Page 27 of Beautifully Wild

He peers at me sideways. “Serious?”

“Well, it’s a risk coming to a strange country. We received a shitload of vaccinations. And there’s crime and guns and—”

“So not for work. Serious enjoyment.” He smiles down at me, and although I’m sensing a touch of sarcasm, I like seeing him smile.

I bump his side with my hip. “Enjoyment is a serious matter, don’t you think?”

Our eyes meet. For a few seconds, we allow ourselves to assess each other before he drags his gaze from mine.

“You’re yet to explainwhyyou’re here. So… did you follow me?”

“Since I was here first, I don’t believe it’s following you.”

“You knew I was coming. Don’t make me categorize this as stalking.”

He chuckles. “Fine.”

“After Rio, what changed your mind?” I quicken the next few steps, so I’m ahead of him, then turn and walk backward so I can observe his expression as he answers.

He slows the pace. “What is it you want to hear?”

“I don’t want you to tell me what I want to hear. I want to know what changed for you?”

He glances to the ocean as though it holds answers.

I slow up, and it forces him to stop in front of me. “No lies,” I whisper, and our gazes meet once more.

He takes a step forward, and I lengthen my neck to maintain our connection. We’re so close, his breath tickles my face. “You’ve been under my skin since Salvador.”

It’s a moment of weakness, a moment when he should kiss me, only he steps back.

“You make me sound like I’m an irritation.”

He chuckles. “You have a way with words. Unfortunately, if we don’t keep moving, we’ll be forced to leave the beach.” His hand lifts to caress my cheek. I close my eyes and take pleasure in his touch for a brief moment and tilt my head toward his hand before opening my eyes. “A little further, and we’ll reach a bay. There we can swim. And chat.” He turns, links his fingers with mine, and like that, we’re walking hand in hand.

It surprises me since only hours ago he was guarded. Yet we continue on in silence, and I use the time to mentally prepare more questions.

The coastline changes, and a bay comes into view.

“Over there.” He nods ahead. “We’ll stop for a rest.”

In the distance, the colonial buildings of Ilhéus and residential houses rise from the shoreline. Although I feel somewhat safer, my stomach sinks in disappointment.

The physical attraction I have for him doesn’t change the fact that Samuel is a stranger. So why am I breaking my own safety rules and hoping he seduces me?

16

Samuel

Graystormcloudsrollin over the ocean, blocking out the blue sky. Samuel considers the possibility of rain since it’s not uncommon in the afternoon.

He slows his pace and unlinks his fingers from hers. “We should swim now before twilight.”

“Finally. I’m so bloody hot.”

Samuel smiles at the sound of her Australian accent, his grin fading when she pulls her tank top over her head and adjusts her bikini top. He notices more than he should since he can’t keep his eyes off her body.

After wiggling out of her denim shorts, she runs toward the water. He watches her rear as she rushes off. Her bikini barely leaves anything to his imagination, and the way his body is zinging, it’s best he visualizes her in a onesie.

---