I was simply happy.
I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face even though the sudden reappearance of gravity made the kit I was wearing awkward and heavy as we trudged up the beach toward the shore diving shack. Salt-and-pepper sand clungto our neoprene booties. I’d always loved the beach here—the mix of colors made it unique as well as soft and luxurious.
“Let’s get this gear off,” Eli said, already unclipping his BCD.
I nodded, fumbling with my own straps. As I peeled off my wetsuit, I caught Eli doing the same out of the corner of my eye. He was all hard muscle and sun-kissed skin, with a smattering of freckles across his shoulders.
“Not bad for an accountant, huh?” I quipped, attempting to mask the heat flooding my cheeks.
“Not bad at all. I enjoy this new side of you.” Eli grinned and pointed with his chin at the empty pier. “Next step is getting you onSunset Diver. You can join one of our regular trips.”
“Maybe I will.”
“Seriously, Jules. You were great out there.” Eli’s tone shifted, earnestness lurking behind the banter. “You really took to it.”
“Thanks.” The warmth of his praise washed over me. It wasn’t just the compliment. It was how effortlessly he put me at ease, coaxing out this playful spirit I’d buried under layers of work and responsibility. “I couldn’t have done it without your… charm.”
“Charm is my specialty.” He winked, and now I didn’t find a thing annoying about it.
I hesitated, then decided to throw caution to the wind. “I’m appreciating this new side of you as well.”
“Oh yeah?” His voice deepened as his eyes became serious. “And what side would that be?”
I met his gaze, hyper-aware of how close we were standing. “The patient teacher. The passionate diver. The man who sees beauty in the world and wants to share it.”
He took a step closer. “Careful, there. Keep talking like that, and I might start to think you actually like me.”
I laughed, but it came out breathier than I intended. “Because I do. I mean, we’re friends now, right?”
My eyes darted around, and I realized how secluded we were. The dive shack screened us from view. A thrill of anticipation coursed through me.
Eli’s lips lifted in a half-smile. “Friends. Is that what we are?”
I stepped closer, feeling the heat radiating from him. “Of course. I’m glad we’ve moved past… you know. That kiss.” I waved my hand dismissively as if it hadn’t been seared into my memory. “Clearly a mistake. Water under the bridge.”
“Clearly,” Eli agreed. He reached out, his fingers ghosting along my cheek. I leaned into his touch. “We’re much better off not getting involved.”
I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. All I could focus on was the warmth of his skin against mine, the way his eyes had darkened to the color of a storm-tossed sea.
“Absolutely,” I whispered, not even believing myself anymore. “Nothing more than friends.”
I leaned in closer, my lips brushing his jaw as I rested a hand on his shoulder. “Besides, workplace romances are forbidden here, aren’t they?”
He was completely still, his skin warm and smooth beneath my fingers. The words hung between us, both a warning and a dare. I pulled back slightly, searching Eli’s face. The expression in his eyes made my knees weak.
“Absolutely forbidden,” Eli murmured, his voice low and rough. He stepped forward to obliterate what little space remained between us. “Good thing we don’t need to worry about that.”
Before I could respond, he lowered his head to cover my lips with his. All thoughts of rules and consequences evaporated as I melted against him. My arms wound around his neck, pulling him closer. His mouth was hot, demanding as our tongues slid against each other. It felt so good. I lost myself in the kiss, in the feel of Eli’s strong arms around me, in the intoxicating blend of salt and sun that clung to his skin.
Finally, we had to break apart to breathe. Eli rested his forehead against mine, his eyes closed as he tried to catch his breath.
“We probably shouldn’t do this,” he murmured, but it lacked conviction.
“I know,” I whispered back.
Before I knew what was happening, he grabbed my ponytail and yanked my head back. His lips crashed into mine and we were lost in each other once more. Everything else faded away as I leaned back against the dive shack. I ran my hands down Eli’s chest, drowning in the heat radiating between us.
And my inhibitions evaporated.
I pressed my lips to his ear, my entire body thrumming. “Eli. I want you. Now.”
He stiffened, pulling back just enough to meet my gaze. His eyes widened, surprise and hunger swirling in their depths. “Here? Now?”
