Page 37 of Wild Ever After
“What are you doing?”
He’s breathless and his dark hair sticks up all over. I’ve never been more attracted to another person than I am now.
His lips pull into a crooked grin. “Ash rushed to bring me my passport. I only have a change of clothes, but fuck it. I can get whatever I need there.”
14
I AM IN HELL
DECLAN
We arriveat the resort in St. Lucia at sunset. I am in desperate need of a shower and a change of clothes, but Jade is practically vibrating with anticipation to get to the beach.
Tossing our bags in the room, we walk straight out from our patio to the water.
It’s quite a view, I gotta admit.
Jade kicks out of her sandals and her eyes light up as her toes dig into the sand. She jogs the rest of the way, pausing when she gets to where the water comes in and then pulls back away from the shore. Cautiously, she takes one step into the ocean and then that grin gets bigger.
“It’s so warm,” she says.
“Your first time in St. Lucia?” I ask, hanging back so my dress shoes don’t get soaked.
“My first time at the beach.” She raises her arms at her sides and turns in a circle.
I stumble on her words. “Wait, like, any beach?”
“Yes. Any beach.” Her laughter gets lost in the sound of the waves.
Woah. I can’t fathom that. My job has taken me all over the world and given me the funds to visit places on my bucket list.
Jade wades in until her legs disappear in the blue-green water and then squeals when a wave pushes her back. She has no regard for the jean shorts and tank top she’s wearing. I try to think back to my first time seeing the ocean in person. Was I this excited? I was sixteen and traveled with some high school hockey teammates for spring break. Even if I was excited, I was probably too cool to show it.
“Can you swim?” I ask, as she wades out far enough that I might need to be concerned about her being pulled out over her head.
Her lips part to reply and she takes in a mouthful of ocean water.
I’m seconds from stomping in, dress shoes and all, when she starts to swim back. She reaches land again, smiling so big it’s impossible not to smile back at her.
Her white tank is see-through and stuck to her body, showing off her curves. She starts giggling and does a scan of my outfit, staring specifically at my polished dress shoes. “You look ridiculous.”
“This is all I had.” I brought a change of clothes, jeans and a T-shirt, but forgot to pack extra shoes for what I thought was one night at the hotel for the wedding.
She walks backward into the water, not taking her eyes off me, and kicks water at me, spraying my shirt.
My lips twitch with amusement. “Whatcha doing?”
“Nothing.” She sends another spray of water my way, then another.
I charge her without warning, taking her legs out and putting her over my shoulder as I run farther into the water.
She clings to me, squealing and giggling all at once. I hold her tightly as the ocean swallows us up. Stopping when it’s at my shoulders, I let Jade slide down my front, and she wraps her legs around me. The position is familiar, and I can feel her hard nipples through the thin fabric of her tank top. My dick reacts as memories of last night assault me.
She seems to have the same realization because in a flash her legs fall away, and she lets go of me. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” I let my head fall back into the water.
“It’s easy to lose control with you.”
