Page 69 of Bodybuilders for the BBW

“We’ve done an amazing job.” It was tempting to take credit for everything, and while I looked after Bronson the most, it was Garrett’s room he slept in every night, Rhett he sat beside at breakfast, eating all the crusts of toast the man fed him absently as he read the newspaper. We didn’t get to spend a lot of time together, but the group chat we’d always used was a great place to share what was working. “But we wouldn’t have gotten very far without all you did in the shelter.” I moved closer, hooking my arm around her waist and tucking her body in against mine. “We’re a pretty good team.” My fingers teased the ends of her hair. “Imagine what we could achieve if we all put our minds to it?”

A little gasp, barely discernible over the hush of the sea, it was what made clear that Katie was thinking about it.

“What was that?” I asked, watching her blush deepen. She tried to pull away, but I held her fast. “I was talking about the dog.” I moved so the sun was at my back and I could see her face more clearly. “What were you thinking about?”

Chapter35

Katie

I was busted.

One minute my heart swelled, seeing how happy Bronson was playing by the ocean and the next… I was visualising my ownFrom Here To Eternitymoment as the waves rolled over us. It just wasn’t Montgomery Clift I was kissing. Rhys replaced him, the Rhett, then… I swallowed hard and smiled, glad that Rhys couldn’t see what the hell was going on in my head.

His grin said otherwise.

It spread slowly, and the setting sun formed a halo around his head. The tips of his hair shifted in the breeze as he drew closer.

“I’m gonna need you to tell me what you were thinking.”

“I…”

My mind started to race, trying to think of something benign, when I turned to see Bronson barking at the birds again. He had come out of his shell, racing along the sands with complete abandon, and that had me smiling. My eyes met Rhys’ and I saw the gentle good humour there, but something else. There was an edge to his smile, something hungry.

I liked the heavy weight of his arm around my waist. I liked the unusual feeling of being able to indulge in public displays of affection. I especially liked the way he edged closer and closer, like he couldn’t bear even the smallest measure of distance between us. My eyes dropped down, tracing the shape of that grin, catching the moment it faded and was replaced by something far more intense.

“Kissing.” I just blurted that out. “In my head, we were in that scene in the old movie, kissing as the waves crashed down— Whoa!” He had me up in his arms and was carrying me at speed towards the water as I slapped at his shoulders. “I didn’t want that for real!”

Thankfully, I was deposited back on the sands, safe from the ocean’s embrace.

“So what do you want for real, Katie?” Had anyone said my name with that kind of raspy edge? I didn’t think so. “Because I’m trying real hard to play it cool here and I’m failing.”

“Tell me a fact about skateboarding,” I said.

“What?” He looked befuddled. “Ahh, Santa Cruz decks are the best.” I went up on tiptoes and kissed him chastely on the lips. “Ohh, so that’s how it works.” When I went to pull back, his arms locked tight around me. “Skateboarding was originally called sidewalk surfing.”

“What?”

It was my turn to be confused and Rhys took advantage of that moment, moving in to claim my lips far more thoroughly.

How the hell was I kissing more than one guy in the same day? That was a dim thought, there and gone again, as he deepened the kiss. My lips parted in a small gasp as I felt his body pressing against mine, and if I had any doubts of how into this I was, they were quickly dispelled. That shadowy shape that had lurked under his towel? It began to stir right now. I let out a little moan as I felt something heavy and steadily hardening pressing into me.

“Katie…”

My legs parted, and he surged in, rocking against me, his fingers sliding into my hair. He bunched it at the base of my neck and then parted my lips with his tongue. Mine tangled with his, wanting, needing, the taste of him. Bitter coffee, the salty air, and him. Each man was completely different and yet exactly what I wanted. The beach faded away as my hands raked along those massive shoulders. I clutched at those thick biceps that had carried me with ease, right up until?—

The shrill sound of a dog barking had us breaking apart, and I looked around blindly to see we were no longer alone. A family with their yappy little terrier was coming our way and their dog made a beeline for ours.

“No,” I said. “No!”

“Bronson!”

It was no surprise the dog had good recall, because Rhys’ voice could be heard from the car park, I’m sure. Our pup’s head jerked up and I could see the moment when he remembered we were here and was ready to come running over.

Right as the terrier slipped its collar and went barrelling towards Bronson.

“Fuck…”

I tossed my coffee cup to one side, starting across the beach, but Rhys was already sprinting across the sand. Powerful legs worked as he ran towards Bronson, rushing to intercept the terrier.

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