“Where are you taking me?”
“To a small but nice place in the Keys a friend owns. He rarely uses the house, and it’s set on a private beach. It’s a good place to go and not be seen or recognized by anyone. There are small, family-owned restaurants nearby.”
“Sounds great. I should’ve brought my bathing suit, though, if we’re going to the beach.”
“Clothing is completely optional, so you don’t even need one.”
Her gasp followed by her chin hitting her chest made him laugh out loud. He couldn’t keep up the façade even if he tried. Not with her.
“Have you lost your mind since the last time I saw you?”
“That’s entirely possible, darlin’. But I’m only kidding about this. Partially anyway. If you twisted my arm really hard, I’d relent and let you skinny dip. Otherwise, we’ll just walk around the small shops and find a tiny shred of cloth you can pretend is a bikini.”
“I can already tell this outing will be memorable. Did you bring your loincloth or will you be going commando in the water?”
“One thing about me, darlin’. I’m always commando.”
Heat filled her face, and she was infinitely appreciative of her sunglasses and the already hot South Florida temperature. The combination gave her the illusion of not being affected by him. She chose to ignore the deep rumble of his chuckle.
The small, unassuming beachfront home was surrounded by palm trees, giving the yard much-needed shade from the punishing rays of the sun. Devon strolled to the front door and unlocked it, pushing the door open for Elle to enter first.
“This is home for the day. It’s not much, but it’ll do for my plans.”
“What are your plans?” Elle asked as she walked through the small beach cottage, trying to hide her nerves behind a quick perusal of the house. “What’s on the agenda first?”
“First, I’ll feed you. Then we’ll grab a bathing suit, and we’ll take my boat out for a spin. You still like to swim, don’t you?”
“Are you kidding? I love it!”
“Let’s go, then. You can leave your purse here. Everything is within walking distance from here. Today is all my treat.”
“No. I called you, Devon,” she protested. “You’re not treating me when I proposed it.”
“The hell I’m not. My momma raised me to be a Southern gentleman. You should already know that.” With his hands firmly planted on her shoulders, he steered her toward the door, slipped her purse from her shoulder, and dropped it on the couch. “Now, let’s go.”
“You’re such a stubborn man.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes.
“You have no idea. I’ll get my way no matter what I have to do.” The smile in his voice only amplified his charm.
A quick stroll through the quaint streets led them to a small restaurant. If Devon hadn’t pointed it out, Elle would’ve completely missed it. Though she was used to the attention from swarms of other people, it felt different coming from him. Opening doors, pulling out chairs, choosing the day’s events, and taking care of her without being paid to do it made every gesture feel spontaneous and genuine. That was the exact opposite of how everyone else except Beth reacted to her celebrity status—being cordial because of what they could gain from her in return.
He ordered their lunches and turned his full attention to her. “You’ve grown up on me, Elle. I remember the little seven-year-old girl who followed me around all the time. Sneaking around cars, hiding behind trees, or using the corner of the house as cover to spy.”
She smiled, remembering her favorite game of spying on Devon and Jeff. “I didn’t know you were aware of all that at the time. I really thought I was being sly and that you didn’t know you had a shadow.”
An odd look flashed over his face, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. Unsure of what caused his discomfort, Elle kept talking, reminiscing over her childhood. “There was another time I’ll never forget,” she began, and she searched his eyes for a clue of his thoughts. “I never told you, I guess because I was so young and enamored of you. But you were always my hero. You made me feel welcome when Jeff tried to make me leave you two alone. You were always kind to me when he was my pain-in-the-ass older brother. Then you saved my life and put yours in jeopardy at the same time. I’ve never forgotten that, Devon. I never will.”
“I was just in the right place at the right time. That doesn’t make me a hero.”
“You ran out in front of that speeding car and grabbed me, Devon. You almost got hit while saving me. That does make you a hero. I wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for you. I never thanked you. I was so shaken up at first, then an embarrassed nine-year-old afterward. So, thank you. You’re still my hero.”
“Enough about me. We’re here to talk about you. What are you doing in Miami?”
“I just signed on as the model for Kylie Rae Romano’s newest fashion line. Over the next three weeks, I have multiple photoshoots in different locations around Miami. I’m here with eleven other models for the swimsuit shoot, too.”
“Such an exciting life. You’re always in front of the camera. Your face has been on the cover of every major magazine. There’s hardly anyone in the free world who doesn’t know your name. That’s so impressive, Elle. Your whole life is in the spotlight.”
“It’s surreal. Some days, it’s more than I ever thought it could be. Other days, it’s more than I can take. I guess it all equals out in the end, though.”
“You’ll get movie deals before you know it. With your innate beauty, they won’t be able to resist you.”
“I’m actually starting acting classes soon, so I’ll be ready to break in to that market next.”
Devon nodded, understanding her life was on a fast track to more stardom, more notoriety, and more spotlights. “Well, while I have you all to myself, let’s go grab that bathing suit and take the boat out. There’s a great reef we can snorkel about three miles offshore. You need a day away from your adoring fans every now and then, don’t you?”
“That sounds like heaven on earth. You have no idea how ready I am for this.”
7
CHAPTER SEVEN
They strode together in comfortable companionship to an island-themed boutique a few stores down from the restaurant. The locals were sheltered in their island lives, content to live in their own paradise and not invite the pressures of the mainland in. Elle’s presence wasn’t noticed any more than Devon’s was. With a new bathing suit in hand, they walked to the marina and boarded his boat.
While he maneuvered out of the marina and the no-wake zone, Elle retreated below deck to the small cabin to change into her new bikini. She grabbed the bottle of sunblock on her way back to the deck and stopped in her tracks when she cleared the doorway. A shirtless Devon stood at the helm, navigating the boat away from the island. Behind his mirrored shades was the man she’d idolized for years from a distance. But he was suddenly very close.
She slid her sunglasses over her eyes and walked toward him. “Sunscreen?” She managed to utter the single-word question.
One corner of his lips twitched, but he kept his tone neutral. “Sure.”
She stepped behind him and shook a dollop of lotion onto her hand then began rubbing it on his broad shoulders. Mesmerized by the ripples and ridges of his muscles, her movements slowed as her fingers memorized every inch of him. With deliberate concentration, she committed every sensation to memory so she could relive the moment repeatedly. She squeezed more from the bottle and continued exploring his arms and coated his lower back, taking her time since she’d run out of excuses to keep putting her hands on him. With reluctance and disappointment filling her, she took a step back and began coating herself.
“You missed a spot,” he said casually.
She looked up at him, but his back still faced her. “Where?”
“You didn’t get my chest or my ears. Do you want me to fry out here on the water in the harsh Florida sun?”
She
grinned to herself, thrilled he’d challenged her the way he did. If it had been left up to her, she wouldn’t have had the courage to do it on her own. But with him all but daring her to continue, she was more than happy to oblige.
Firm strokes of her fingers glided across the smooth skin of his chest. Though his eyes were hidden, she felt them moving over her face as if he’d physically touched her. His muscled body was firm and strong under her touch. At first, she hadn’t noticed how rigid he’d become. The more she massaged the lotion into his skin, the faster his chest rose and fell with his breaths. His lips parted, and his eyebrows disappeared completely behind the rim of his sunglasses. Even with her inexperience, she loved knowing her touch affected him as much as his presence affected her, and even more so when he couldn’t hide it as well as he thought.
Intentionally adding long, smooth strokes, she increased the pressure, massaging the thick striations of his muscles more than rubbing the lotion. Relishing in his masculine quality. Allowing her fingers to roam over the hard ridges of his defined stomach muscles. From the corner of her eye, she noticed his hand gripped the boat’s steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turned white, and he became as stiff as a board.
Rising up on her toes, she brushed her breasts across his chest when she reached for his ears. She gingerly stroked over the lobes and the upper rim, drawing in the powerful scent of his cologne with every inhale.
“Have I missed anywhere else?” she asked breathily.
He silently raised one eyebrow, the arch appearing over the top of his sunglasses. One side of his mouth lifted in a slow smile, then the other side followed, revealing his white teeth against his tanned skin. “That’s a dangerous question to ask me, Elle. I already have to keep reminding myself you’re Jeff’s little sister. That little towheaded girl still lives behind your eyes.”
Being doused with a cold bucket of ice water would’ve felt better than the way his words dashed her hopes that something more than friendship could develop between them. His words, though they weren’t meant to hurt her, left a sting in her chest that momentarily clogged her throat. The emotions welled up inside with the realization he didn’t look at her at all the way she saw him.
Beth’s warning reverberated in her mind, confirming she’d gotten her hopes raised for something that would never be reality. She’d misread cues and put too much emphasis on her own feelings, projecting them onto him and seeing what she wanted to see. But his reminder that she was simply his friend’s sister brought her feet back to the ground and her head out of the clouds.
She snapped the lid of the sunscreen bottle closed with more force than necessary before stepping out of his personal space. “I haven’t been known as ‘Jeff’s little sister’ since you two graduated high school. Where are the masks, snorkels, and fins? I’ll get them ready while you steer the boat.”
“They’re in the storage compartment under the bench seat in the back of the boat.” He kept one hand on the wheel as he turned to watch her walk away. His head was leaned to the side, his eyebrows drawn together, and his gaze fixed.
Knowing he scrutinized her every move, she pushed her disappointment aside while preparing the snorkeling gear. After he’d planned an excursion to give her a reprieve from prying eyes, the last thing she wanted was to seem ungrateful. Feeling hurt was her own fault, she reasoned, for setting such unrealistic expectations. At least she had the answer she needed and could stop holding out for the one she couldn’t have.
Lost in her thoughts as she knelt in front of the storage area, she was startled when she felt strong hands grip her arms from behind and lift her to stand. She was whirled around with no effort, instantly facing him. His sunglasses were pushed up on his head, and she saw the questions swimming in the depths of his blue eyes. Without changing his gaze, he removed her sunglasses and stared deep into her eyes.
“What’s wrong, Elle?” He held her face in his hands, keeping their connection intact, refusing to let her look away from him.
Her lips parted to speak, but a reply wouldn’t come. How could she explain how foolish she’d been? If she spilled her true feelings to him, the rest of their day together would be awkward. Uncomfortable. Ruined.
“Nothing’s wrong.” Her voice was intentionally more upbeat. She forced happiness into her eyes. Whatever it took to avoid being mortified by the truth.
He narrowed his eyes, crinkling them at the corners, and lowered his brows in a demanding gesture. “For the record, I know you’re lying to me. You didn’t even feel the boat come to a stop or hear me walk up behind you. What was on your mind just now?”
“Just the things I need to do.” She was intentionally vague while stating the truth at the same time.
“Giving me a version of the truth isn’t a loophole I’ll let you get away with for long. Just remember that.”
“Are we already at the reef?”
Her abrupt change of subject didn’t go unnoticed, but he decided against challenging it for the time being.
“Yeah, we’re here. Do you know how to snorkel?”
“Of course. Last one in the water buys dinner tonight.” She grabbed her gear, climbed over the bench seat, and jumped off the boat’s platform into the shallow water around the sandbar. “You’re too late. Looks like you lose, Devon,” she taunted.
“If ‘losing’ means I get more time with you tonight, I’ll take ‘losing’ any day.” With a flying leap, he jumped into the water next to her.
She squealed with laughter when the wall of water splashed her. It turned to playful laughter when his hand wrapped around her ankle, and she knew he was about to pull her underneath the water with him. Without a second to spare, she drew in a deep breath, and her head disappeared under the water. He wrapped his strong arms around her waist and resurfaced with her attached to him.
Water dripped off their faces, and the slight waves lapped around them while he kept a tight hold on her. “Now that you’re at my mercy—” he smirked “—don’t lie to me again. I can tell—I can always tell. You became upset with me when I said you’re Jeff’s little sister. Why?”
Resigned to being caught dead to rights, she decided to come clean with him. It was time to spill the secret she’d harbored for as long as she could remember. “I wanted you to see me as more than some little girl from your hometown. More than your friend’s little sister. But apparently, our roles are set. I was just disappointed. That’s all. It’s fine—don’t worry about it.
He nodded slowly, studying her face and her eyes. “You think the way I look at you is simply as my friend’s little sister? I don’t think you heard exactly what I said. I have to remind myself of it constantly, because that’s not at all what I see when I look at you now.
“You’re gorgeous, without a doubt. You’re strong and fearless and smart and determined. You are kind, genuine, loving, and funny. I couldn’t have made a more perfect woman if I’d made you myself. You’re fucking sexy as hell, every inch of you, every part of you, inside and out. Before you get it in your head that I don’t want you, think again.”
He watched with rapt attention as a droplet of water rolled down her cheek and onto her lips. In a rare lapse of self-control, he couldn’t resist licking the water from her lips. With a light swipe of his tongue across the part in her lips, he sampled her unique flavor and was immediately addicted. One taste only made him want more. He took every bit of what she willingly offered. With his head tilted to the side, he slanted his mouth over hers and drove his tongue inside.
His tongue slid against hers, and she gripped his hair tightly. Every silky-smooth pass of her tongue on his pushed him closer to the edge of losing all restraint. Low moans emanated from her chest when she wrapped her legs around his waist, crushing her thinly covered chest to his bare one. His hips surged upward involuntarily, brushing against her clit through her barely there bikini bottoms.
He gripped the hair on the back of her head and pulled lightly, separating them and ending their sensual hold. H
is voice deepened, and his intent gaze pierced her soul. “Don’t ever think I don’t want you. It takes all my willpower to think of anything other than the things I want to do to you. With you. Things I want to watch you do.”
“Maybe you should reserve your willpower for more important things.”
“You’ll be the death of me yet.” With a surrendering groan, he crushed his lips to hers for one more taste. “Now swim over to the sandbar and get your gear on so we can snorkel while we’re out here. Before I change my mind and choose more interesting activities.” He lowered his head and licked up her neck, sending chill bumps across her skin.
He reluctantly released her as they made their way to the shallow water. Once they were both ready, he led the way to the reef. They explored the underwater sanctuary like two overgrown kids who’d found sunken treasure. Minutes turned to hours, and by the time they climbed back aboard Devon’s boat, Elle’s energy had been depleted.
With the gear stowed, she plopped down on the bench seat and lay back, her arm bent across her face to shield her eyes. “I just remembered something. I was supposed to rest and hydrate today so I’d be ready for the lights and cameras tomorrow. Guess I completely messed that one up, huh?”
“Yeah, you really did. Maybe they’ll fire you, then I’ll have you all to myself for even longer.” He stood over her holding a cold bottle of water, letting the small pieces of ice and water droplets fall on her bare skin.
When the ice hit her stomach, she jerked up with a start and came face-to-face with the bottled water. “I heard you need to hydrate.”
“So thoughtful of you.”
“It’s good of you to notice. I do try.”
When they returned to land, it was late afternoon, and Devon found he wasn’t ready to let Elle leave. “You’re tired, aren’t you, darlin’? It’s been a long day. Flying across the country late last night, shopping, snorkeling, trying to have your way with me. You’ve been very busy.”
Wicked Shadows (Steele Security Book 5) Page 7