Page 11 of Hot Water

He shrugs unapologetically. “I’m not sorry I looked you up, Amelia. I’m not going to fight fair when it comes to you.”

“Oh. Are we fighting, then?”

“Depends.”

“On what?”

He stops directly in front of me, kneeling so he’s at eye-level with me. “On how mad you’re going to be when I do this,” he whispers. Before I can ask what he’s talking about, he moves. The man is like a freaking ninja.

One minute, I’m on the couch, and he’s in front of me. The next, he’s on his butt on the floor, and I’m straddling his lap, my hands caught in his. His lips come down on mine.

He kisses me, aggressive and passionate, a hungry assault that's as breathtaking as it is primal. His arms engulf me, one circling my waist while the other cradles the back of my head. I gasp into his mouth, and he takes full advantage, his tongue sweeping in to taste me.

He tastes like danger and adventure—of sea salt and mint—with an undercurrent of something else that’s entirely him.

I kiss him back with everything I have, drowning in the heated frenzy we've been dancing around since I hauled him from the ocean. It’s wild and raw and utterly delicious.

My fingers find their way into his hair, tugging at the dark strands, anchoring myself in the whirlwind of sensation.

He groans deep and low. The decadent sound grates against my womb, sending heat spiraling through me. I bite his lower lip, drawing a surprised grunt from him.

“Goddamn, mermaid,” he growls, palming my ass. “I take we aren’t fighting?”

“Definitely not,” I breathe. “Unless you break my heart. And then we’re absolutely fighting, Sinclair Midnight.”

“Break it? Baby, I’m trying to own it.” He kisses me again before hauling us to our feet, breathing hard. “Fuck. If we don’t stop, I’m not going to be able to keep my damn hands off you, Amelia. And as much as my dick loves that plan, I’d at least like to take you out before I start misbehaving.”

My heart melts, my stomach fluttering like crazy. “You want to take me out?”

He cups my cheek, staring at me. “Damn right, I do. Why don’t you go get dressed?” Mischief flares in his eyes. “I won’t even make you buy me dinner, Heiress. I’ll be a goddamn gentleman and buy yours.”

“Someone alert the media!” I cry in my best southern accent. “The Sheriff of Midnight, Texas, isn’t even going to make me sing for my supper! He’s a real gentleman!”

He throws his head back, laughing loudly. “Fuck,” he growls, dragging me back into his arms before I can dart away to go get dressed. His lips come down on mine in another hard kiss. “Had I known you were waiting for me right here in Barbados, wild horses wouldn’t have kept me away, mermaid.”

“Ditto, Sheriff.” I wink, scurrying to the bedroom to get dressed, a big, cheesy smile plastered across my face.

My dad is going to lose his mind when he finds out about this.

“Wait a minute.” Sinclair pauses with his beer halfway to his lips. “You’re telling me that your uncle was your mom’s professor?”

We’re nestled at a little resort restaurant down the beach, watching the waves crash against the shore. The scent of cooking meat and saltwater fills the outdoor space, along with the sound of a band and lively conversation from all around us. For my first official date ever, it’s my favorite first official date ever. We haven’t stopped laughing or teasing each other since we got here two hours ago.

“Yep. He and my aunt met at a masquerade ball where she was pretending to be my mom.” I laugh quietly. “She wasn’t very good at it, obviously. They ended up falling in love, and the rest is kind of history.”

“Your family is far more interesting than mine,” he mutters, taking a long drink.

“Uh, yours has a whole town named after you.”

A smile ghosts across his face. “True. We also have a fucking haunted mansion.”

My eyes go wide. “You do not!”

He shrugs, taking another sip.

“Sinclair! Tell me your house is not haunted,” I squeak, hiding behind a drink menu.

He laughs, tugging it out of my hands. “I’m just kidding.” A tiny furrow creases his brows. “Mostly. It might be haunted. I don’t fucking know. It’s been in the family for ages.”

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