Page 23 of You Kissed Me First

“Not that I don’t love holding you, but do you want to look some more? Or we can go back to the boat.”

I glance out at the water, only feeling a small pinch of fear now.

“I think it was more the fear of the unknown. Now that we are here, I feel better. Let’s look some more.”

He helps me back into position, floating beside me. He even pulls me when I point at something I want to look at. It’s like he is my own little motor.

I thought this would be torture, but before I know it, the guides are whistling for us to go back to the boat.

Once we are on and heading back toward the beach, I lean against Dominic. His arm comes around me, pulling me closer.

It feels natural being with him like this.

Then I lean into him, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“Thank you. That was the best day of my life. I cannot wait to do it again.”

His answering smile is bright. He is pleased that I had fun.

“I scheduled us a snorkeling and stingray encounter later in the trip.”

I swallow hard at the stingrays, but I’m not as nervous as I thought.

“You’ll hold my hand again?”

Reaching over with his free hand, he grabs mine.

“I’ll hold your hand as long as you want me to.”

My chest warms as I nuzzle into his side.

I don’t know what is in the water here, but I feel like I’m floating.

I only hope that I don’t turn out to be the fool when this is all over.

* * *

“You look gorgeous,”I whisper in Katie’s ear.

Today was crazy.

I wanted to pull out of the shore excursion, but Nessa made me promise not to tell her, so how would I explain it?

I’m glad I didn’t. Instead, Katie surprised me.

I could tell right away that she was frightened. She was shaking like a leaf. Still, she got on that boat. Then she let me comfort her on the ride over. When she opted to jump instead of take the ladder, I was concerned.

At least at the ladder, she would have been able to climb back up quickly if it was too much.

Instead, she jumped in and thrived.

I can still feel her legs wrapped around my waist. It took everything I had not to grow hard, but thankfully I was more focused on how she was doing.

It took a little bit for her to settle, but she seemed to enjoy herself.

Now, here she stands, looking like a dream in a little sundress, her brown hair cascading over her shoulders.

“It’s a sundress, not a ball gown, Dom.”

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