Page 54 of Beached Wedding

But her hand shifted against my waist. Her lips moved under mine. She might have pressed up onto her toes, but my arm tightened in the same instant, catching the pliant weight of her as the boat rocked beneath our feet. I enjoyed the sensation of gathering her in and up into a taut line against me. I liked it a lot.

And however it happened, one way or another, we were kissing proper.

Andfuckdid it feel good.

Her eyelids fluttered closed. I let my own drift shut, letting this become a dream. Letting myself sink into the fullness of the kiss.

Her lips were soft and receptive, parting and shifting in response to the hungry pull of mine. Her lips clung and opened wider with invitation for me to take more. I did, stealing a deep potent taste with a stroke of my tongue. I wanted toconsumeher.

All the nerves and muscles in me that had fought the beast of the ocean switched into that other biological urge. Fast. No gentle stir of desire here. Lust jabbed like a knife into my groin, tightening my belly and filling my mind with an imperative topress her beneath me. To cover her and spread her thighs with my own and?—

Someone laughed.

I made myself drag my head up. My heart was still on the verge of exploding, but now it was for a different reason.

Ash blinked as though waking up. Her mouth was shiny, her dress wet enough I could see the dark circles of her areolas topped by the sharp points of her hard nipples.

The only thing that saved me from showing more wood than that antique surfboard was the fact I was pressed up against her and wearing a towel over my clammy underwear.

“I’m in my jocks,” I reminded her. “Any idea where my clothes went?”

Embarrassment flashed into her eyes. She ducked away. “Here.”

I was dimly aware of the people around us making teasing remarks and laughing over our kiss. Ashley was trying to find a good-sport smile as she handed over my clothes.

“Good thing I didn’t go commando,” I told the goggling faces, trying not to think about how profound—and completely inappropriate—that kiss had been.

I clutched the towel and crouched next to the first mate who was still assessing the man I’d rescued.

“I can treat him while you...” I circled my finger to indicate the dinner cruise that had been interrupted.

“That’d be great, thanks.” Tala rose and asked for volunteers to help bring the life boat back on board.

“Let’s get you into a cabin. You can rest and warm up,” I said, helping the weak surfer to his feet. “And that’s the entertainment portion of tonight’s cruise, ladies and gentlemen. Be sure to give us five stars when you review online.”

I didn’t look at Ashley as I helped the man below deck.

ASHLEY

Fox stayed below until the cat was motoring into the marina, giving me lots of time to overthink our kiss while trying to pretend I was enjoying the company of strangers.

The rest of the meal had been served with an apology for cutting short the cruise. The captain was taking the surfer back to shore so he could get medical attention, in case he had injuries beyond the nasty cut on his leg that Fox cleaned and closed with butterfly bandages.

“We’ll talk to the tour company about compensation. We really appreciate your understanding,” Tala said, offering an extra round of drinks.

I had polished two of the hard lemonades I’d been offered which did nothing to erase the taste of salt and Fox from my lips. Or ease my nerves when Fox finally came above deck.

Was he mad at me? Was our kiss my fault? I could have pulled away at the last second. We had pretty much sworn a blood oath that nothing like that would happen between us and it had barely happened anyway! It was a fluke. Curiosity. He had pulled back before I’d had nearly enough.

I was freaking out over the way he’d pulled away andmovedaway. His mouth had felt really good, soft and supple and strong and knee-weakeningly hungry. I could have kissed him forever.

I had wanted to, much to my shame. It was a terrible realization to have about a friend. Why had I let it happen? I didn’t want to mess up what we had, either.

Maybe we could pretend it hadn’t happened at all?

“How is he?” I asked, apprehensively searching his eyes for clues to his thoughts.

Fox had his guard up. Way up. His shoulders were like a yoke made of iron. He barely met my gaze before he tracked it restlessly across the water.

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