Page 77 of When He Defends

He took her hand once more.

She caught herself before stiffening.It’s for show. In case anyone else sees us.They cut across the pathway, moving toward the beach and heading for the paddleboards. She noticed that Gray avoided the prominent, white security cameras that had been installed at various locations around the resort. Typically, the security cameras were perched up high so they could angle down and view foot traffic.

Gray was sneaky, she had to give him that. He knew precisely how to avoid being seen. Soon, the crash of waves teased her ears as they hurried across the sand and darted toward the rental booths. Three different white rental units had been set up on the beach and…

“Sonofabitch.” Gray stopped mid-stride. He spun toward her.

There were no security guards around. No other people at all. A completely empty expanse of beach.

He pulled her into his arms. “Kiss me like you can’t ever get enough of me.” His head lowered. His lips took hers.

Sure, done. Her mouth opened beneath his. His tongue thrust into her mouth, and it was like going from zero to eighty in the blink of an eye. This wasn’t the quick touch of lips they’d shared beneath the palm tree moments before. This was consuming. This was intense. This wasreal.She could feel the hunger in the hard press of his hands. In the heavy dick that shoved against her.

And her nipples were tight. Her sex yearning.

He lowered her onto the sand. It was soft, a cushion for her body. She was beneath him, surrounded by him. Gray’s hands caught hers. Held them over her head against the soft sand. His legs slid between hers, and her skirt hiked up. She rubbed against his heavy cock, and her whole body yearned.

Gray’s mouth pulled from hers. His lips skimmed over her jaw. Her cheek.

She looked up and a million stars glittered overhead.Killerview.

Gray let go of her hands. He caught the edge of her earlobe with his teeth, and her eyes snapped closed as bliss and need whipped through her blood.

“Found it,” he rasped.

Great. Wonderful. He could find what he needed with her all night long.

“I am tingling,” he added, voice a hushed whisper.

Yes, so was she. Her hips rocked against him. Her hands slid over his arms, and she wondered if they were going to have mad, passionate sex right then and there. She’d never had sex on a beach. Actually, she’d only ever had sex in a bed. Was that too vanilla? Was Gray about to show her a whole new world? Because she was ready.

“I found what doesn’t belong.” The tip of his tongue skated over the shell of her ear.

She shuddered. But then his words registered. Emerson stiffened. She stopped grabbing at his arms. Her hands flew between them, and she proceeded to shove against him.

Only Gray didn’t move. “Camera is on us, baby.”

What?

He caught the lobe of her ear. Gave it a sensual tug with his teeth.

Her panties got very wet.

“The camera doesn’t match the others. Wrong type. Different model. Different color. Small as hell, but I saw it. Someone else is viewing our couples, not just the security staff.”

She hadn’t seen a camera, but then again, she’d barely had time to look before he’d pounced on her.

All of this is for show?

Except you couldn’t fake an erection. That part was very, very real. He was turned on. So was she. She was turned on because it was him. Was he just—was his arousal because of adrenaline? Because she was rubbing her body wildly against him and it was simply a physical response?

He’d wanted her to play his partner on this case because he wanted her. Because the attraction was there and scenes like this one would be easier to fake.

Ice slid over her skin.

“We’re going back to the suite. Gonna pretend like we can’t keep our hands off each other.”

Pretend.That was the problem. She had to get her head in the game and stop acting as if everything they were doing was real.