Page 57 of Below the Barrel

“Come on, we practically live in the ocean. We don’t need those,” Charles calls out, as if I was speaking to him.

Everyone starts revving their engines, ready to take off, but when Maliah tries hers, nothing happens. She frowns, giving the thing a few more tries, but it’s dead.

I pull up beside her, shaking my head with a grin I can’t help. “Looks like you’re riding with me. Hop on.”

She doesn’t hesitate, hopping on the back of my jet ski, wrapping her arms around me. I can’t lie, having her pressed against me like this helps my mood a little. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.

“Why don’t you steer?” I suggest.

Her eyes light up and she quickly shuffles herself so that she’s sitting in front of me instead. We take off, speeding over the water, her laughter filling the air as we zoom around, weaving between the others. It’s exhilarating, the way she leans into the ride, throwing herself into every turn. It takes the edge off.

But after a few minutes, I spot something. A cove, hidden just behind a rocky outcrop, barely noticeable unless you’re really paying attention. My mind clicks into gear.

“Let me take over for a second,” I say as I steer us towards the cove, aiming for that narrow gap between the rocks.

As we slip inside, the whole world changes. We’re surrounded by this secret cave beach, with an open top where the sun filters through, reflecting off the water. It’s like we’ve stumbled into a hidden paradise.

Maliah looks around, wide-eyed, taking it all in. “Wow…this place is unreal,” she whispers.

And all I think is,yeah, andwe’re here alone.

I pull the jet ski to a slow stop, letting it bob gently in the water as we sit in this hidden spot. The cave is quiet, except for the faint echoes of waves lapping against the rocks. The sunlight streams in from above, casting a warm glow across everything; especially her.

Maliah’s still staring around in awe, but I can’t take my eyes off her. My body is still buzzing from the morning, from having her ass in my face the entire yoga session, and being this close to her now? It’s a test of every bit of restraint I have.

I shift, and her gaze snaps back to me. Our eyes lock, and something flickers between us, that familiar electricity crackling to life. I see it in her eyes too, she’s feeling it.

“You’re driving me crazy; you know that?” I murmur, leaning in closer, my hands finding their way to her hips, fingers curling into her skin.

She doesn’t pull away. Instead, she turns herself on the jet ski so that she’s facing me and lets out a soft laugh, but it’s breathless, and I know she feels it, too. “Am I?”

Before she can say anything else, I crash my lips onto hers, gripping her tighter as the heat ignites. She gasps into my mouth, her hands coming up to my chest, but she doesn’t push me away—she pulls me closer.

Without breaking the kiss, I slide my hands down her body, tugging at her bikini bottoms, and she shifts on the jet ski, letting me strip them off. My head spins from the feel of her, how soft she is, how much I want her right now. Her breath is ragged against my lips, her nails digging into my back as I push her onto my lap, her legs straddling me.

“Right here?” she whispers, but there’s no hesitation in her voice.

I smirk, grabbing her hips as I settle her right where I want her. “Right here.”

With a quick movement, I slide her down, a low groan escaping both of us as she sinks fully onto me. The sensation is overwhelming—her warmth, her tightness, the intimacy of being so deep inside her in this hidden cave. It’s almost too much, but I don’t stop. I guide her movements, letting her ride me slowly as the jet ski rocks beneath us.

Her moans fill the cave, echoing off the walls, and it drives me insane. I grip her tighter, pushing deeper, faster, until she’s gasping and clutching onto me like I’m her lifeline. Every thrust, every movement brings us closer, and I can feel her body tensing, shaking as she nears the edge.

“Come for me,” I growl, my voice rough with need.

Her head falls back, eyes squeezing shut as she cries out, her body trembling with her release. The sight of her falling apart on top of me, the sound of her calling my name, sends me over the edge. With a few more hard thrusts, I come too, gripping her tightly as the intensity of it crashes through me.

For a moment, the world is still, just the two of us breathing hard, tangled together on the jet ski, the water gently lapping at our legs.

I press a kiss to her shoulder, still catching my breath. “We should probably head back before someone comes looking for us.” I give her a lazy grin. “Though I don’t mind staying here a little longer.”

She laughs softly, leaning into me. The noise from behind catches both our attention, and my body tenses as I look up, spotting Charles riding his jet ski into the cave. His cocky smirk and the dangerous energy in his movements send a surge of fury through me.

Maliah yelps, startled, scrambling to pull her bikini bottoms back on, while I do my best to shield her. My jaw clenchesas I quickly tuck myself back into my shorts, not breaking eye contact with him for a second. Charles grins, clearly enjoying himself, his eyes narrowing in on Maliah.

“Real classy, Maliah,” he says, his thick accent dripping with sarcasm and venom. “Throwing yourself at half the guys on this tour. Such a slut.”

Her body stiffens, and I feel the hurt radiating. It ignites something fierce inside of me, and I turn towards Charles, my jaw clenched, rage boiling just beneath the surface.

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