Page 37 of Match Made in the Maldives

“Fine,” he says, obviously enjoying this too much. “Alright, klutz, can you walk?”

Finn and my dad help me stand, and everyone puts a pause on their fun family outing to check in on me. Even Carmen came, having ridden in the support boat.

I hobble a few steps, disguising my wince. “It’s fine,” I say. “I’ll be fine.”

“Lou,” Finn says, “you’re not fine.”

“You should stay off it as much as possible for the next twenty-four hours.” Aaron turns to the instructor. “You have an ice pack?”

I encourage my family to enjoy exploring the island, and I sit and try not to wallow in pity for myself. The captain offers to take me back to the resort in the boat, which honestly sounds amazing. Everyone’s fussing over me, and I’m taking away from their good time.

“I’ll go with you,” my brother says. “Help you get settled at the villa.”

“I can go.” Finn shrugs, as if this stunning island does nothing to impress him and he’d rather leave. “We had that sunset boat ride, so you should have this experience. Besides, she’s only got a sprain, right?”

“Lou,” Aaron says, turning to me. “Who would you prefer to accompany you? A certified doctor or this guy with zero medical experience?”

“I’ll go with the one who didn’t just compare me to an elephant.”

“Hm. Fair enough.” He turns to Finn. “Sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” Finn replies.

My brother gives Finn instructions on icing and elevating my ankle, after which we speed to the resort by boat. A staff member greets us at the dock with a wheelchair, and I could die of embarrassment because my injury is so minor. A wheelchair also means Finn doesn’t have to carry me all the way back to the villa.

“I’d like to clean up before resting,” I say as Finn fluffs up the pillows on my bed.

“Bath?”

“No, just a quick rinse.”

With us still in our swimsuits, he helps me hop to the outdoor shower attached to my room. He holds my arm as the sun-warmed water beats down on me, washing the sand and sunscreen away. His eyes track every place my hand goes, and I relish being the center of his attention.

“They’ll be gone for a while,” I say.

The muscles in his jaw tighten.

“Is that why you offered to take me back?”

“No,” he says with a chuckle. “I care about you, Lou. Saved you from certain death.”

This causes me to laugh and pull him closer into the stream of the shower. Already, the strength of his erection presses into my belly. “Well, thank you for that.”

He bends his head to mine, his lips moist and salty. The position of the showerhead forces me to kiss him over and over or risk a mouthful of water—like making out is the only means of survival. One of his arms encircles my waist, while his other hand holds my face against his. A groan vibrates from his chest and into me, down and down, yearning for all of him.

“Suppose you’re right,” he murmurs into my mouth. “They’ll be gone for a while.”

I nod, tugging at the waistband of his swim trunks and yanking them down in one swoop. The pressure of his length, hard and hot against my leg, makes me whimper. He takes off my bikini bottoms in record time, the fabric flopping to my feet. I pull at my neck ties while he undoes the back, and once my breasts are free, he grabs a fistful of them, squeezing so tight I lose balance and land on my foot with a spike of pain.

“Ow,” I yelp.

“Sorry.” He strokes my nipple with his thumb in apology. “Sorry, Lou.”

“Not that. Ankle.”

“Oh, shit.”

“Maybe we take it to the bed for this?”

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