Page 21 of Sail Away
“I’m sure someday I’ll think of a way you can repay me.” She closed the gap between them and rested her hands on his shoulders. “Good night, Reid.”
“Good night, Darcie,” he said, pressing his lips to her cheek. He let them linger on her hot skin longer than appropriate, and she didn’t stop him from taking her into his arms and heaving her body to his chest. “I don’t want to leave.”
“Then don’t.”
* * *
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
Darcie shoved her tongue deep into Reid’s mouth, touching every crevice. She found every spicy hot spot, making him moan as he grabbed her ass, squeezing tightly, leaving deep impressions.
Gripping his shoulders, she meant to push him away, only a major dose of insanity took over her brain and she tugged him into the galley.
She’d lost her fucking mind, but she didn’t fucking care.
The boat swayed gently as the water lapped against the fiberglass. The lines rattled the mast, and somewhere in the distance, a woman laughed and music hummed.
The inside of her boat consisted of a tiny kitchen that encroached into her living room, and a small bedroom with a surprisingly comfortable queen-size bed. She’d broken the bank with this purchase, but it had been her dream for so long. Sailing had always been a passion. The sea was in her blood. It calmed her and gave her a sense of freedom.
The water gave her courage and strength.
She was at her happiest when the ocean tickled at least one of her senses. The only other time in her life that she’d had that kind of security was when Reid had been in her bed.
She jerked her head back.
He blinked. His thick tongue darted out of his mouth, making a broad stroke across his tantalizing lips.
She heaved in a deep breath. Her lungs burned as she tried to form words. “What are we doing?”
“Probably making a big mistake.” He fiddled with a strand of her hair. “But you know me. I don’t like to leave things unfinished once I start them.”
“I’ve had a little too much to drink.”
“Do I need to be worried that I could be taking advantage of you?”
She smiled. “No. I’m definitely in control of all my faculties, and I’m definitely going to regret this in the morning.” She took a step back, her butt hitting the small table. She fiddled with the buttons on her blouse, unhooking the top two.
He pressed his hands against the counter at her hips, easing himself between her legs. “As much as I want you right now”—he gripped her wrist—“I’m not going to stay.”
She groaned, dropping her head to his shoulder. “I lied. I’m regretting throwing myself at you now. No need to wait till morning.”
“It would have been worse if one of us didn’t come to our senses.” He continued running his hands lovingly up and down her back.
She sighed.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“In one night, I get rejected by one ex and find out another is going to propose to a woman who I was planning to teach how to sail when this charter season was over. I actually made a female friend in yachting, only to find her on top of Jim’s dick.”
“Figuratively, right?”
“No. I literally walked in on them. It was ugly. I made a scene.”
“Wait. Don’t tell me this was during a charter?” He kissed the center of her chest before buttoning her shirt. Resting his hands on her hips, he rubbed gently. He could be really sweet in the oddest moments.
But when she’d needed his support the most, he’d acted like a spoiled, selfish child.
“We had a couple of days off. She’d left the bar early, saying she didn’t feel well. I was worried, so I went back to the boat to check on her and see Jim. I never thought they were fucking. She was actually the only one who knew about me and Jim. I felt like a total idiot, and I was also a little drunk and lost my shit. I’m lucky I didn’t get fired.”
