Page 86 of Changing Tides

“You’d fight an alligator for me?”

“Absolutely,” he assures me.

“Where are the life jackets?”

His chin gestures into the hull of the canoe, where two brightly colored jackets are sitting.

“Come on, beautiful,” he beckons.

I sigh. “Fine. But there’d better be food on the other side of this adventure.”

I take his hand, and as I slide by him, he mumbles, “Worst marine biologist ever,” and I give him the stink-eye as he helps me down onto the wooden seat in the front of the craft.

“I don’t want to lead,” I say.

“You’re not. It’s just better for the heaviest and the most skilled paddler to sit in the back. Besides, I like the view from back here,” he says as he hands me one of the jackets.

I slide my arms in, and Sebastian reaches around me from behind to adjust and secure the straps.

I look over my shoulder, and we are nose to nose.

“I can do that myself, you know.”

“I’m just being a responsible captain,” he whispers against my mouth as his hand slides from the buckle of my jacket around the sides of my rib cage.

A thrill slithers across my skin.

“There you go,” he says before kissing the tip of my nose.

Once we’re both strapped in, he hands me one of the single-blade oars and hops out. He pushes the canoe into the water before jumping back in himself and taking his seat at the stern.

We glide through the calm waters of the Intracoastal. The warm, salty breeze kissing our skin as he patiently instructs me in rowing the front of the canoe.

We make our way around the cove to a remote bank, and Sebastian steers us onto the shore, where a blanket is spread in the shade of a tree.

“Did you make us a picnic?” I ask in disbelief.

“Yes—well, the Sandcastle Cove Deli did,” he says as he helps me out of the canoe.

“What is this place?” I ask as I take in the tranquility.

“One of my favorite spots on the island. It backs up to the nature preserve. I like to come out here and fish alone sometimes because it’s so private and peaceful.”

The old oak tree branches dip toward the earth, enveloping us in our own cocoon as we enjoy our lunch in its cool shade.

We lie back on the blanket, entwining our legs as I lie on his chest, plucking grapes from a cluster and feeding them to him.

It’s comfortable and cozy.

His finger lifts my chin, and he takes my mouth in a long, lazy kiss.

My hands flutter down his chest and caress the bulge in his jeans.

“I need to get you back to Leia,” he says as he breaks our kiss.

“Uh-huh,” I agree as I palm his growing erection.

His eyes focus on my hand as he scoots up on the trunk of the tree.

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