Page 100 of He Loves Me Knot

“You think I haven’t thought about stripping you down before, Liddy? You’re fucking gorgeous. You need a man to tell you that you spent your whole life pretending to be the ugly duckling when you’re the fucking swan princess? Fine.” His fingertips brushed her jawline before digging into the hair at the nape of her neck as his lips dropped to her ear.

His heart pounded as he felt her breath grow shallower, heard the soft catch in her throat as the hardness of his length pressed against her.

What the hell am I doing?

I want her so fucking much.

“Any sane man would give his left nut to be with you because you’re a goddess. You’re smart and sexy, with a sass and wit that drives me wild. But you deserve more than justanyman. And more than a madman. And maybe that’s why I kissed you. Because you drive me insane.”

I have to stop this.

Her soft lips caught the edge of his jaw, melting his resolve.

She thinks I can be reformed. That there’s something good about me. And she needs to know there isn’t.

“You deserveeverything. And I can’t give you that.” He turned his face toward hers and descended on her lips with force in a raw, punishing roughness that was nothing like their kisses the day before.

But she seemed to match him, breath for breath, each hard stroke of his tongue met with equal force. Her hands wove around his neck, fingertips digging into his hair and pulling. Her teeth sank softly against his lower lip, then harder still, and he groaned.

Blood seemed to rush through his ears, his head light as he deepened the kiss, his hand moving up from the safety of her hip toward her breasts, his hand palming her soft curves. He wanted to find someplace below deck and strip her down, watch those blue eyes widen with pleasure as he took her?—

A crack of thunder startled their mouths apart.

Liddy drew a deep breath, still panting. “Was that thunder?”

Even though his body screamed at him to continue, Callum stepped closer to the railing and looked toward the shore. Instead of the relatively cloudless vista of sunset and water, threatening clouds bloomed over the shoreline. He looked toward the deck.

He hadn’t realized how visible he and Liddy had been to anyone watching their kiss, but that wasn’t something he could worry about now.

The music on the catamaran had stopped, and the crew, who had been handing out ceviche and cocktails, were now handing out life vests.

“Looks like a storm is coming this way.” Callum took Liddy’s hand and tugged her forward. “Let’s go.”

“Why would they keep us out here if a storm was coming?” Liddy asked with a hint of fear in her voice.

“It’s Costa Rica during the rainy season. There’s always a storm coming.”

The festive and relaxed mood had changed as they reached the deck. A light sprinkling of rain had already begun, the wind picking up. A crew member handed them life vests immediately as Callum scanned the deck for Quinn’s mother.

She was among many of the guests who were attempting to squeeze into the cabin area, which wouldn’t fit them all.

She doesn’t look happy now.

Fuck.

He finished pulling on his vest, then checked Liddy. Her face was anxious as she held onto a nearby rail.

A bright burst of lightning followed another crack of thunder, and the sky opened up. Rain battered them, and Callum pulled Liddy away from the rail, bringing her closer to the center of the deck. He wrapped his hand around a handrail, bolted into a seating area, then tucked her into his arm.

Regardless of that kiss, she didn’t hesitate to sink against him, shielding her face from the rain and salty waves as the catamaran headed back toward the shore.

Liddy lifted her face slightly as another couple sat beside them—Quinn and Elle.

“Wow, that came in fast,” Elle said in a loud voice, then reached over and squeezed her sister’s knee. “You doing okay, Lid?”

“Yeah, I’m just worried about you.” Liddy set her hand on Elle’s. “This is not what we wanted for you guys.”

“It’s the weather. You can’t control the weather.” Elle shook her head, swiping rain from her eyes. “Honestly, it wouldn’t be that bad if it weren’t for the fact that so many older people are on this boat. Your mom is going to be livid,” she said to Quinn, gripping his hand.

---