Page 13 of Switching Places

“I was getting hot on the sand.”

She was obviously flustered. Why? Eyes narrowed, he moved closer, bumping into her, catching her when she would pull away. Holding her, his legs kicked enough to keep them upright, riding the swells that moved beneath them. They drifted south, but still had plenty of beach left.

She pushed against him.

“Let me go, please.”

“Afraid I’ll dunk you?” he teased.

He didn’t want to dunk her beneath the water, he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her.

“You and what three other guys?”

In two seconds she had slipped from his grasp beneath the water and moved several feet away. Coming up for air, she laughed.

“Race you back to the shore,” he challenged, just to see what she’d do.

He grew more perplexed by her behavior every moment they were together.

“Done.”

She propelled herself toward the beach, swimming as hard as she could. He gave her five seconds and took off after her. It was a mistake. She beat him to the beach by inches.

“I win.”

Laughing, she sloshed through the foaming surf and gained the firm-packed sand. Skimming her hands over her hair, she gazed up at the clear blue sky, her joy in the day expressed for all to see.

“So you get the prize,” he said, following her from the water.

“What is it?”

Wringing out her hair, she fluffed the damp strands with her fingertips.

“This.”

He pulled her against him and lowered his mouth to hers.

Her lips were cool and tasted of salt. He wanted more than a brush of lips. Would she reciprocate?

Slowly he felt her mouth move against his, open to the gentle pressure of his tongue against the seam of her mouth. Slipping inside, he felt the heat, tasted her unique flavor, the contrast to the sea salt both exotic and sweet. He wanted more.

Slowly pulling her cool body against his, he felt his own skin heat, then warm hers. Softness met hardness, passion met rising passion as he deepened the kiss and glided one hand over her back, from her shoulders to the gentle swell of her hips.

Her body moved against his in tantalizing temptation. Her mouth responded, shyly at first. He found the uncertainty erotic, intoxicating him, building his need and desire to monumental proportions. He’d known the woman for more than two years but the raw need that filled him at this moment staggered him. He had never felt like this before.

When she pushed against him, he eased his tight hold, pulling back enough to gaze into her stunned eyes.

Taking a trembling breath, she asked, “And what would your prize have been if you’d won?”

“This.”

He kissed her again, as hard, as long. And drew the same response as before. When he pulled back this time, both of them were breathing hard.

She licked her lips, her tongue taking its sweet time. Logan groaned, pulling her closer.

“No. Stop. This is a public beach, Logan.”

“I knew it. You’re up to something, Lily. When did you let something as inconsequential as being on a public beach stop you? What are you playing at? You’ve never come close enough for me to touch, much less kiss before. What is going on?”

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