Page 16 of Match Made in the Maldives

“You deserve better, Luna.”

Hearing my full first name from Finn’s mouth sent a shock to my system, sobering me up. “I can be the judge of what I deserve,Finley. And if you won’t help me win this game, then I have to go find someone else.”

After pushing my empty glass toward the bartender, I sashayed past Finn. His hand, large and demanding, latched onto my biceps and reeled me back to where I stood before. “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “I’ll kiss you.”

“Really?”

“But promise me something.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

“Th-that’s not what I was going to say.”

“Oh.” I adjusted my stance and allowed my eyes to flit down to his mouth, a mouth that, at any moment, I’d know the taste of. I wondered what his lips felt like, not just on mine, but on my neck, my shoulders, and the curve of my breasts.

“Got that?” he asked. While I’d zoned out over Finn planting kisses on my body, he’d said something. “Swear to me you’ll do that.”

“Mhmm.” I readjusted my stance so my friends wouldn’t see who I was talking to and make up a stupid rule like that a kiss from Finn doesn’t count. Because I do want to kiss him. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“Okay. Ready?”

I nodded up at him, his frame already crowding my personal space in the most energizing way. I felt like a circuit board coming to life. A zesty, citrusy scent overtook me—an aura I could bathe in. One of his hands cupped the back of my head like one might hold a breakable object, but when his lips met mine, they communicated a confidence and a power I’d not witnessed in Finn before. Recklessness. He took kisses from me like each one was the last, and a subtle moan from him was the only sign I needed to open my mouth and let his tongue in.

I’d never had a kiss quite like this.

The hoots and cheers from my friends sent a smile across my lips. I pulled back and peered up at Finn, expecting to find him unfazed and ready to return to his coworkers, and maybe aggravated that I approached him in the first place. But his intense gaze lingered on my mouth.

“That work for you?”

“Uh.” In a daze, I talked to his mouth because I couldn’t focus on anything except that kiss. “Yup.”

This was supposed to be a silly throwaway game at a bar, not a scorching hot kiss that shook me to my core. My mind flooded with excuses.

He’s just doing you a favor.

You’re here because of someone else, remember?

He’s known you since you were a kid—no way he wants you like that.

“Thanks,” I said, using my thumb to wipe a smudge of red lipstick away from the corner of his perfect mouth.

“Anytime, Lou.”

The plop of the sunscreen bottle on my chair lures me back to our resort in the Maldives.

“You should reapply,” Melissa says before jumping into the pool with a splash.

I slather the cream over my legs, arms, and stomach, and use the pads of my fingertips to massage some into my face. Like I’m doing some kind of strange interpretive dance, I wiggle around to smear some on my back, knowing full well I’ve missed a large spot in the center. Helpless, I look to see who can assist. Mom and Dad have passed out, Aaron is taking a photo of Melissa on the edge of the pool, and Cass has made herself comfortable in an inflatable tube that looks like a donut. Carmen has reclined fully, one hand on her belly, the other busy with her Kindle. That leaves Finn, who’s already peeking out from under the shirt he’s using for sun protection.

“You mind?”

He sighs and walks over. Not a “Sure, Lou.” No “Happy to help.” Just heavy breathing into my spine, so I don’t know if he finds me sexy or unbearable.

Finn’s hands on my bare skin make me aware of everything—every corner that he touches and every place he dedicates time to. His fingertips brush my bikini bottoms, and I forget what breathing is. When his touch wraps around my ribcage and my waist, I fight the impulse to press into his caress.

When he’s done, he sits down by my chaise, facing the other way.

“Mind doing me?”

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