“Put me down!” she yelled.
He just laughed harder, holding her close to his broad chest. He was solid muscle—nothing but ripped muscles and pure strength. His hands on her bare skin made electricity surge right through her. One arm wrapped around her, the other held her securely beneath her legs. Calloused fingers gripped her, so she knew she wouldn’t really fall. That didn’t mean she was about to let go of him though.
The ocean breeze blew through her hair, and Noah turned so that he was bearing the brunt of the wind. “If I put you down, you’ll fall right in, sunshine,” he said in a deep voice. “Don’t worry, I’d jump in after you though.”
“Hey, put her down!” Taylor called out. “Mason—do something!”
Mason chuckled beside her. “If she calls for help, I’ll make him put her down. They’re just goofing off, sweetheart.”
Bailey playfully swatted Noah on the arm, and he turned away from the water, carrying her back toward their friends. “Hell, that would’ve been fun tossing her in,” he said with a grin.
“You just wanted to jump off the dock yourself,” Mason said.
“Absolutely. The water looks awesome. I wasn’t sure that Bailey would really appreciate it though,” he said, setting her back down on the dock. She clung to his forearm, steadying herself.
“You enjoyed that,” she accused him.
“Holding you in my arms? Hell yeah, I enjoyed it. You’re a beautiful woman.”
She crossed her arms in mock-annoyance. “A beautiful woman who’s not going to sleep with you.”
“Who said anything about sleeping with me?” he asked with a grin.
“Oh, you’re impossible,” she said, walking down the dock back toward the beach. Embarrassment mixed in with irritation washed over her. Sure, he hadn’t exactly said he wanted to sleep with her, but she could put two and two together. She’d heard stories about the guys on the SEAL team. Maybe Mason and some of them had settled down, but as for the rest?
Not a chance.
“Wait up!” Taylor called out, hurrying to walk back with her. “He’s just messing with you.”
“I know,” she said, flipping her hair back as the wind blew through it again. “He flirts with everyone. I need to get going though. I’ve got work later tonight. Text me the details of the trip, and I’ll see if I can get off for the weekend.”
“It’s crazy how the rest of the world takes weekends for granted,” Taylor said.
“Yep. I love the crazy hours at the bar though. It shouldn’t be a problem; I haven’t had a weekend off in months.”
“Sunshine!” Noah called out, jogging to catch up with them. “I was just teasing you back there.”
“I know,” she said, irritated. “But I have to get going. I’ve got to work later on tonight.”
“Can I walk you to your car?” he asked as they stepped off the dock and back onto the beach.
“I’m a couple of blocks down.”
“Hell, I can walk a few blocks. Catch you guys later!” he said, waving goodbye to Mason and Taylor.
“Where’d you park?” she asked, picking her way through the sand.
“Close by, but I don’t mind walking you to your car.”
She blew out a sigh, wondering why he was so intent on going with her. They’d be spending the weekend together soon though, so she might as well clear the air between them. If she got annoyed every time he did something stupid, she might as well not go on the trip at all.
“Fine. Let’s go, cupcake,” she said dryly.
“Cupcake?” he asked with a chuckle.
“You keep calling me sunshine.”
“That I do, because of your long blonde hair. So, why’d you come up with cupcake?”
“I figured it would piss you off.”
His low laughter filled the air around them, and she turned and walked down the boardwalk toward the garage where she parked, leaving him hurrying after her.
Chapter 6
Noah stretched out his legs on the boat a week later, grinning as they bobbed up and down in the water. Bailey adjusted her skimpy yellow bikini across from him, and he resisted the urge to groan. Maybe they should’ve gone ice fishing or something instead, because he was going to need a hell of a lot of cold showers watching her all weekend.
Taylor squealed from near the stern, watching as Mason hooked live bait onto the line.
“Can’t we use something else other than worms? Yuck!”
Mason chuckled, casting his line into the water. “We could, but these work best.”
“We could use hotdogs or something,” Noah said, watching them with amusement. “Why waste good food on the fish though?”
“Because we’ll be eating the fish! If the fish eat worms, it’s kind of like we’re eating worms, too.”
Mason smirked, shaking his head. “You eat seafood all the time back in Virginia Beach, sweetheart. What do you think the fish in the ocean are eating?”
She shuddered.
“Can you pass me the sunscreen?” Bailey called out to Taylor, and her friend tossed it across the boat to her.
Bailey nabbed it from the air, and Noah chortled in approval. “Good catch.”
“I’ve got two older brothers,” she said with a shrug. “I pretty much grew up outdoors playing with them.” She squeezed some of the sunscreen into her hand, rubbing it over her shoulders.
“Need some help?” Noah offered, watching in fascination as her delicate hand moved over her smooth skin.
She glanced over at him, her long blonde ponytail swishing behind her. “Sure, cupcake.”
“Cupcake?” Mason asked with a chuckle. “Where the hell did you get that nickname?”
“Bailey’s just trying to piss me off,” Noah said with a grin as he stood and crossed to her side of the boat. “Good thing I don’t take offense easily. That, and it’s cute as hell the way she’s already given me a pet name.”
She shrugged, smirking, and he watched her full breasts rise and fall.
Hell, offering to rub sunscreen all over her was probably a big mistake. She was sexy as hell in that tiny string bikini. If anything, he wanted to be peeling it off of her. It would’ve made more sense to rub sunscreen on her without it, too. All those tiny little strings and ties were just in the way.
He settled behind her on the plush cushions, taking the bottle from her hand.
“Move your ponytail,” he said in a low voice.
She pulled it over one shoulder, and he could see a few blonde strands that had come loose in the wind, right at the back of her neck where her bikini top was tied. He was dying to lean forward and kiss her skin, watching her shiver in response.
He wanted to taste the salty spray of the ocean on her skin. To tug on those flimsy strings and watch the top fall away, baring her to him.
That wasn’t exactly appropriate though.
Not now and not ever.
And he sure the hell wouldn’t be undressing a woman when others were around to see.
If he did ever end up with Bailey, it would be when they were completely alone, and she was for his eyes only.
He lifted the bottle of sunscreen and frowned, looking at the bikini tied in the middle of her back. “Go lay on one of those lounge chairs,” he said, his voice gruff. “I’ll get your back.”
She shrugged, a small smile tugging on her lips as she glanced back at him.
Hell, the woman knew exactly the way she affected him.
She knew that she was driving him crazy prancing around in that tiny bikini. What was she supposed to wear though? They were fishing off the coast of Florida. The rest of them were in swimsuits, too.
She sashayed across the deck of the boat, her hips swaying, her bikini bottom perfectly clinging to her ass. His gaze raked over her toned body, and then she lay down on top of the cushions, resting her head on her crossed arms.
He rose and walked toward her, willing his libido to calm down. His dick had been half-hard all morning as he watched her. With the slightest temp
tation, he’d be fully erect.
Thank God he could jump in the ocean if needed. The water might not exactly be cold, but at the rate they were going, he was going to be rock hard all day long. A quick dip in the water might do him good.
He settled on the edge of her lounge chair, reaching over to tug on the strings across her back. “I don’t want you to burn, sunshine,” he said in a low voice as he slowly undid the knot.
“Umm-hmmm,” she murmured, relaxing in the sun.
He brushed the strings aside, nearly groaning as he got a glimpse of the sides of her breasts. She was mostly shielded from his view by lying atop the lounge chair, but what he could see was fucking gorgeous.
She was beautiful as hell—her breasts slightly paler in color than the rest of her tanned skin. He wanted to trace his fingertips over her tan lines. Watch her tremble at his touch.
Imagining the round globes pressed against the cushions was doing him in. He wanted those breasts pillowed against his chest as he held her close. As he captured her mouth in a kiss, and she whimpered and writhed against him.
Casting those thoughts aside, he squirted some of the sunscreen onto her back, and she yelped in surprise.
“Sorry, gorgeous,” he said in a low voice, spreading the lotion over her smooth skin. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
He ran his hands over her shoulder blades, spreading the sunscreen over her upper back. She was so delicate and fragile compared to him—his broad hands spanned her entire back.
The coconut scent filled the air, and his groin tightened as he moved lower, his fingertips just barely skimming over the sides of her breasts as he worked his way down. Noah heard her small intake of breath, but he kept moving, spreading sunscreen over the small of her back.
She squirmed slightly as he got closer to her hips, and he smiled, wondering if she was ticklish.
He ran his hands up her back again, reluctant to stop touching her.
“I could fall asleep like this,” she murmured, relaxing into his touch.
He briefly kneaded her shoulders, enjoying her sigh of contentment. “Want me to tie your bikini top?” he asked, playing with the string with one hand.
“Go for it,” she said.
He tied the strings together, making sure it was secure, before he reluctantly stood. Bailey turned her head to gaze up at him.
“Oh my God!” Taylor suddenly shrieked.
Noah swung his head toward the stern to see Mason’s fishing line jumping.
“We caught something! We caught something!” Taylor shouted, jumping up and down.
“Really? Wow!” Bailey said, rising up from the chaise. She crossed the deck barefoot, brushing past Noah. He followed behind her, and they watched as Mason grinned, reeling it in.
“Whoo-hoo!” he whooped, holding up his large catch.
Bailey shrieked and jumped back as the fish bounced on the end of the hook, colliding against Noah’s chest.
He chuckled, snaring her around the waist, and pulling her against him. “Don’t worry, sunshine. I’ll keep you safe from fish and sharks.”
“Do you think there are sharks right here?”
“It’s the Atlantic Ocean. Of course there are sharks. I haven’t seen any swimming by our boat, but that is a danger when fishing. The fish are attracted to the bait—”
“And the sharks to the fish. Lovely.”
“Where have you gone fishing before?” he asked, releasing her from his grip.
“Mostly the rivers around Virginia Beach. And if we fished in the ocean, it was from the beach or out on the dock. We didn’t take a boat into the ocean like this.”
“Gotcha,” he said.
“This looks awesome,” Mason said, taking the hook out of the fish’s mouth. He opened a large cooler to put the fish inside.
Noah glanced down at his watch. “Eleven a.m. I think this calls for a beer.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Mason said with a chuckle.
Bailey crossed over to the other cooler where they’d stashed their food and drinks for the day. She pulled out two beers, handing them to him, then grabbed two cans of sparkling wine for herself and Taylor.
She grabbed the bottle opener and tossed it toward Noah, and he grabbed it out of the air. He popped the cap and took a long pull. “Fantastic.”
“I guess I should try my luck now,” Bailey said, taking a sip from her can and setting it down. His gaze was drawn to her pink lips—even out here on the boat, she had on that same glossy lipstick. Lip gloss. Whatever the hell it was women wore.
“Absolutely,” Mason said. “I rented enough equipment for all of us to fish. No sense in Noah and I having all the fun.”
“How’d you get this boat for the weekend anyway?” Bailey asked. “It’s pretty sweet. I thought you were just getting something small.”
“I know the guy who owns the boat rental place—an old buddy of mine. He hooked me up for a sweet deal.”
“It’s all in who you know,” Taylor commented. “Maybe I should make a friend who lives in Hawaii or something.”
“Any type of exotic locale will work for me,” Bailey said.
Mason handed Bailey a fishing rod, glancing over at Taylor. “Let’s check yours, sweetheart. We might have to put on more bait.”
“So I just...stick a worm on here?” Bailey asked, scrunching her nose.
Noah watched her in amusement, his lips quirking. She looked cuter than hell standing there, holding that fishing rod and wearing nothing but her yellow string bikini. Her long ponytail trailed down her back. He had the urge to go over and grab her, jumping into the ocean together.
He wasn’t sure if she’d appreciate that though. Besides, they were supposed to be out here fishing.
“I thought you said you’ve been fishing before,” he said with a grin. “Now that we’re out on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic, you don’t know what to do?”
“I have been fishing before, but I made my brothers help me. And it’s been years since I’ve done it.”
He grabbed the worm box. “Do you want me to do the honors?”
“Please,” she said, waving the box away and taking a step back.
After he baited the line, Noah stepped behind her, his arms wrapping around her slender frame. His large hands rested over hers as she held the fishing pole. “We’re going to cast the line,” he said, enjoying the feeling of her against him. Her ass was right up against his cock, and with nothing but the thin fabric of their swimsuits separating them, he edged back slightly, not knowing how she’d react to his growing erection.
Glancing down over her shoulder, he could see the swell of her breasts. The string bikini top fit her perfectly, showing off her chest to its full advantage. He forced himself to concentrate, to remain focused on the task.
Their friends were right by them on the boat. He was supposed to be helping her fish, not mentally undressing her. “We’re going to swing the pole back, carefully because I’m behind you.”
“You don’t want a fish hook in you?” she teased.
“That’s a negative, sunshine.”
He moved slightly to the side, so they could lift the fishing rod without him in the way, and then with a flick of the wrist, they cast their line into the ocean.
She squealed in delight as it flew through the air. “I’m really fishing!”
He chuckled. “Ease up, there you go. Yes you are. Now let’s see if we can catch something for dinner.”
“Oh my God, something’s tugging on my line already!”
The fishing pole bobbed in her hands, and Noah gripped it along with her. “Holy hell. If that’s not beginner’s luck, I don’t know what is.”
“Oh crap, what do I do?”
“You caught something!” Taylor shouted, rushing over. “Wow, how’d you manage that so fast? This is crazy!”
“Now we reel it in,” Noah explained. “I’ll help, yep, here we go.” A moment later, Noah was lifting her fish up onto the boat, grinning. “T
hat might be bigger than Mason’s.”
“Easy now,” Mason said with a low chuckle.
“Bigger than the fish you caught,” Taylor chastised, shaking her head. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”
Mason winked, tugging her close for a kiss.
“Oh my God,” Bailey said, watching as Noah opened the cooler. “Dinner is going to be amazing the next few nights!”
“If you caught it, you have to clean it,” Noah quipped.
“What? No way!” she said, swatting his arm. “Who made up that rule?”
He laughed, unhooking the fish and laying it in the cooler. “You’re too easy to tease, sunshine.”
“Am not.”
He chuckled, watching her lift her can of sparkling wine to her mouth again. “To fishing!” she yelled, raising her can in the air.
Taylor giggled beside her. “Best trip ever,” she agreed. “To fishing!”
“Hell, I’ll drink to that,” Mason said.
Noah watched his friends as he grabbed his own beer. Although he’d figured they’d have a good time, he was having a hell of a lot more fun than expected. And he knew all of that had to do with Bailey.
Chapter 7
Bailey emerged from the bathroom off her bedroom at the condo later that afternoon, towel-drying her damp hair. A carefree day of relaxing out on the water, sunbathing, and fishing was exactly what she needed. While the rest of her coworkers were back at the bar on what was no doubt a busy Saturday, she and her friends were about to grill fish, enjoy a few cocktails, and relax in their oceanfront condo.
She crossed over to her suitcase, pulling out one of her sundresses. Deciding to forgo a bra, she pulled on her thong and then slipped the dress over her head. It crisscrossed in the front, wrapping around her breasts with a halter tie in the back.
Skipping her sandals, she ran a comb through her hair, applied a touch of make-up, and walked out into the living room.
Noah was unloading some bags of groceries in the kitchen. He grinned when he spotted her, his eyes flickering with interest. “I think I got everything you wanted for drinks—mint, limes, club soda, and rum.”
“Did they have any simple syrup?”
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