Page 60 of Falling

“I’m not dating you tonight, Sky. I’m doing to you on the beach exactly what I wanted to last time we made out on the beach.”

My breath hitches at his words, unable to believe he can trigger aching in my body with a few words and a look. He arches a brow waiting for my response.

“I’ll shower then.”

Dylan runs his tongue along his teeth, sweeping his gaze along my figure. “Me too.”

“Nope, you finish cooking.”

He laughs and grabs me, squeezing me to his chest. “This is going to be an awesome Christmas.”

* * *

I unpackmy rucksack and grit my teeth as I discover someone unpacked before I left and repacked the bag with new clothes. I pull out a variety of summer dresses and bikinis. And lacy lingerie. Half-annoyed and half-delighted by the surprise, I look through for something I like. I settle on a short cotton dress which ties around the neck, blue with small cherries printed on. Then I look at the lingerie. Is this Dylan’s taste? I pick up the lacy black panties, relieved they’re not G-strings because the idea of wearing those the entire time I’ll be here doesn’t appeal. The cut of the dress doesn’t allow for a bra, and I wriggle into the cool cotton. I examine myself in the mirror and separate my hair with my fingers. Flushed from the shower and thoughts of Dylan removing the clothes I just put on, I’m not the pale mess I was when I arrived.

I step outside. Halfway between the bedroom doors and the beach, a large blanket is spread on the sand. Plates and bowls covered by cloth are set out, and two glasses and bottle of champagne rest in a bucket buried into the sand. The browns and greens are woven together with gold and the material is soft against my legs as I sit down. Dylan stands in the water, ankle deep, unaware of me. His damp, green boardies hang low on his hips and I can’t believe this is my life.

We’ve escaped again, back to our bubble but this time we know who we are—or are beginning to. When Dylan doesn’t approach, I stand and walk across the sand, cooling as the sun lowers in the sky. The sea is warm as I step into the water next to him.

“Are you okay?” I ask, taking his hand.

“I’m on an island I own with a beautiful woman I love. Why wouldn’t I be okay?” He takes my face in his hands and kisses me softly on the lips. “Pretty dress.”

I scowl at him. “Yes.”

“They must’ve accidentally swapped your bag at the airport?” he asks innocently.

“Yes, with someone exactly the same dress size as me. That was lucky.”

Dylan smirks in his annoyingly sexy way. Annoying because I can’t be mad with him when the smile sharpens his cheekbones and the happiness in his face adds to his attraction.

Taking my hand, we wade out of the water. He kneels on the blanket, and he uncovers the bowls. Underneath, cold meats and salads remind me I haven’t eaten.

“I couldn’t manage fish and chips, unfortunately.”

I smile at the memory as he spoons some onto a plate and hands it to me. “Thank you.” I lean in and kiss his cheek.

We sit quietly, watching the huge orange sun descend beneath the horizon and eat. Dylan rubs his hand along my leg, fingers playing under the hem of the knee-length dress.

“Do you remember the first night on the beach?” he asks.

“How am I ever going to forget the first night you kissed me, Dylan?”

“What did you think of me?” In the dimming light, his expression is difficult to make out.

“Before or after you gave me the most amazing kiss of my life?”

“Before.”

I rewind to the time in the summer that feels a lifetime away. “By that point, I thought you were a little lost like me. I’d stopped worrying about your knicker-thieving fetish and found you way too attractive.”

“My what?”

“Nothing.”

Dylan tugs his brow together and shakes his head slightly. “Don’t you want to know what I thought about you?”

“That I was a sarcastic mouthed girl who amused you?”

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