Eloise doesn’t get to finish. By the time she gets two words out, I’ve ripped my shirt off and thrown it to the sand at my feet.I watch her throat bob, unable to stifle my smirk as her eyes begin to roam over my inked skin. Down, down, down she goes, stopping at the swirling black ink reaching out of the top of my waistband. I wrap my thumbs in my belt loops, and the fabric slides down, allowing her to follow the trail of tattoos leading into the V of my pelvis.
“What are you doing?” she asks, her voice barely a whisper. Her tongue darts out, wetting her lips nervously, but she doesn’t take her heated gaze off me.
“What do you think?” I step closer, hooking my index finger under her chin and bringing her eyes up to meet mine. I lean in, stopping when our lips are a breath apart. “We’re going skinny-dipping.”
“I—what? No!” Eloise jerks back, but I’m quicker. I snap my arm around her waist, pulling her flush against my chest before she has a chance to run away.
“Not so fast, Eloise. I’m not letting you talk yourself out of doing something fun. Something you’d really fucking enjoy if you just let yourself stop worrying.”
“I… that’s ridiculous! I’m not worried about anything other than someone taking a picture of me in my birthday suit and selling it to the tabloids!”
“So… the only reason you don’t want to is because of your reputation?”
“Well, yeah!”
I shake my head. “Sweet, sweet girl. There’s no one around here to see. No one but me.”
Eloise lowers her gaze, her face heating. “Okay… but still!”
“But what?” I tuck a finger under her chin, pulling her back up to meet my eyes. “If you’re afraid of someone taking a picture, there’s no one around for miles. If you’re afraid of what I’ll think… I already know you’re the most beautiful, enchanting woman in the world.” My thumb brushes over her cheek, andEloise shudders slightly, leaning into my touch. “I won’t push you to do something you really don’t want to do, Eloise—I never, ever will—but I think it’ll take your mind off whatever happened tonight. So, Eloise, tell me… do you want to go a little mad with me?”
“Go mad…” She looks up at me with a shy smile. “Okay. Fuck it.”
Fuck it.
I strip off my pants and boxers, watching Eloise out of the corner of my eye, pleased to find she’s doing the same. I turn to face her, but she’s already off—kicking up sand with every step as she sprints toward the water. I stand there frozen for a moment, entranced by the way the moonlight dances across her bare skin. My gaze trails down her spine, greedily taking in the gentle curve of her hips and her bouncing ass.
All the blood in my body flows to my cock, leaving me lightheaded and confused as to where I am. But then Eloise calls out, and I follow, my dick like a third arm hanging heavy between my thighs as I go to her.
Eloise is knee-deep in the shallows by the time I reach her, eyes bright and mouth spread wide as her laughter fills the air. Charged sparks spread over my skin the closer I get to her, culminating in a powerful jolt as soon as my fingertips brush hers. I suck in a sharp breath as her gaze meets mine, lost in the beauty of it all—at the unending emotion welling in her eyes.
Heat creeps up her neck to her cheeks, and she brings her arm up to cover her breasts, suddenly self-conscious. Though I’d like nothing more than to stand here taking in her beauty, the last thing I want is for Eloise to be uncomfortable. This is supposed to make her feelbetter,not worse.
Taking her hand fully in mine, I lead her out to deeper waters, looking back just once to give her a reassuring look. There are nothing but fish and stingrays in this water to worryabout—never any sharks, for reasons unknown. The chompy guys never swim into the shallows around Saltbloom, and while the researchers are baffled and trying to figure out why, all I am is grateful.It means my Eloise is safe.
Realizing I just referred to her asmine, I jolt. Only, instead of pulling away like I should, I grip her hand tighter, pulling her deeper into the gentle swell. One look, and she can bring me to my knees. One word, and I’m putty in her hands. One touch… I’ll never get her out of my system.
When we’re waist-deep, I turn to face her. She gasps, lowering her chest beneath the surface of the water.
“How’s it feel?” I move closer until her body heat radiates through the waves, resisting the urge to wrap my arms around her and press her skin to mine.It would be good. Too good.
“C-cold,” she says, her teeth chattering. But she’s also wearing a giant smile.
So not helping me to resist holding her.“Come here,” I murmur, opening my arms wide, inviting her in. “I’ll keep you warm.”
Eloise worries her lower lip, looking up at me through impossibly thick lashes. She hesitates, then lunges forward, pressing the entirety of her body against mine in a powerful embrace. My cock jumps to attention as her sweet scent envelops me, her pouty little expression too much to resist.
Unwittingly, my hips jerk, causing my growing length to slide against her stomach. I groan at the feel of her silky-smooth skin against mine, at the friction tugging ever so slightly on the piercing at the head of my cock.
Eloise gasps, her lips parting beautifully as she gazes downward. “Is that…?”
“Yes.” I wrap a hand around her waist, leaning in until our lips are a breath apart. “You can explore if you want.”
“I… I’ve never…”
Suddenly, an ear-piercing scream enters the air, and I look down at Eloise in surprise, shocked that sound could come from a person so small. “What’s wro?—?”
I’m halfway through the second word when Eloise jumps into my arms, her hands moving over my skin wildly, scrambling for purchase. I’m so enamored with the feel of her bare skin against mine that I nearly miss the group of stingrays swimming through us. Their pancake bodies glide through the water, wings slapping at the surface and spraying salty ocean all around.
