The air between us shifted. “Jules,” he murmured, his voice husky. “I…”
My heart raced. “Yes?”
Instead of answering, Eli leaned in, his lips meeting mine.
His were warm and soft against mine, tasting of salt and sunshine. His hand came up to cradle my face, his calloused thumb brushing lightly across my cheekbone. I leaned into him, my fingers tracing the strong line of his jaw before sliding down to his broad shoulder. His muscles were solid beneath his sun-warmed skin, a reminder of the strength that lay beneath his easygoing exterior.
Eli deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing at the seam of my lips. I parted them willingly, a soft moan escaping as our tongues met. My fingers gripped his still damp hair. He slid his hand down to my waist, pulling me closer. I shifted to straddle his lap without breaking the kiss. His fingers dipped beneath the hem of my rash guard, tracing patterns on the sensitive skin of my lower back.
“God, woman,” he breathed against my neck as his lips blazed a trail down to my collarbone. “What you do to me.”
The next kiss was hungrier, more urgent. His hands gripped my hair, freeing it from its bun. I ran my palms over his skin, marveling at how good this felt.
How right.
We tumbled back onto the sand in a tangle of limbs and desire. The rhythmic crash of waves echoed the pounding of my heart. Our clothes fell away, and then it was just us—skin on skin, breath mingling with breath. Eli moved above me, inside me, and I lost myself in him.
When it was over,we lay side by side, panting. I stared up at the cloudless sky inching toward sunset, my mind blissfully, wonderfully blank. I nestled into the crook ofEli’s arm, safe and secure. A profound sense of peace settled over me, so unfamiliar it was almost unsettling.
“I can hear you thinking,” Eli murmured, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my shoulder.
I snorted softly as I snuggled closer. “That’s rich, coming from you.”
“Hey, I think!” He feigned offense. “Sometimes. When absolutely necessary.”
I propped myself up on an elbow, studying his face. The sun caught the gold flecks in his eyes, making them glint with humor and something… deeper. My stomach did a little flip. “What are you thinking about?”
Eli’s eyes dropped momentarily. “How… relaxed I feel with you. It’s kinda freaking me out, actually.”
I laughed, but it came out shaky. “Join the club.”
His arm tightened around me, and I let myself melt back into his embrace. But as the initial euphoria faded, doubts began to creep in. This was Eli Coleridge—charming, flirtatious Eli who had probably left a string of beach flings in his wake. And me? I was the uptight accountant who color-coded her planner.
“This doesn’t have to mean anything,” I blurted out, immediately regretting the words.
Eli stiffened slightly. “Is that what you want?”
I bit my lip, warring with myself. “I-I don’t know. You don’t want a relationship.”
He laughed, but there was an edge to it. “And you’re the poster child for emotional availability?”
“Touché,” I admitted, tracing a pattern on the blanket. “I just… I don’t want to get hurt. I can’t go through that again.”
Eli’s hand found mine, intertwining our fingers. “Jules, I may be a lot of things, but I’m not cruel. I wouldn’t toy with you. Or screw around on you.”
I looked up, meeting his gaze. The sincerity there made my heart stutter. “So what are we doing here?”
He smiled, that roguish expression that made my skin feel hot. “Living in the moment? Enjoying each other’s company? Maybe… seeing where this goes?”
I wanted to believe him. Part of me—a growing part—wanted this to be more than a fleeting island romance. But the voice of caution, honed by past heartbreak, wouldn’t be silenced so easily.
“And if it goes nowhere?” I asked, hating how small my voice sounded.
Eli cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing away sand. “Then we’ll still have had this perfect afternoon. But I’m starting to get a feeling it might go somewhere pretty amazing.”
