Page 96 of The Summer We Lie

"I did, huh?" I ask, fighting a smile.

"Yep," she confirms with a nod.

"Good." I brush a strand of hair from her face. "I want you sleeping in my bed every night, okay?"

Her eyes widen slightly. "You sure? It's risky."

"I'm sure that I don't want to be in that bed without you," I tell her, surprising myself with how much I mean it. "So please sleep with me. If you're scared, I'll come to your room."

"I'll come to you," she says softly, and I kiss her again, deeper this time.

When I pull back, I can't resist smacking her ass. "Now go get ready."

"Yes, sir," she says with a smirk, and my dick twitches at those two little words.

She sneaks out, and I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth before going downstairs. I go to the garage first and grab the waterproof backpack, then put some waters in one compartment before heading outside.

When she walks out with a sketchbook and a pouch that I'm assuming holds pencils, I open the other side of the bag and take them from her, adding them and zipping it up.

"It's waterproof," I explain, throwing the bag over one shoulder and grabbing her hand, pulling her toward the stairs that lead down to the beach.

"What are we doing?" she asks again, her curiosity clearly getting the better of her.

"It's a surprise," I say with a smile, enjoying her anticipation.

I lead her to the dock and help her down onto a jet ski, then get on behind her. She's wearing a blue bikini top I haven't seen before and a pair of cut-off shorts, her hair twisted into a cute bun on top of her head. The sight of her bare shoulders and the curve of her neck makes me want to forget our plans and take her back to bed.

"You ready?" I ask, my voice rougher than intended.

"I think so," she says with a nervous smile, and I chuckle.

"I promise you'll like it," I say, turning the engine on. I slide one arm around her waist, pulling her close against my chest. The feel of her body against mine, the scent of her hair—it's intoxicating. Using my free arm to control the jet ski, I take off.

The water sprays around us as we cut through the waves. I feel her tense at first, then gradually relax into me, her body moving with mine as we navigate the ocean. Her laughter carries back to me each time we hit a wave, the sound freer and lighter than I've ever heard from her.

I guide us toward a small, secluded cave about fifteen minutes from my property—a hidden gem most tourists never discover. The water here is crystal clear, revealing colorful fish darting beneath us as we approach the opening.

I guide us toward the entrance of the cave, slowing as the water gets shallower. The jet ski motor echoes against the stone walls as we enter, the sound bouncing around us. Inside, the light filters through in ethereal blue rays, illuminating the space in a way that makes it seem almost magical. When we reach a small sandy area, I cut the engine.

"Hold this," I say, handing her the backpack. I hop into the knee-deep water, my feet sinking slightly into the sand. I grab the front of the jet ski and pull it toward the small beach inside the cave, securing it where the water meets the sand. Then I turn back and offer my hand to help her off.

She takes it, carefully stepping into the water. Her eyes widen as she takes in the full beauty of the cave—the way light plays on the water, reflecting patterns on the stone walls, the perfect acoustics making even our breathing sound musical.

"This is beautiful," she breathes, turning in a slow circle to take everything in.

"I thought you could draw it," I say, enjoying the wonder on her face.

"Really?" she asks, excitement lighting up her features.

"Yeah, you mentioned it before," I say with a shrug that belies how much I've been thinking about this, planning it. "Where do you want to sit for the best view?"

She looks around thoughtfully, walking over to one side of the small beach and then the other, considering angles and light with an artist's eye I find fascinating.

"Here," she finally decides, sitting down and opening the bag to retrieve her sketchbook. She looks up at me uncertainly. "What are you going to do? It's going to be boring."

I sit down behind her, positioning her between my legs, her back almost touching my chest. "I'm going to watch you," I tell her simply.

"Are you sure?" she asks, doubt creeping into her voice.