by Susan Stoker
“No place is perfect,” Aleck mumbled. He knew he should just straight up tell her that he lived here, and he opened his mouth to do just that. To make a joke about how he knew all about the amenities because he paid a shitload each month in home owner association fees. But she spoke again before he could.
“I bet the people here don’t appreciate what they have. They probably sit up in their overpriced condos and complain that it’s too sunny. Or the water is too blue or something.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t get rich people. As pretty as this place is, there’s no connection to the locals out here. Most of my neighbors are native to Hawaii, and they’re generous and funny and have welcomed me with open arms. I love walking around my neighborhood and playing with the kids and being a part of a community. I bet everyone living here is from the mainland and they probably don’t even know their neighbors. It’s kind of sad, really.”
Well, shit. That wasn’t exactly the opening he wanted to confess that he lived here. Aleck wanted Kenna to like him, not think of him as pathetic. And it wouldn’t help to admit that he owned a penthouse.
His opportunity to not only tell Kenna that he lived here, but that he was one of the rich people she didn’t seem to think much of, was cut short again when she opened her door excitedly and hopped out.
Not sure how this was gonna go, Aleck slowly got out as well. He reached into the backseat and grabbed both their bags and met Kenna at the front of the Jeep.
“Okay, this is what I’m thinking,” Kenna said as she reached for her bag.
Aleck gave it to her, only because he knew it wasn’t very heavy.
“There’s only a few entrances and the beach has a fence around it to keep it private, so we’re going to have to go in the main door and right through the lobby. That’s tricky, because if they have security, they might ask for our IDs or something. But if we’re in the middle of a conversation, maybe they’ll feel as if it’s rude to interrupt us. If there’s a security desk, you can give the person that chin lift thing you do so well. Whatever you do, stay casual. Don’t look guilty. Try to blend in.” She chuckled. “Although, everyone is probably wearing overpriced name-brand clothing and you’ve got…a pineapple on.”
“Hey, I love this shirt,” Aleck told her.
She smiled up at him and patted his chest. “I do too. But I’m thinking the people around here wouldn’t be caught dead in it. Come on, we’ve got this.”
It was obvious Kenna was amped up and totally excited about the possibility of getting onto the private beach. Aleck wasn’t all that happy about how she constantly seemed to put down the residents, though. Yes, most people who lived here probably had very comfortable bank accounts, but that didn’t mean they were assholes. He might not hang out with many of his neighbors, but he’d met a lot of them, and they seemed like perfectly nice people.
Not wanting to be a downer when Kenna was so excited, he took her hand in his and they headed for the entrance. If they really were trying to slip onto the property without being noticed, Aleck knew they’d fail. The security here was top-notch and no one got past the front desk without being recognized or without showing ID and letting them know who they were visiting.
But he went along with Kenna’s plan. The idea of sneaking in clearly thrilled her. The time to admit he lived here had definitely passed, and an uneasy feeling churned in his gut. He should’ve said something immediately, when he’d found out what beach she wanted to visit.
He’d already put his foot in his mouth about her job and didn’t want to say or do anything else that would give her a reason to decide they weren’t compatible—and it was abundantly obvious she thought she had nothing in common with rich people.
Now he’d have to find a way to tell her another time.
Funny thing, remember the other day when we went to the beach at that condo complex? Well, I live there.
Shit, that wouldn’t work. He’d have to come up with something much better, and if she couldn’t forgive him for not fessing up sooner, well…at least he could give her this adventure.
“Marshall, pay attention,” Kenna scolded. “We’ve only got one shot at this and I really want to check out this beach.”
“What happens if we get caught?” he asked.
Kenna scrunched her nose adorably. “I’ve got another beach in mind as a fallback. But it’s not as nice as this one.”
“I don’t care where we go or what we do,” Aleck told her. “I’m just thrilled to get to spend time with you.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “Wow, I think that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“It’s true. Fancy private beach, hanging out in that amazing beanbag of yours, or sitting in a dive restaurant eating peanut butter and jelly. I just like being with you. You make me feel…happy.”
Aleck regretted the words the second they left his lips because they were so sappy.
But he changed his mind when Kenna stopped walking and leaned into him. Aleck put his arm around her waist to hold her close.
“You make me happy too. I could be in the worst mood, but then I get a text from you and it’s like whatever upset me is completely forgotten. I don’t recognize myself lately.”
Aleck couldn’t have stopped himself from leaning down and kissing her if his life depended on it. Cognizant of where they were, he kept the kiss light, but it was still intense.
Kenna reached up and put her hand on his cheek, but she didn’t say anything.
A loud honking made both of them jerk in surprise, and Aleck chuckled as he hustled them out of the middle of the road. He waved at the man behind the wheel of the large SUV in apology and saw the man laughing as he continued on.
Kenna took a deep breath. “Okay, this is it. Act natural.”
Aleck didn’t know if she was telling him or herself, but he nodded anyway.
As they neared the front doors to the complex, she started babbling about what they needed to buy at the grocery store later.
Aleck knew she’d picked a topic that would make it seem as if they lived here, and he couldn’t help but hope for a time when they’d be shopping together for real, or leaving each other notes about what they needed at the store. It was somewhat surprising, as he’d never considered living with a woman before, but with Kenna, he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about it.
The automatic doors opened and they walked into the lobby of the condo complex. Just as Kenna had ordered, he gave the security guard a chin lift as they approached the desk. Of course, he knew Robert fairly well. He’d come home from a mission very early in the morning a few months ago and they’d gotten to talking. Robert had a brother in the Army, and he wanted to make sure Aleck knew he appreciated his service.
Kenna had a death grip on his hand and she started talking even faster. Aleck wanted to end this farce right now. He didn’t like seeing her all worked up, but now definitely wasn’t the time. She’d be embarrassed if he told her he lived here after she’d tried so hard to look like they belonged.
They passed Robert, who looked back down at the papers on the desk in front of him. They headed toward the doors at the back of the large hotel-lobby-like space, which led out to a grassy area where Aleck and his team had barbequed often.
The second the doors shut behind them, Kenna turned to him with a huge smile on her face. “We did it!” she half-whispered, half-screeched. Then she hugged him once more.
Now it was Aleck who was too embarrassed to tell her they’d made it past Robert because the man knew him—because he was a resident.
“That was awesome!” Kenna said, a smile lighting up her face.
Aleck wanted to bottle her energy and enthusiasm and pull it out when he needed it the most…probably right after he told her they didn’t actually “sneak” anywhere.
“Come on. I want to see this beach. And I’m telling you right now, it had better live up to my expectations.” She chuckled. “Man, my heart is beating out of my chest and my adrenaline is making
me shaky,” she said as they headed toward the beach.
Aleck moved closer and put his arm around her shoulders as they walked. “You liked that.” It wasn’t a question.
“I like winning,” she said with a grin. “I don’t really like the stress that comes with actually breaking the law.”
Aleck couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not sure sneaking onto a private beach constitutes breaking the law.”
Kenna shrugged. “I’m a goody two-shoes,” she said without any artifice. “I don’t like breaking the rules. Never have.”
“Well, we’re here now. And as far as anyone else is concerned, we belong here. So no feeling guilty, okay?”
“Absolutely!” Kenna said happily.
Then she pulled away from him and ran ahead to where the grassy area met the sand. She stood there as he caught up to her.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
And it was. While Aleck wasn’t a beach person, he could certainly understand the appeal. And his complex always went out of their way to try to make sure the beach itself was as inviting as possible. There were umbrellas and chairs spread out across the sand, with a satisfying distance between each. Someone raked the sand every night to keep it smooth and to get the leaves, sticks, and other debris out of it. There was a shed where people could check out boogie boards, stand-up paddle boards, snorkel gear, and even blow-up floats. A small stand served canned drinks—alcoholic and not—as well as snacks. Even the restrooms were fastidiously cleaned and serviced every hour to make sure they were up to the standards of the complex.
“Where do you want to sit?” Aleck asked.
“Oh, um…somewhere away from the service hut. I don’t want someone wondering who we are and asking for our IDs after the fact. Maybe over there on the other end?”
Once again, guilt ate at Aleck. He hated that Kenna was still worried about getting caught. He wanted to reassure her that no one was going to kick them out, but she’d probably ask how he was so sure.
On second thought, maybe that was a good way to bring up the topic. Then he could admit everything.
But he warred with his conscience too long. Kenna grabbed his hand once more and was leading him to the farthest umbrella from where condo employees manned the equipment shack and snack stand.
Kenna fussed with the umbrella and the chairs until she was completely satisfied with their arrangement. “Look! They even provide towels,” she said with a pleased smile. “And they’re nice too. Fluffy and thick.” She spread a blue and white striped towel with the condo’s name on it on her chair, then reached for the hem of her cover-up without hesitation.
Aleck almost swallowed his tongue when he saw Kenna in her black and red swimsuit. It was modest compared to a lot of suits women wore these days. Cut high on her thighs and dipped low between her breasts, showing off a bit of cleavage.
She turned to grab something out of her bag, and Aleck’s breath whooshed out.
He’d checked out her ass as she’d climbed out of the water when they’d first met, but this was so much better. Her suit basically had no back to it. There was a tie behind her neck, and her ass was covered, but otherwise he could see her entire back.
Moving without thought, Aleck stepped toward her. His hands reached out and caressed her smooth skin.
Kenna jerked in surprise, then relaxed as his hands ran up either side of her spine.
“Marshall?” she asked.
“You are so damn beautiful,” Aleck said softly as he stroked her. He dug his thumbs into the muscles at the top of her spine and she arched against him.
“That feels so good,” she moaned.
Aleck’s cock twitched. Fuck, he wanted to hear her say that when they were both naked in his bed and he was—
“While you’re back there, will you put some of this on my back?” she asked, grinning and holding up a tube of sunscreen.
So much for his daydream. But Aleck was determined to get to her as much as she was getting to him. Although, she certainly seemed affected, if their time in her beanbag was any indication. He decided to play a bit.
“Of course,” he told her, taking the sunscreen. Her head was turned, watching him as he stripped his T-shirt over his head and dropped it on the chair next to him.
Kenna’s eyes widened as she stared.
Internally, Aleck grinned. He knew he was in shape. He and his teammates worked hard to keep their bodies in tip-top condition.
“Holy shit,” she whispered, turning slowly. “I felt your abs earlier, but damn, Marshall. What is that, like a twenty-seven pack? I didn’t know the stomach even had that many muscles.”
He laughed. “Just a normal six-pack,” he told her, tightening his muscles to show off for her.
Her hand reached out and smoothed over his stomach, much as his hands had done to her back. “Damn!” she exclaimed again.
“Turn around,” he ordered, “so I can put this on.”
It took her a moment to drop her hand from his skin, but then she took a deep breath and turned so her back was to him once more.
Aleck squeezed a healthy amount of the coconut-smelling lotion on his hands and got to work. He smoothed them up her spine again, loving how she arched into his touch. He took his time, making sure he reached every inch of exposed skin, rubbing the lotion in thoroughly. Even after she was appropriately covered, he couldn’t take his hands from her.
His fingers slipped just below the elastic, caressing the top of her ass crack.
“Marshall…” she complained weakly.
“Yes?” he asked, continuing to tease. He made sure not to be indecent, even though he wanted nothing more than to reach around and slip his fingers under the front of her suit.
Her ass pushed back against him, and Aleck’s cock twitched under his suit.
Kenna looked at him over her shoulder. “I want you.”
Aleck nearly choked. But he did his best to hang on to his control. “I want you too,” he said, as one finger dipped even lower under her suit. He let himself enjoy the feel of her silky skin for another second, before moving his hand to safer territory. He put his hands on her shoulders and leaned down and kissed her temple. “You’re good to go sunscreen wise,” he told her.
Kenna chuckled and took a deep breath.
Aleck knew he’d remember this moment for the rest of his life. The ocean breeze, the smell of coconut, and Kenna in his arms.
“Right, turn around and I’ll do you.”
Aleck raised an eyebrow at her. “I thought you didn’t want to get kicked off the beach?”
She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Turn around,” she repeated.
As Aleck turned, he realized he was having a great time, despite the guilt he still felt. Bantering with Kenna was fun. She was sensual, wasn’t too self-conscious, and she obviously loved this little escapade.
Having her hands on him was torturous, but he did his best to control himself. What he really wanted to do was pick up Kenna, throw her over his shoulder, and head up to his bed. But for the moment, until he could figure out how to tell her about his trust fund, he would make do with her touch.
Kenna took her sweet time spreading the sunscreen on his back, but Aleck didn’t mind in the least. Eventually, after slathering the rest of their bodies with more lotion, they both lay down on the lounge chairs.
Aleck heard Kenna chuckle under her breath. He turned his head to look at her. “What’s funny?” he asked.
She nodded to his lap. “That doesn’t look comfortable,” she quipped.
Aleck shrugged. “What did you expect with you touching me like that?” he asked, having a feeling he’d be half-hard all day. “Besides,” he nodded to her chest, “you aren’t much better.”
He never would’ve brought attention to a woman’s hard nipples in the past. But everything with Kenna was different.
She simply laughed. “Touché,” she said.
They fell silent for a few minutes, then Kenna said, “I like this,” s
he said.
“The beach?” Aleck asked.
“Yes, but this. You and me. Being comfortable with each other. Being turned on and not embarrassed about it. I like how open and honest we are.”
Of course, her words made his erection deflate as if it’d been pricked with a pin.
Fuck. He wasn’t being honest, and the longer it went on, the worse he felt.
“I love spending time with you,” he managed to say after a moment. Then, needing the connection with her and afraid his deception was going to end up pushing her away, Aleck reached for her hand. She twined her fingers with his without hesitation.
Kenna laughed as she rode another wave all the way to the shore. She and Marshall had been at the beach for hours and at one point, he’d suggested getting two of the boogey boards. She hadn’t wanted to, in case the employees found out they didn’t live at the condos, but he’d finally convinced her.
He’d come back from the equipment shed with not only the boogey boards, but a couple of sodas and soft pretzels.
At first, Marshall had sat under the umbrella while she’d gone out to play in the ocean, but he’d eventually joined her, grumbling about sand in his suit. They’d had a water fight, a swim race—which Kenna had handily lost—then they’d grabbed the boogey boards and started body surfing.
As she’d suspected, Marshall was a natural at everything. Of course, being a SEAL, he was more than comfortable in the water, but it went beyond that. He looked completely at home in the ocean. He wasn’t constantly spitting out the salty water. Didn’t look as if the sun bothered him at all. And even when he was sent tumbling when a wave caught him by surprise, he looked like some sort of merman as he rose out of the water laughing, rivulets of water glinting as they dripped down his body.
And seeing him in nothing but a suit wasn’t exactly a hardship. Kenna had a feeling she’d remember the moment he’d stripped off his T-shirt for the rest of her life. Intellectually, she’d already known he was in great shape, but seeing all his muscles up close and personal was almost a religious experience. She’d commented on his abs, but what had really caught her attention were the v-muscles near his hips that pointed straight toward his groin.