Page 20 of One Weekend in Rio de Janeiro

“You’re going to have to pry me out of this seat,” she warned him.

Donovan smirked. Yeah, same.

Exactly forty-five minutes later, they pulled into the crowded bus depot in Rio de Janeiro. The second they stepped off, the humid air consumed them, immediately coating them in a pool of sweat.

“Maybe we should go to the beach first,” Kate suggested, pulling her damp t-shirt away from her skin.

“Will you be wearing a bikini?” Donovan asked, arching a thick brow.

“I’ve never worn a bikini in my life,” she stated.

“Fair warning, locals tend to keep it skimpy. And I think it’s important we blend in.” His mouth edged up and she swatted at his arm.

“Yeah, I bet.” But she tossed him a saucy smile.

The city was packed beyond capacity, and there was an endless strip of hotels along the beach. Even though they were both already each booked somewhere, Donovan decided they should choose a completely new place to stay. Just in case. He had no idea if whoever was after them would be able to access guest registries or had eyes on where they were expected to show up. So, they picked a random hotel and checked in under an alias. They bought some bathing suits and fresh clothes in the gift shop then made their way up to the room.

Donovan wanted to toss Kate on the bed and forget about the rest of the city partying outside, but they’d promised each other some fun. Rio Carnaval was the world’s largest celebration and attracted millions of people for a week of explosive, vibrant, sensual fun. And, for the first time in his life, Donovan wanted to be a part of the samba-shaking action.

Because of Kate. He wanted to experience it all with her.

Kate slipped into the bathroom to change into her swimsuit while Donovan pulled his swim shorts on in the bedroom. Or, in this case, his speedo. He hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d told Kate things tended to be far skimpier down there.

After tucking his wallet in the beach bag she’d chosen downstairs, he heard the bathroom door open and his head jerked over. Kate’s shoulder-length hair framed her face instead of being pulled back in its usual ponytail and she wore the smallest two-piece he’d ever seen. His mouth began to salivate. A hunger tore through him and he slowly stalked over, eyes roaming over every one of her delicious curves. He may have lost his glasses when they went over the waterfall, but he was getting quite the view.

“Damn, Kate. You sure know how to wear a bikini,” he rumbled, instantly hard and precariously close to slipping right out of his own bottoms.

A pretty blush turned her cheeks rosy. “You’re rocking that suit as well,” she murmured before he took her mouth in a heated kiss. Their tongues met, tangled, and the air in the room seemed to spike up another twenty degrees despite the air conditioning.

After a long moment, Kate took a wobbly step back and reached for the beach bag. “We should probably go before things get too, ah, heated.”

“Too late,” he murmured, removing his hand from her ass. “But, yeah. We promised we’d do some fun stuff if we made it out of that jungle.”

“If you want to skip hang gliding, that’s fine by me. I mean, we did get air time going over the falls.”

“No way,” he told her with a mischievous smile and extended his arm. “Ready to have the time of your life?”

“Let’s do it.”

Chapter Ten

The time of her life was an understatement. The moment they stepped outside, Kate and Donovan were swept up into the electric atmosphere surrounding the city. Rio de Janeiro was unlike any place she’d ever visited before and it pulsated with life. From its famous beaches and lush landscapes to its rich cultural scene, Kate loved everything about it. No matter where they ventured, they were surrounded by vibrant music, dance and art. Plus, the warm air was fragrant with the amazing smell of so many different foods and she was dying to try as many as her stomach would allow.

Copacabana’s fine white sands were stunning, and she and Donovan splashed around in the South Atlantic Ocean for almost an hour. The refreshing water and his playful company kept her laughing. This, she realized as he lifted her up into his arms and kissed her amidst the waves, is what I’ve been missing. New adventures and a good man to share them with me.

After their swim, Kate pulled her coverup on and Donovan stepped into a pair of shorts. They bought coconut water from a vendor and began to wander around. There was so much to do and see. On top of the normal tourists, the streets overflowed with locals celebrating and wearing brightly-colored clothing. Parades were everywhere and decorated floats rolled through nearby neighborhoods accompanied by dancers, performers and samba bands. The atmosphere vibrated with an incredible energy and made Kate feel utterly free and uninhibited. Nothing like her usual, carefully-guarded self and quiet nature.

Cautious Kate has left the building.

They ended up eating too many pão de queijo, Brazilian cheese rolls, and drank one too many caipirinha cocktails garnished with blackberries. Excitement thrummed through the air as the sun began to set and the city truly came alive. Rio Carnaval was a beautiful celebration, truly the Greatest Show on Earth, and Kate was at its epicenter.

“This is wild!” Kate exclaimed over the cacophony of sounds, slowly turning and soaking up the scene. “Have you ever seen anything like this?”

When she turned to look up at Donovan, he had a strange look on his face. “No. Never,” he murmured softly, staring intently at her.

The beat of the samba had Kate swinging her hips, and she let herself be seduced by the music and magic of it all. She soaked in the electric and vibrant energy all around her. And when Donovan grabbed her hand and started dancing with her in the middle of the street, she threw her head back and laughed. Lost in the moment, she held onto him as their bodies moved together, finding the beat and each other’s rhythm.

His touch and the party around them invigorated her, enchanting her into a state of absolute freedom, allowing her to be totally carefree as all traces of Cautious Kate fell away. They stopped dancing, their mouths collided and they kissed for a long time as the world continued around them. Everything else fell away and Kate slid her hands through Donovan’s sleek hair, opening her heart to him, ready to offer him everything.

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