Page 140 of Revv

My fingers close around hers as I move between her legs at the back of the jet ski. “Then come here, Mama.”

I reach for her slowly, settling my other hand around her waist as she starts scooting toward the edge.

The second her feet touch the water, her hands land on my shoulders. Her grip tightens when I ease her farther down, and I keep her close, letting her take it as slowly as she needs.

Then she's off the jet ski completely.

Her arms circle my neck almost immediately, legs wrapping around my waist while I brace one arm securely around her.

For a few seconds, she’s tense against me.

I don’t tease her.

I just hold her.

The water lifts us gently with each swell, warm from hours beneath the Miami sun. Her cheek rests against my shoulder while I keep us close to the jet ski, one hand spread across the middle of her back.

“I've got you,” I murmur.

Her fingers loosen slightly at the back of my neck.

“I know.”

There it is again. I close my eyes for half a second.

When she finally lifts her head, there’s none of that sharp challenge in her expression anymore. Her sunglasses are gone, tucked safely on the jet ski, and damp strands of hair stick to her cheeks. The sun catches little drops of water across her lashes and nose.

She finally lifts her head from my shoulder and takes a look around. Her eyes move over the clear water, down toward the reef beneath us, then out toward Miami sitting hazy in the distance.

I feel the tension slowly leave her body.

Her legs are still wrapped around my waist, arms around my shoulders, but she isn’t clinging to me anymore. She’s just...holding me.

And fuck if that doesn’t feel different.

My hand moves slowly up her back, and she leans into me like she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it.

“You okay?”

Her eyes come back to mine, and she nods. “Yeah.”

I glance toward the jet ski. “Want back up?”

She follows my gaze for a second before looking at me again.

“No.”

Something about the way she says it—quiet, certain, while staying wrapped around me—hits me right in the fucking chest.

Her fingers curl into the wet hair at the back of my neck, and whatever smart-ass comment would usually come next never makes it out.

Neither does mine.

For once, neither of us needs to fill the space.

I lean in and kiss her slowly.

Her lips soften against mine, her body settling closer as the water moves gently around us. There’s no rush behind it, no teasing or trying to get a reaction out of each other. Just her arms around my neck, my hand spread across her back, and the warm Miami sun beating down on us while we float beside the jet skis.