Page 60 of Natural Temptation

She rests her head on my shoulder. "A year ago, I never would have thought we'd be here. Planning our future, feeling...whole again."

"Me neither. But this place had a way of healing us and helping us rediscover ourselves, didn't it?"

"Absolutely. Sometimes I think this place is literally magical."

The beach is deserted now, save for a few birds calling in the distance. Most of the guests are watching the miniten matcheson the lawn. I feel a familiar tug of desire as I watch Meredith's hips sway with each step.

"How about we take a little swim," I suggest, "while we have the beach to ourselves?"

Meredith's eyes light up. "I thought you'd never ask."

We race toward the water, laughing like children who just saw their first glimpse of the ocean. The cool waves lap at our ankles, then our knees, and finally envelop us completely as we dive beneath the surface. When we emerge, Meredith's hair is slicked back, droplets of water glistening on her skin in the moonlight.

I pull her close, reveling in the feel of her wet skin against mine. The water laps gently around us as we float together, our bodies intertwined. I brush a wet strand of hair from Meredith's face.

"You're so beautiful," I murmur, tracing my fingers along her jawline.

She nudges my hip. "You're not so bad yourself, Mr. Kimble. Especially when you're all wet and glistening with all those muscles on display."

"Maybe I should stay wet all the time, if it makes you this horny."

She wraps her legs around my waist. "You look downright irresistible right now."

The playfulness in her voice sends a shiver down my spine. I lean in, my lips hovering just inches from hers. "Well, Mrs. Kimble, I can't resist that kind of temptation."

I close the minuscule gap between us to crush my lips to hers. The taste of salt mingles with her familiar sweetness. Her fingers tangle in my wet hair, dragging me closer as the gentle waves lap around us. Finally, we give up each other's mouths, breathless, our foreheads touching.

"Race you to that outcropping," she challenges, nodding toward a small cluster of rocks jutting out from the shoreline.

Before I can respond, she's already swimming away, her lithe form cutting through the waves. I laugh and give chase, my competitive spirit ignited. We splash and play, forgetting for a moment that we're adults who aren't supposed to behave this way. Screw what we're "supposed" to do. I want to chase my wife just for the hell of it.

Soon, the sun dips below the horizon, and my wife suddenly jumps up, stretching languidly. "Hey, why don't we take a moonlit swim now? Before we head back to our bungalow?"

I raise an eyebrow, trying to suppress a smile. "Now? It's getting dark."

She jumps up, pulling me along. "Exactly. It'll be perfect."

"I'm getting kind of tired, Mer. Crawling into bed with you sounds like a much better idea."

"Tired?" she scoffs. "I'm nine years older than you, but I'm not worn out yet."

I give her ass a playful swat. "Careful, Mer. I might decide to spank you."

She bats her eyelashes in an exaggerated manner, knowing full well how ridiculous she looks. "Shall I carry you over my shoulders?"

I smirk and shake my head. "That won't be necessary."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want you to trip and fall on a seashell because you're wiped out."

She's already racing toward the water. The cool sand beneath our feet gives way to the lapping waves, and she lets out a peel of delighted laughter. I follow more cautiously, my steps measured as I try not to let my bare feet sink into the sand. The second I wade into the water, I can't help letting out a surprised gasp. "Holy crap, it's warm. Not sure why, but I expected the water to be chilly."

"Told you it would be perfect," Meredith teases while splashing me. "It's like stepping into a silky bath."

"You're right," I admit, sinking deeper into the inviting embrace of the ocean. "I forgot how incredible the water is here. It's like we've slipped through a portal to paradise."

The moonlight dances on the gentle waves, casting a silvery glow across the surface. As we venture further from shore, the water caresses our skin, its warmth a reminder that we're on the other side of the world, literally. Tiny bioluminescent organisms sparkle around us with each movement, creating a magical underwater light show.

"This is amazing," Meredith breathes, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don't you feel it, Ryan? Like we're part of something bigger?"

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