Page 83 of Honor

“Not far, though,” I say.

“Not far,” he repeats, squeezing my hand to offer the comfort he must sense I need. “Can you swim?”

I nod but verbally add my response, “I can, but don’t let go of me, okay?”

He does one better. He tugs me closer to wrap an arm around my waist, even though he’s still holding my hand in his. “I won’t let go of you.”

The word forever lingers between us, or at least in my mind it does.

It must still be the wine tainting my thought process because we’ve only shared one kiss and he’s my boss. Until recently, I could barely stand the man. Now, I’m not sure how I’ll stand going back to what we’ve always been: an executive assistant and her grumpy employer.

He backs up, guiding me as he does. I match each of his steps with my own until the bitter cold of the water hits my toes.

I can’t help but shiver.

That lures a quick burst of deep laughter from him. “You’ll get used to it in no time.”

I know he means the temperature of the water, but still I ask for clarification because getting used to holding his hand is something I know I could do. It’s something I think I want to do. “I’ll get used to what in no time?”

With the calm waves lapping at our feet, he tugs me against him. “This.”

“This?” I study his face and how he’s gazing down at me with something in his eyes. Maybe it’s amusement, or could it be more?Reverence? Pure lust?

“Us.” The tiny word holds so much promise in just those two letters.

“Us,” I repeat.

He nods. It’s a slow and purposeful movement. An affirmation that we’ve ceased to be Miss Starling and her boss, Mr. Hunt. We’re simply Reid and Evie now, two people alone on a beach with just the moonlight as a guide to what could be.

His hand drops mine to claim my chin. He pinches it between his thumb and index finger as he draws my face up so our eyes lock again. “Kiss me again, Evie.”

It’s not a question or an order. It’s a plea, so I nod softly as I inch up to my tiptoes. His tongue glides over his bottom lip before he seals his mouth over mine.

CHAPTER FIFTY

Reid

I have always viewed kissingthrough a very narrow and distinctive lens. It’s been necessary to get the woman I’m with to the point I need and want her to be. Open, receptive, willing, and squirming for more than my mouth or my mouth in places other than hers.

With Evie, it’s different. Kissing her is consuming me. I’ve lost track of how long we’ve been on the beach like this.

All of the soft sounds she’s made as I’ve slid my tongue into her mouth and nipped at her lip have spurred me in ways I’ve never felt before.

My cock is as hard as a brick, and I want more than this, but for now, I’m going to enjoy this moment. The memory of this woman’s kiss is going to haunt me forever.

She pulls back slightly, and I growl. I fucking growl because I don’t want her to go anywhere. I don’t want there to be more than a quarter of an inch separating us for the rest of this weekend.

“No,” I grumble.

She laughs. It’s light and filled with joy.

I can’t remember the last time I laughed like that. If I were a betting man, I’d place my fortune on never since carefree happiness is something I’m not familiar with.

“What’s so funny?” I ask while patting her lush ass through the flimsy fabric of her dress.

It’s not sheer enough that I can see anything beneath it other than the outline of her hardened nipples. I try not to stare, but I fail miserably.

“Are you staring at my chest?”

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