Page 35 of Uncharted

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For giving me a real response.” I sit next to the towels on the big rock and pull her into my lap. “Do you want to talk about it?”

She’s shocked. I’m not sure why.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

She nods.

We’re getting too deep for her. Today was a lot. She needs time. I’m not going to rush her. I stand and let her slide to the ground. “No more. You are keeping Monsieur Chocolat waiting for your hair appointment. And he does not like to wait.”

“He doesn’t?”

“Non.” I give it my best fake French accent. “First, we must get you out ofzeseclothes. Mademoiselle must tell me where she gets her couture.”

Haley laughs and lifts her hands in the air. I pull her shirt off. “Why, do you like it?”

“No, we must burn them to the ground.” I pull the bandana out of her hair and toss it on the backside of the rock near where the sand is dry. My hands trail over her breasts, and she cocks a smile.

“Really? I think it just needs a good wash.”

“No, it must be burnt.” I push my finger to the sky for emphasis at the same time I’m wiggling out of my shorts. Seriously, burning our old clothes might be too good for them. But then I guess she’s right?we shouldn’t waste anything.

Once I’m free from my shorts, I sweep Haley up with one arm. I take off running for the surf. I’ve thought about how today would go for a long time. Never did I imagine it would end with alone time with Haley. She clings to my arm, her head tilted back, laughing. I run straight into the water, and tonight it’s warmer than normal. Not that it’s gotten too cold. Once the rainy season kicks in, I imagine things will be very different. We’re not too far off from it.

That’s the thing: things change.

I stomp through the waves. When I get deep enough, I let go of Haley’s legs and take her lips in mine. She tastes of citrus. I kiss her until I’m dizzy and a wave overtakes us. I grab her hand, tethering her to me.

She coughs. “Well, that’s one way to do a pre-wash. Monsieur Chocolat, I’m going to have to talk to your manager about your strange working conditions.”

“Strange? Well, you haven’t seen anything yet.” I grab her around her waist. “Ready?” I whisper.

“Yes.” I toss her into the next wave. Her laugh is swallowed by the surf. She swims back to me, and I toss her at least a half dozen times before I haul her body against mine and kiss her again. My legs flutter, keeping us afloat. I’ve inched us out past the breakers, past the violent waves.

She’s on fire, devouring me like she hasn’t eaten. When she pulls back, her eyes are wild. Her hand pushes between us. Her fingers close around my dick. She strokes up once and then twice. And for a half second, I forget I have to kick.

“Damn, Haley,” I hiss out.

“Do you want me to stop?”

“No.” I grip her with one hand and use the other to make our way to shore. All the while, she’s working me. When my toes scrape along the sand, I give one more kick and plant a foot in the shifting sand.

“I need you.” Her eyes flash in the low light.

“I need you too. Here or on the beach?”

“Here.”

“All right then.” I hoist her leg around my hip, but she does the rest, guiding me home—into her. That’s what she is, home. “I will always be here for you, Haley.” Damn, that’s as close as I can get toI love you.Everyone I say those words to leaves me. I want to say them to her. Fuck, I want to give them to her like Green did. No, not like Green did but better. Sweeter. Like Haley deserves. When she’s ready. Because I don’t think that she was ready when Green said them. The way he shoved them at her has sent her into a tailspin. Fuck, would I say it if I could?

She sinks down on me. It’s tight, so tight. I take another step forward, getting a better footing to brace in the crashing breakers. She’s riding up and down, timing her thrusts with the waves. I grip her hip and push my hand between us. I circle her clit, giving her more.

“Easton.” She pumps on me. Her hair twirls wildly around in the surf.

Large steps have us out of the water, and I lower myself onto the rock at the shore’s edge. Firefly doesn’t miss a thrust. Her head rolls back when I put my thumb on her clit again. “There you go. Damn, Haley. I wish you could see how amazing you look.”

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