I stepped closer. “You keep saying that like it’s a bad thing.”
I looked over to the stairwell at the stern. Knowing it led to a little private platform just above the waterline. I motioned toward it. “Come with me.”
She eyed me. “Why?”
“I want you to see the best view.”
She hesitated for a second, then followed silently.
When she turned to say something, I stepped in close, watching the shift in her eyes when she realized how little space was between us.
“I suddenly have this dream I can’t shake,” I announced, and she raised a brow as if to say ‘Go on’. “Kissing you on a boat.” She rolled her eyes. “Care to help me achieve it?”
I was smirking because even though she found me annoying, her eyes dipping down to my lips gave her away. She wanted to kiss me. But I waited. I was a patient man after all.
“Well?” She crossed her arms.
“Well what?”
“You going to kiss me, DeLuca?” A playful taunt in her gaze. I moved forward, taking her face in both my palms and pressing my lips to hers. Her mouth opened under mine like she’d been waiting, like we had both been waiting too long. My hands slid to her waist, and hers fisted in my shirt, yanking me closer. I spun her around against the side of the ship pressed up against her back, far out of view from the captain of the boat we were on. Boat was probably a conservative term—I had spent much too long picking it out and the deluxe yacht just felt right. Her chest pressed to mine, and I groaned into her mouth. She tasted like a mix of wine and something I couldn’t get enough of. I kissed down her throat, biting softly at her jaw, licking the dip of her collarbone. Her breath caught, and I felt it all the way to my spine.
“You want to stop me, Moretti,” I murmured against her skin, “Now’s the time.”
She tilted her head, her voice wrecked. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
I grinned against her neck, then slid one hand down then up, dragging it under the hem of her shirt, fingers brushing the edge of her bikini bottoms. Her hips jolted forward, needing friction.
“Matteo—” she said my name on a gasp, making any semblance of self-control snap. I let her take what she needed, my leg between her as she rolled into me. And it hit me that seeing Nicola like this, the undone, mess of a woman was a goddamn honor. My other hand slipped under her shirt, her warm skin greeting me with goosebumps as I went. I pushed aside the top of her bikini top, let her pretty pink nipple come out as I rubbed a thumb over it in a teasing motion. She let out another whimper and I knew she needed more.
“Shh,” I whispered, curling my fingers into the fabric of her swimsuit and slipping between her thighs. “Let me take care of you.”
She gasped, one hand gripping the rail behind her, the other twisting in my shirt as my fingers found her and slid slow. Her body arched, jaw clenched, eyes fluttering shut.
She was wet. Soaked. For me.
I kissed her again, harder this time, as my hand moved in tight, practiced circles. Her breath stuttered against my mouth, her thighs trembling. I didn’t stop, even when she moaned into my neck, biting down on my shoulder like it would keep her grounded.
It didn’t.
She came undone quietly, shaking against me, her hips grinding into my hand as I kept kissing her, kissing her like I needed her to remember exactly how it felt. When it was over she clung to me for a moment, head buried in my chest.
I held her. Let her catch her breath. Let myselffeelher without pushing, without demanding anything more than this.
Eventually, she lifted her head. Her eyes were glassy, lips swollen, cheeks flushed.
“Starting to like this whole vacation thing,” I smirked and kissed her temple.
“Big fan,” she smiled, drunk off pleasure.
“Want to cool off?” I asked, nodding at the water.
“You trying to get me naked, DeLuca?”
“Nah, but enjoy the view,” I winked, pulling my shirt over my head, tossing it to the side and jumping off the side of the boat.
I broke the surface with a splash and pushed my hair out of my eyes, blinking up at the boat. The water was cold but refreshing, and the sun was dipping low enough to throw gold across the waves.
“Come on,” I called up, grinning, “Don’t leave me out here alone.”
