Page 39 of Secrets in Calusa Cove

“No, because it’s my boat, and if anyone asks, it was always the plan. You can even mention it when you go out. I’ll bring it up when I see people at the docks when I leave.” He jerked his hand over his shoulder. “Five people from the challenge watched you walk into my cabin. They’ll think my concern is about you being out there alone and the fact you’re using my boat. It’s a simple, easy plan.”

“Are you kidding me? The last thing I need is people gossiping about me and the chief of police.”

And that’s all it took. He fisted her thick, lush hair into his hand and crash-landed his lips on her mouth. His tongue snagged hers, twisting and turning. Heat rolled across his skin like flames reaching out from a fire. He waited for the slap. Waited for her to push him away. Waited for that saucy mouth of hers to tear into him like a viper.

Instead, he got full participation. Her chest heaved up and down with every raspy breath, pressing into his body, reminding him of exactly how long it had been since he’d had sex.

Then she really did the unexpected. She tore off her shirt and straddled him, licking her plump, juicy lips.

He stared at her lacy black bra. She was full of surprises. “What are you doing?”

“Did you start something you had no intention of finishing?” She reached behind her back.

He swallowed. Hard. “No,” he said, then managed a throaty groan. “But I honestly didn’t expect you to go along with it. I mean, the gossip and all.”

“Yeah, well, it’s too late for that now, isn’t it? Might as well give this town something else to talk about tomorrow morning at the docks.” She unhooked her bra, letting the garment fall to his stomach.

“Small, but not itty-bitty.” He gripped her thighs, stood, and strolled across the room toward the bed. He’d lived in Harvey’s Cabins the entire time he’d been in Calusa Cove, and not once had he had a woman spend the night. Hell, he hadn’t had sex with a woman who was from Calusa Cove. The one chick he’d been with had been from Naples. What a mistake that had been.

Audra wrapped her legs around his waist. “Oh my God. I can’t believe you just said that.”

“Perhaps you were right. It’s not the ladies—it’s me.”

“Yeah. Because I have horrible taste in men, too.”

“I can’t be that bad.” He laid her on the mattress and climbed on next to her, running his finger down the center of her chest. “You’re half-naked in my bed.” God, she was beautiful.

“Maybe I have low standards.”

“I should be insulted.”

“But you’re not.” She cupped his face. “Just like I wasn’t when you made the dumbass comment about my breasts.”

He cupped one, fanning his thumb across the taut nipple. “They’re actually perfect.” Leaning over, he took the other nipple into his mouth, ignoring the little voice in the back of his head reminding him that he was tangling himself up with another redhead.

A guttural moan escaped her sweet lips. She arched her back as she grappled with his shirt.

Even though he had no desire to stop what he was doing, he did want to remove some of his clothing. He raised his head, ripped off his shirt, and tossed it across the room.

Her hands splayed across his chest. “What happened?” She fingered one of his jagged scars before moving on to one where a bullet had torn into his body.

Lifting her hand, he kissed her palm. “War wounds.”

“And this?” She kissed the burn marks.

“Nothing you want to hear about right now.” He inched down the side of the bed, dotting kisses on her firm belly. This was not a woman he’d want to go head-to-head with. Her muscles were well-defined. She was strong. He fiddled with the button on her shorts, tugging them to her ankles and staring at her tiny, lacy thong.

Not what he’d imagined her wearing.

He’d pictured her more of a boy shorts kind of girl. Of course, he wasn’t complaining. He rolled her panties over her hips, off her body, and flung them. All that remained was a little landing strip and a tattoo of an alligator. He chuckled, bending over to press his lips to the gator.

“You like that?”

“The gator? Or this?” He lifted her leg, resting it on his shoulder, and licked her, opening her and catching her hard clit, swirling his tongue over the hard nub until her hips jerked.

She clutched the comforter and groaned.

“Both are pretty damn sexy.” He slipped his finger inside, stroking gently, while his other hand cupped her perfectly round breast, thumbing her tight nipple as it puckered under his touch. He loved the way her body responded. “Can’t say I’ve seen a woman with a tattoo in that spot,” he whispered, mesmerized by the woman before him. His gaze drifted over her body, soaking in every inch. Every crevice. Every freckle.

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