometimes but not always.

“Obviously.” I bend my knees to match her. Only our heads are above the surface. We’re close to each other. I could reach for her under the water and touch her before she reacts. “There is a reason I was only ever there for half the year.”

This past winter was the first one I’d spent there in a long time. My parents were moving out of their house, downsizing to a smaller place, and I’d foolishly agreed to help. Then I met Megan and somehow ended up staying at her place too often. Falling into a relationship that for a moment I thought would be forever.

It was a flash in the pan. If anyone had blinked, they would have missed it, the heat gone before it had a chance to do any damage or build anything lasting.

I crave heat and the humidity. I was done with the cold and ready to build something to last.

I didn’t know how much I’d end up craving Carina.

I inch forward. She doesn’t retreat. I’ve seen her a handful of times since I moved in. Every time she’s had her guard up. Now she’s looking at me like she wants me closer. I wonder if it’s the ocean. If the water is her home. If it’s here she’ll give in to what she wants.

She’s a siren calling to me.

The boat blocks us from view of her friends and no one else on the beach is close enough to see what we’re up to.

I stand to my full height. The surface barely breaks my shoulders. A large wave hits, and since she’s treading water, it pushes her into me.

The ocean is on my side.

With finesse I didn’t know I had I lift her up against me. I hold her with one hand on her hip and one on her low back. Her legs open to wrap around my waist.

She’ll be able to feel my erection pressed against her.

She doesn’t react except to drape her arms over my shoulders as I move into deeper water.

“I got you,” I say.

“I know.” It’s almost a whisper, and I strain to hear her over the waves.

I’m so glad she knows. I hold her tight against me. The space around us is beautiful. But Carina holds all my attention.

Her gaze pours into mine. “We shouldn’t do this,” she says, squeezing her legs tighter around me.

I shift my hand so I’m gripping her ass. “We’re not doing anything.”

“We said we wouldn’t. It’s too complicated.”

“There is nothing less complicated than a swim in the ocean.”

“Gulf,” she corrects.

I inch my fingers closer to the edge of her bikini bottom.

I’m prepared to pull away the second she gives me any indication this isn’t what she wants. But she doesn’t. She looks so beautiful, with her hair slicked back and wet. If I kiss her, her lips will taste like salt.

I want to stay here forever, unaffected by the waves crashing around us and whatever creatures swim in these waters.

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