Everything.
“Showering.” A devilish smile curves his lips as he grabs the bottle of liquid soap, squirting a dollop onto his palm before rubbing his hands together. He steps behind me, standing so close that his erection nudges my ass cheeks. My breath catches when his arms slide around my ribs, his soapy hands cupping my breasts, lathering them up. He kneads the soft flesh, pulling at the nipples until they stiffen beneath his fingers.
“You asked me to give you time, and I will,” he whispers against my ear. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop touching you. What it means is that you don’t get my cock until you’re mine.”
A groan slides from my parted lips as my head lolls back, resting against the solid wall of his chest. It doesn’t take long for his hands to glide lower and for me to keen out an orgasm.
Chapter Thirty-Five
I raise my face to the sun as Kingsley navigates the boat out of the harbor. It’s a holiday weekend, and the marina is crowded with people who have the same idea in mind. I can’t blame them. Everyone is trying to enjoy one of the last three-day weekends that can be spent on the lake before the weather turns chilly.
The wind does its best to whip my hair. It was a smart move on my part to weave the long strands into two thick braids that fall down my back. I settle against the plush cushion on the bench and draw my legs up to my chest before banding my arms around them. My gaze floats over the vast openness of deep blue water as the speedboat cuts through the waves. The motion is soothing and pretty soon I find myself lost in the tangle of my thoughts.
I have a decision to make.
When my parents sprung this arrangement on me yesterday, I was livid. How could they expect me to be on board with such a crazy plan? To blindly accept that I would lose all my freedom, all of my choices so the company could remain in our family? Did they really expect that I would willingly accept my fate as a sacrificial lamb?
They sent me here, hoping that after a couple of days to myself, I would come to terms with the new direction my life had swerved in. Yesterday, while sitting on the beach and sifting my fingers through the warm sand, I had contemplated the idea of running away and disappearing. But how is that a viable solution when I don’t even have a high school degree? How could I get a job and support myself? Or go to college?
I couldn’t.
Now Kingsley is at the beach, dead set on destroying my solitude and convincing me to accept my fate. We have yet to discuss the situation and already I’m wavering. His mere presence has me yearning for other things. Things I shouldn’t want. A future that isn’t in my best interest.
My gaze settles on the dark-haired boy as he masterfully drives the boat over the waves.
Masterful.
That’s an excellent way to describe Kingsley. It’s shameful to realize how easily he’s mastered my body.
And manipulated me?
That’s what I need to figure out.
Guess you need to ask more questions.
He’s not wrong.
When he anchors the boat about a quarter mile from shore, I remind myself to stay focused. Now isn’t the time to get distracted. My mouth dries and I have to repeat the mantra when he pulls the T-shirt over his head and discards it.
Already I can tell this outing was a terrible idea.
“Summer?”
I jerk out of those thoughts. “What?”
He nods toward the front of the boat. “Want to talk?”
Yes. Talking is good. We need to get everything straightened out between us.
I nod and rise from the bench before stripping off my coverup. Even from behind the aviators that shield his eyes, the heat of his gaze strokes over me. With my back to him, I bend over, digging around in my bag.
A rough groan leaves his lips.
Good.
Let him see what no longer belongs to him. I clear the smile from my face before straightening and turning around with a plush beach towel in my hands.
“Ready when you are,” I say sweetly, brushing past him.
His fingers wrap around my wrist, halting me in my tracks. My eyes widen as he yanks me to him.
“Do you really want to play with fire?” His voice is nothing more than a deep growl that arrows straight to my core before exploding like a firework.
When I say nothing, a wicked grin tugs at the corners of his lips and my breath slowly leaks from my lungs. Playing games with Kingsley isn’t smart. He has the annoying habit of always winning.
When his grip loosens, I scamper to the front of the boat. Nervous energy hums beneath my skin, unleashing a horde of conflicted emotions inside me. Once settled on the towel, I watch him cautiously from the corner of my eye as he drops beside me.