Page 49 of Desolation

He makes it two steps before a loud clap of thunder hits overhead. The rumble that follows breaking up the magic between us.

I slowly slide down his body as his hands let go of my hips.

“We shouldn’t—not here.”

I nod. A sudden downpour starts as another clap of thunder hits and reality catches up with me. Once again, I did something I shouldn’t have done. This man drives me wild and I know better than to give into my impulses.

I race for my towel, fifty feet down the beach and feel Landon on my heels. I pick it up but it’s soaked, my clothes not much better.

Landon grabs the towel and wraps it around me anyway before grabbing the rest of my things and running up to the boardwalk.

I run after him, completely soaked from the sudden storm. He makes it to the wooden walkway and pulls me into him. “Where’s your car?”

“Where’s yours?” I ask. Reality has me knowing better than to go home with this man despite how sexy he is and the way his arms feel wrapped around my soaked body.

“I ran here. But I am not running home in this rain.”

Right. He was exercising. I glance around to get my bearings when I remember I drove the convertible. And I didn’t put the top on. “Fuck me,” I groan as I rip my flip flops out of his hand and run across the parking lot.

“Shit,” I hear him say from behind me as I reach the Jag. I struggle with the top as I try to pull it up. The leather seats soaked. Dax is going to murder me.

Landon throws my things into the car and grabs the other side of the classic car’s top and helps pull it up. We both slide into the wet seats, looking for any reprieve from the thunderstorm.

Landon throws his head back and laughs and I punch him in the arm. “This isn’t funny.”

“Oh babe, this is funny.”

“Don’t call me that.”

He looks over at me. “Why not,babe?” he emphasizes.

I shake my head.

“Okay, Marianne.”

“Please don’t call me that either.”

“What should I call you then?”

I sigh. “Mari. Just Mari.”

“I thought you said only your friends got to call you that.”

I did say that but it's not like he has chosen to not use that name. I wish I could tell him to call me Mariela. The thought sending a bolt of electricity through my heart. Why should it matter?

He reaches over and grabs my hand, causing me to relax a little. “I’ll call you whatever you want me to, Mari.”

I look over and give him a weak smile.

“Now, how about we go to my place so you can get some dry clothes?”

I nod. It’s probably a stupid idea. A place where I will make a stupid decision. He rattles off directions and I barely pay attention as my mind and my heart battle it out like the storm overhead.

Chapter Sixteen

Mari

“You want something to eat?”

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