‘Are you sure it’s safe?’
Sophia’s eyes were wide, her face pale as she gazed at the ocean.
The brown layer of sargassum around the dock was rolling and crashing in the wind. Beyond it, the water was being whipped into whitecaps.
‘Yes,’ Isaac replied. ‘It’ll be a bumpy crossing, but I’ve seen worse.’
‘Is this the storm that’s forecast?’
He shook his head. ‘That’s not due till late this evening and is scheduled to miss the islands completely. We’ll be fine.’
Sophia didn’t look convinced, and all Isaac wanted was to take her in his arms and hug her worry away. But they were standing on the dock in a line of people waiting to get onto the ashram ferry, so he had to keep his distance.
Ganapati was back driving the boat and extended a huge hand to help Sophia onboard.
She was still using crutches, so Isaac went on the other side of her to make sure she didn’t fall, then led her to a seat in the middle and at the back.
‘We’ll get the least bounce here and hopefully no spray.’
Sophia put her bag between them on the bench, then slid her hand underneath it. Isaac tucked his hand under his side of the bag, his fingers finding hers. This was the closest they’d been for a week, and her touch felt like fire.
He gazed at her, watching her cheeks turn pink and her pupils dilate. Secretly holding hands in plain sight of everyone was one of the most transgressive and erotic acts he’d ever performed.
Second only to Sophia giving him the most mind-blowing orgasm of his life a week ago.
The wind was howling above the noise of the engine, so Isaac leaned across to whisper in her ear. ‘I can’t wait to get back to Foxbrooke with you.’
Sophia squeezed his hand under the bag and nodded, the colour in her cheeks deepening.
Isaac wanted to kiss her, touch her, love her, but they were crammed in next to people with suitcases heading for the airport, so he stroked his fingers into the creases between hers, drew leisurely circles in her palm, and caressed her hand in a promise of what was to come when they were back home and truly alone.
As the boat cut through the choppy sea, Isaac communicated solely through the connection of their hands, tightening his hold when Sophia flinched at a particularly big bump, then soothing her stress away. In the past, he’d craved solitude, but now he dreamt of everyone else disappearing so he could be alone with her.
As they arrived at Beef Island, rain joined the weather party, gusting sideways and flicking water from the puddles onto their legs.
‘I could probably try to put all my weight on my leg,’ Sophia shouted against the noise of the wind and aeroplanes taking off and landing nearby.
Isaac shook his head. ‘Wait and see what the doctor says.’
Holding an umbrella over her head as she hopped towards the row of taxis, he held open the door of one of them for her.
The inside of the cab felt like a cocoon, with a black leatherette cover over the seats and carpet up the walls and on the ceiling.
After giving their destination to the driver, Isaac turned to Sophia. Her cheeks were flushed, her face sparkling wet from the rain. The sight was a visceral reminder of the last time they’d kissed.
This time, there was no hesitation.
As his lips met hers, a bolt of lust struck him in the balls, making him groan with relief and desire. Electricity crackled across his skin, surging in power with every sweep of her tongue against his.
Sophia may have been shy and sweet in public, but this kiss was strong, hot and wild. It was a drug made from fireworks, volcanos and rainbows and he couldn’t get enough.
Grabbing her bag, he dumped it in his lap to hide his impatient cock. The cab driver was probably used to people making out, but not to someone wearing loose yoga pants and sporting a huge hard-on.
Despite the visceral need to cup her breast and slide his fingers under the waistband of her trousers, Isaac kept his hands still, pouring his love and need for Sophia through his kiss. Each touch of her tongue amplified the wattage surging through him until all he could see was light.
Time and space ceased to have any meaning. He was bound to Sophia, lost in her kiss. Nothing else existed.
Until there was a loud throat-clearing from elsewhere in the car.