Page 70 of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

“You told me to be bold,” I whispered, reaching for his face, his cheeks rough with a day’s growth of beard.

This time when we kissed, something shifted inside, as if I had made a decision I didn’t know I was making. Every muscle relaxed as I wrapped my arms around his neck, and his body molded across mine as if he had been created to fit right there with me. The sensation was heady, intoxicating, both familiar and completely foreign.

Unrushed, Jason unbuttoned my dress, his hand cupping my breast, making me gasp, then sigh. He kissed my neck, down my throat, until his mouth reached the other breast. The warmth of his breath, the moisture of his tongue, the sound of my own pulse beating in my ears, had me whispering his name, surprising me. At my urging, Jason continued to pay homage to my breasts, gently pulling down the straps of my dress until I was free. If I stood, my dress would fall, and I would be completely naked.

But he didn’t rush. His body was built with coiled, lean muscles, tense and hard, and as he explored, I explored. His skin, his hair, his shoulders. He ran his tongue up my chest, to the sensitive skin under my neck, to behind my ear. He lightly bit my lobe, and heat rushed to every limb in my body.

“Oh, God,” I gasped.

“We’re just getting started,” he said, a smile in his voice. He looked down at me, kissed me, watched me. “You’re beautiful and you’re smart. My favorite combination.”

I blushed. Or maybe flushed, because if he had suggested we make love on the beach right then and there, I would have happily accommodated him.

“You’re blushing,” he said in awe. “You’re perfect.”

“Perfect?” I swallowed. “That sounds like a line.”

“No line.” He kissed my neck again. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I behold you to be perfect.” He put his lips on mine, slipped his tongue inside just enough to tease. While his mouth occupied mine in a playful war, his hands ran down my back to my ass and pushed me against his clothed body.

Now he moaned, and I smiled. I wasn’t the only one here who was ready for more than a make-out session.

He pulled his mouth from mine, but I urged him back, not ready to part.

“Mia,” he said, my name sounding like a melody.

I looked up. The moon was directly overhead, washing over our bodies as if it were daylight. I had never been an exhibitionist, but at this moment, I didn’t want to leave. I definitely didn’t want to move away from Jason.

“I want you to know I don’t do this,” he said.

“Hmm?”

“I don’t get involved with guests.”

“Shh,” I said, suddenly dreading that he was going to retreat.

“But I want you.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“I just wanted you to know this is new to me.”

“You’re not a virgin, are you?”

He laughed, a deep, contagious laugh, and collapsed on top of me. “No, no, I’m not.” Then he rolled me on top of him and pulled my mouth down to his.

I sat up and straddled him. The moonlight and sweat made Jason’s skin glow and look ten times sexier than when I’d first laid eyes on him. My dress was bunched around my waist, and he still had on his shorts, but I hoped they wouldn’t be on for long. His hands went to my breasts, and I leaned back to enjoy this moment in time.

I deserved to let go. To be free and not think about tomorrow or my job or decisions I needed to make. To enjoy being loved and pampered and...

And his fingers went under my dress and touched me between the legs, so intimate and daring.

“Oh. My. God.”

I didn’t remember ever feeling such overwhelming waves of lust. Every touch created a new sensation, and I wanted more.

“Can I—” Jason began.

“Yes. Anything. Now.”