Page 52 of Born To Be Bad

“First beach visit!” she grins, light radiating from her. “How about Ariana?”

“Ariana has been successfully installed. She’s still fighting us, but the staff assure me it’s normal. The progress is usually slow at the beginning.”

Ivy downs the last sip of her coconut milk and pineapple drink. “Jesus. It’s really been a lot, hasn’t it?”

“That’s one way of putting it,” I reply.

“This is the perfect place to decompress.”

“Anywhere with you is the perfect place,” I reply. Particularly when she’s naked.

“Especially when I’m naked?” Ivy says.

“You literally just read my mind.”

She guffaws.

“Speaking of skin,” I say. “I don’t want you to burn.” I pick up the sunblock spray from the woven bowl beside the lounger and squirt her back with it. She braces as the cool droplets hit her hot skin, but soon relaxes under my touch as I rub it in. God, I love her skin. It’s always so soft. I want to keep going, so I follow up with her neck, arms, and legs. When I get to her inner thighs, she chuckles. “I don’t think I need sun protection there.”

“One can never be too careful,” I say. “I don’t want your honeymoon ruined because you’ve been reckless with your SPF coverage.”

She grabs the spray and begins working on me as thoroughly as I had worked on her. By the time she reaches my thighs, I have a raging erection.

“You know what we need to invent?” she asks. “It’s the most brilliant business idea.”

“I can honestly say that there is not one thing I need in the world at this moment,” I reply. “If I died right now, my life would be complete.”

Ignoring me, she continues her thought. “Wait for it … lube with SPF.”

It’s my turn to chuckle. “That’s a pretty … niche market.”

“Not when you’re living in a tropical paradise.”

“You’re right.”

“Coconut oil base. Spiced rum flavor. If we had a prototype here, I would try it out on you right now.”

My erection votes an enthusiastic yes. “You’ll make millions. I’ll be your angel investor. Where do I sign?”

CHAPTER 30

Clocks Disappear

IVY

“It was a good decision,” I tell Alistair.

“Agreeing to invest in your product innovation?”

“Yes, that too. But I meant the decision to stay in for the evening. It’s wonderful to just settle in here and not have anywhere to go.”

It’s always a delicate balance when traveling, doing enough but not too much. I’m usually guilty of rushing around countries to get the most out of them, but it’s when you take time to relax into a place that you really get to experience it. Not that I’ve done that much globetrotting with my limited funds and carbon complex, but I’ve done what I could, within reason. My folks are always finding new places to visit, making me envious with their stories of adventure. Thinking of them makes me remember that Alistair had just signed the papers for Jamie’s new place, and a huge wave of affection rises in me.

“Thanks again for what you’re doing for Jamie,” I say, even though I don’t think words can adequately express how grateful I am.

“You’re welcome, but you don’t need to keep thanking me. It’s done.”

Fine, I think. No more saying thank you with words. I have other ways. Besides, I can’t possibly ignore his giant hard-on any longer.

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