“Oh. Will they come here tonight?” I looked around again. The pale-sand beach was pristine and well-kept. A little piece of paradise. Was this how the other half lived? With their own private beaches?
A dumb question. I saw how the other half lived every day.
“No. It’s all us. I checked—and also told the guys if they tried to spy, I’d kick their asses. Thankfully, they’re all busy with their women right now, so I know they won’t pull shit.”
That was a relief. I’d liked meeting Bare and Pet, but I really wanted to spend time alone with Mars.
Taking the blanket from him, I spread it out then kicked off my shoes, using them to weigh down one corner. Mars placed our bags and the cooler along the top edge then used his shoes to weigh down the corner opposite mine.
“Do you want to eat first or swim first?”
I should be hungry, and I was, but not for food. I really wanted to see him without his shirt and to play in the water with him.
“Let’s swim.”
I reached for the hem of my dress, having worn my suit under it. Mars’ eyes were riveted to my hands, clocking my every move. His lips parted as he breathed shallowly. My fingers flexed on the fabric, and his moved reflexively, almost mirroring my action though he didn’t pull at his clothes. I wasn’t even sure if he realized it. He seemed lost in watching me.
“Mars…” I prompted gently. “Are you taking off your shirt, or are you swimming in it?”
He whipped off his T-shirt, his stare never straying from me. I laughed and casually pulled off my loose dress and dropped it onto the blanket beside where he’d tossed his shirt.
“Fuck,” he breathed, taking in my mint green bikini.
I could say the same about him as I gaped at the bricks of abs on his middle. He didn’t have an ounce of fat on his solid body.
Closing the distance between us, he pulled me into his arms, holding me flush to him. All those hard planes were an ungiving wall against my softer curves, and there was no mistaking the thick ridge of his erection pressed to my belly.
Suddenly, the years between us rose up and I wondered just how experienced he was—if he had any experience at all. On the other hand, having been married, I had plenty, though not all of it had been good.
But how did I broach that?
“Swim?” I whispered, thinking the cool water would do us good.
“Kiss,” he countered. His fingers came up to my chin, and his thumb brushed along my cheek then across my bottom lip. Almost of its own will, my tongue flicked out to dampen the skin but caught on the pad of his digit. Mars groaned, diving forward and covering my mouth with his. One hand cupped the back of my head, burying in my hair, while the other kept me locked against him.
I moaned, opening my lips to him, and he licked inside, tasting and teasing, exploring. I grasped his shoulders while our mouths explored each other but soon my palms glided down to splay on the hard plates of his pecs. Feeling naughty, I edged the heels of my hands low enough to press against his small, flat nipples, swiveling my wrists back and forth the tiniest bit to torment the little peaks.
My leg bent up against his, my inner thigh abraded pleasantly by the coarse hair sprinkled across his skin. The position forced me even closer to him, throwing me a little off balance, but I trusted Mars to hold me up. Arousal throbbed heavily in my core. I knew the gusset of my bottoms had to be damp. I couldn’t bring myself to care. After so much waiting, it was as if the grand finale of fireworks exploded off through my body.
And this was our first kiss? What would happen when things went farther? I’d go up in flames.
I pulled back before I really did climb him like that proverbial tree.
“Swim. Now,” I gasped.
Mars laughed and scooped me up, jogging toward the water in long strides. Shocked, I clung to him like a baby octopus, desperate not to fall.
“Don’t throw me in!” I screamed.
He didn’t. Instead he leapt and tossed us both into the waves. I came up sputtering and pushing my hair back from my eyes.
“You jerk,” I cried.
He just laughed again and pulled me too him. “Quickest way to get used to the water.”
“And look like a drowned rat!” I complained, whining just a little.
His mouth nipped over mine. “Still gorgeous. So beautiful, I don’t think even this cold water will help.”
Yeah, he was still hard against me. God help us both.