His smile faded. “Why would Ieverdo that?”
“Because you think I’m too young.”
“I might think you’re too young for me, but I’m not ashamed of you, Blair. I am ashamed ofmefor not being able to stay away from you when I know that would be the right thing to do, given the circumstances.” He paused. “Thank you for telling me your name. It’s so fucking nice to meet you, Blair.” He smiled. “I can’t stop saying it.”
“Nice to officially meet you, too.”
“Such a beautiful name that matches your beautiful face.”
A woman’s voice interrupted us. “I see father and daughter have returned,” she said tauntingly.
I turned to find the waitress who’d caught us talking inappropriately the night I’d lied about my “dad’s” fiftieth birthday.Whoops.
“Want to go to the other restaurant?” Tate suggested.
“Let’s,” I promptly agreed. “This one has bad juju.”
Once Tate and I got situated at the other place, we had a wonderful dinner, our best together so far. Maybe because I’d finally given him my real first name, I found myself opening up to him even more easily. I’d told him a bit about growing up in Western Massachusetts as an onlychild. I went into more detail about my failed relationship with Daniel and even relayed the story of losing my virginity. Tate also told me how he’d lost his. To my surprise, it was to his son’s mother when he was sixteen. He admitted to going a little crazy after they broke up, since he’d only been with the one girl. That was sort of how I felt at the present moment, having only been with Daniel.
But what began with me being horny and bored on this trip had turned into something completely different. I didn’t want just anyoneanymore. I wanted Tate. Only Tate. I couldn’t imagine wanting anyone else for a very long time. I’d always compare my attraction to the way I was feeling right now. How do you go back to boys when you’ve fallen for a full-fledged man?
As we lingered over dessert, the restaurant staff began shutting things down, which was our cue to leave. Who knew how long we’d have stayed here talking if we weren’t forced to vacate? I suspected Tate was happy to have a safe public place to be with me given his loss of control earlier.
“Can we go down by the water?” I asked as he paid the bill.
“Yeah. A walk sounds perfect,” he said as he stood from the table.
Only, awalkwasn’t exactly what I had in mind.
Chapter 9
BLAIR
We’d just gotten down to the shoreline. There didn’t seem to be anyone else around, so this was ideal. Throwing caution to the wind, I slipped out of my dress, leaving me in my bra and underwear.
Tate’s eyes went wide. “What the hell are you doing?”
“What does itlooklike I’m doing?”
He looked around. “You can’t just take off your clothes.”
“Why not? There’s no one else nearby. I want to go for a swim.”
I turned my back toward him, unsnapping my bra and letting it fall to the sand.
Pausing for a moment, I contemplated whether to remove my thong but decided to leave the Tate torture at topless.
He watched as I ran into the ocean, lifting my arms toward the dark night sky and screaming in glee once I hit the water.
I stopped when submerged to just above my chest and turned to face him. Rather than begging him to comein, I simply bobbed up and down, patiently hoping Tate would loosen up a little and decide to join me.
For several minutes, he just stood there in place, rigid, with his arms crossed.
What a hardass.
But then, I finally saw him undo his pants and kick them off. He lifted his shirt over his head, and even from afar, I could make out the ripples in his abs. I’d only gotten quick glimpses of his bare body during the massage, and he’d been mostly on his stomach, but his carved back wasn’t for the weak, either.
He stalked toward the water, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. Excitement raced through me.
