Page 9

Chapter Eight

MURPH

I’ve been thinking about kissing Eden all afternoon, but the reality is so much better.

Eden’s lips are warm and soft. He yields to my kiss with a tiny gasp. Suddenly the blood is rushing down south, and I can’t think about anything that isn’t him .

I groan, trying to catch my breath.

Time. Tide. Jobs to do.

And more than anything, my heart to protect. I’m a master of worst-case scenario planning. But when Eden’s lips are pressed against mine, I can’t think of a single way this could go wrong. That should worry me more than it does.

Eden clenches his fists in my shirt, his eyes closed and chin tipped back. He’s silently begging for more… and who the hell am I to deny him? His bottom lip needs to be bitten. His mouth needs my tongue in it. And I need his hair between my fingers, his back under my palm, his lithe body writhing against me…

I can’t. We shouldn’t. Not yet… right?

There are a lot of reasons that are hard to remember. I only know I can’t stay any longer—or I really will be late.

“Fuck,” I growl, dizzily pulling away from Eden. My eyes flicker open, and a moment later, so do his. I’m staring right into those sweet, innocent eyes as my knees and willpower melt all over again.

One kiss was never going to be enough.

“Fuuuck,” Eden breathes out, staring up with a breathless grin. He lets go of my shirt, then props his hands on his hips. “Figured it out yet?”

“God,” I growl under my breath as Eden giggles with delight. “You’re pure trouble.”

Then I lift him straight out of my boat to set him on the stern of the houseboat.

“Whoa!” Eden giggles, grabbing the railing to catch his balance. “That was hot . But warn a guy before you throw him out of bed.”

“Sorry.” I chuckle, running my hands back through my hair. “But I really do have to go now.” Five minutes ago, technically… but it’s a miracle I’ve been able to tear myself away from him at all.

Eden grins at me, draping himself over the railing and popping one foot in the air behind himself. “Oh, I love a big, strong man with big, strong jobs to do,” he bats his lashes. “I’m just here to tempt passing sailors. Make them call up Poseidon and ask for the day off.”

Hell, he does look like a freaking siren—all flushed hair and glassy eyes, kiss-swollen lips and soft skin… and my rock-hard cock is still straining against my jeans.

I swallow hard. “I’d rather ask Poseidon to keep that hull of yours glued together.”

Eden relaxes into a giggle, propping his elbows on the railing, but he still looks freshly-kissed… and so gorgeous. It’s time to get out of here before I do something dumb like cancel all my clients for the day.

“You need anything?”

Eden smirks, looking me up and down. “At this exact moment?”

Fuck. I want to climb right aboard and turn that sassy grin into an open-mouthed cry of ecstasy… and I’m never going to make it through a whole freaking day with that on my brain.

“Provisions,” I grunt.

“That’s what they call it these days?” Eden winks. “I’d love to be provisioned hard and fast, Captain Murph, sir.”

I clench my jaw, huffing as I loosen the knot in the rope.

Why didn’t I take an extra five minutes in the shower? I can’t even tell apart my irritation from the far more primal sexual frustration coursing through me.

“You can’t legally move your boat, Eden,” I tell him with all my self-control. “I don’t want you starving.”

Eden giggles. “Thank you. But I’m stocked up. Plus, I’ve got an inflatable dinghy in case of emergencies.” He pauses. “And a bike pump, so hopefully it’s a slow emergency.”

I can’t stop my laugh. Finally, I start my engine—literally, this time—and shake my head. “You need a real commuter boat. We’ll work on that, too. See you soon. Study up,” I call out over the sound of the outboard motor.

Eden stands up straight and salutes. “Yes, skipper,” he bats his lashes. “Anything you say, sir.”

Fuuuck.

I raise my hand for a quick wave, and then I open the throttle to set a course for my barge. I only glance back when I’m almost out of sight around the corner of the island. There he is, still shielding his eyes with one hand as he watches me leave.

Eyes where you’re steering, boyo, I remind myself automatically, just like my old skipper used to.

I tear my gaze away, but I’m smiling. Eden is… well, he’s so Eden . I’ve never met anyone like him. He might have only just drifted into my life, but I’m already dangerously close to forgetting what life was like before his flirty texts and cheeky smiles.

Apparently, time and tide aren’t the only things that wait for no man. My heart is setting its own course, and no forecast or tide table can help me now.

I just hope I’m ready for whatever the horizon has in store for us.