It’s difficult to move, plus I’m sure others enjoying the water know exactly what we’re doing. I don’t care. How can I, when I’m with this man?
“I can’t feel my legs,” Alexander admits, his large hands on my naked bottom.
“Don’t move. I want you to stay inside of me.” I lift my head and his eyes blaze into mine.
“Give me a minute.” He drops his forehead into the crook of my neck, so I slide my fingers into his hair and massage his scalp. He trembles in my arms and I realize he’s laughing.
When he lifts his head, his eyes are full of amusement and he grins so wide. “I can’t believe I have my cock inside of you in full view of anyone who cares to look.”
Tightening my inner muscles around him, Alexander hisses between his teeth. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Hmm … don’t let go.” I lean backwards into the water so it’s as though I’m lying on top of it. My legs are tightly hooked over Alexander’s waist while we’re connected through our arousal.
Alexander watches me through hooded eyes, so I slowly reach up and tease him. I move the cups of my bikini top to the sides, my firm breasts sway as the water caresses over them.
Beneath the water he slowly moves me on him. He feels amazing and glides against my sensitive spot each time. His eyes stay fixated on my breasts, hardening my nipples to tightly aroused peaks.
We’re both so close to release when I’m suddenly in Alexander’s arms and his mouth suckles at a breast. My nails dig into his shoulders as a powerful orgasm rocks my world. Alexander catches my shouts with his mouth, and I catch his grunts and curses with mine when he comes.
I stay wrapped around him for a long time until I feel him sliding out of me and putting my bikini bottoms back into place, and I’m presuming his swim shorts. He then keeps one arm around my waist as he relaxes on his back with me on top of him, as though he’s a float. Resting my head on his chest, I sigh and slowly stretch out with him, helping to keep us afloat.
“I love you,” I whisper. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to explain to you how happy I am that you’re here for the full month with me.”
“I love you too.” He kisses my lips as he moves to stand us on the ocean floor now we’re in shallower water. “I just hope you think that when our parents are here next week.”
“What?” I stare at him in surprise. “I mean I know they planned on coming over while we’re here, but I didn’t know it would be next week.”
Alexander grins and slings an arm over my shoulder, leading me out of the ocean. “It will be good having them here, although I don’t think we’ll get away with doing,” he glances to the ocean and smirks when he meets my gaze, “that while they’re around.”
I blush and chuckling, hide my face against his chest. “I’m so brave here in Florence. I never would have suggested that back home.”
“I love both versions of you Rachel, so don’t be embarrassed.” He cups my face, his eyes intense as they bore into mine. “Never be embarrassed for being anything but yourself with me.” He grins. “Because I promise that my dirty mind will have already come up with a lot more ways to bring out your naughty side.”
“Good.” I reach up and quickly kiss him before pulling my cover up on. “I’m hungry.”
My comment garners a heated glance from Alexander, so I amend, “My stomach is hungry for food.” As if to prove my point, it lets out a loud grumble.
“Let’s go to the beach front restaurant.” He nods in the direction we’d come from earlier. The tables are spread out on a patio with white tablecloths. A single flower sits in a fine vase at the center of the table with lovely wine goblets upturned at the place settings.
A young girl greets us as we enter via the steps up from the slightly rocky beach area. We’re made to feel welcome and immediately receive a basket of freshly made yeast rolls. I inhale and my mouth waters. A small dish of olive oil arrives, and we tear off bits of bread and dip it into the flavored oil.
I close my eyes to appreciate the finest bread I’ve ever tasted. The flavor of Italian herbs and maybe a hint of garlic hits my taste buds and I moan in delight.
“Good, right?” Alexander comments.
When I open my eyes and focus on my boyfriend, he’s frozen with a hand of bread halfway to his mouth. I raise a brow. “Problem?”
He clears his throat and moves around in his chair before he quickly shoves the bread into his mouth. “No problem,” he mutters.
I smirk and watch him as I purposely moan around another mouth of bread and flavored oil. His eyes become heated as they drop to my mouth. A dirty laugh bursts out of my mouth. “No problem, huh? Are the sounds of pleasure coming out of my mouth turning you on?” I ask him the question as innocently as possible.
He probably wants to strangle me right now.
“I’m making a decision,” he says.
“Interesting.” I smirk. “Carry on.”
“I’m not going to make love to you unless we’re in a bed. No hanky-panky in the ocean or any dark alleys. Bed or nothing else.” He grins popping a piece of bread into his mouth. He slowly eats and washes it down with a sip of white wine. “I need to assure you that I want you for more than your body, and at the moment I seem to have you riding me more than anything else.”
“Is that a complaint?” I ask, narrowing my gaze.
“Hell no! I love every single minute of being with you. I just want to see as much of Florence that we can while we’re here without constantly wanting you naked.”
“We’re adults. I’m sure we’ll manage.”
“We’re adults and we’ve just had sex twice in the ocean … in public.”
My blush heats my cheeks rapidly as the waitress behind Alexander turns tail and runs back inside toward the small bar.
“What?” Alexander asks, turning to look behind him, but of course she’s already gone.
“We’re going to get kicked out,” I grumble, but ruin it with a giggle. “The waitress was standing behind you when you said about sex and the ocean.”
He pauses and groans. “You bring out the excitement in me. Besides, I love you. What more can I say?”
I study him, from the light tan he has, and the flex of his biceps as he moves. His handsome face is still youthful and makes him look younger than twenty-eight. The way his eyes sparkle when he looks at me sends warmth straight to my heart.
Quietly and with a serious expression on my face, I say, “I love you with all my heart, Alexander McKenzie.”
He’s caught off guard by my declaration. I don’t think it’s really the words I’ve spoken, as I’ve said them before, but I think it’s the way I spoke them.
It takes Alexander a few minutes to get himself under control and when he is, he straightens out of his chair and in one large stride he’s stood next to me, he drops to one knee at the side of my chair. He places one hand on my thigh and holds a ring in the other.
Tears form on my lashes at what I think he’s about to do. He smiles and rubs my knee. “I had this fastened to the inside of my pocket, so I wouldn’t lose it in the ocean.” He offers a nervous smile. “I’ve carried it around with me for a long time. Even before Charlotte’s wedding.”
“Oh, Alexander.” I cover my mouth, tears falling from my eyes at what he’s telling me.
“I love you Rachel. I have done for years. Once you’re finished at college and you’re ready, I’d be honored if you’d let me be your husband. I want everything with you, but nothing as much as I want you to be my wife.” He swallows, nervously. “I love you.”
Being with Alexander, it’s something I’ve never had to think about, and I don’t need to think about my answer now either, I fling myself into his arms. He pulls us to our feet and holds me tightly in his embrace.
“Yes, Alexander. I’d be so proud to be your wife, and to call you my husband.”
My lips find his and it isn’t until a throat being cleared interrupts us that we gently pull apart and Alexander
slips the ring onto my finger. He kisses the ring and smiles.
“Congratulations! I am the owner and your meal will be on the house,” the man then speaks rapidly in Italian, giving orders to the servers as he rushes away.
I turn and wink at my handsome fiancé. “You do know how sexy it is to be wearing your ring, right?”
Alexander gives me such a filthy look that I’m not sure how we’ll get through the meal.
25
Alexander
The past week with my fiancée has been amazing and now that we’re heading toward the hotel where our parents are staying, I’m hoping that they’re just as excited about our future as we are.
Rachel is excited to see everyone and to show off her ring, and although I am, I’m also worried about word getting back to Paige before we’ve had chance to talk to her face-to-face. Paige and Olivia are the next ones to be told before the rest of our family. I’m dreading that conversation—or at least the Paige part. Olivia is probably expecting it at some point.
Entering the hotel, Rachel wraps her arms around mine and leans in, kissing my cheek. “Stop worrying. I love you and nothing is going to change that.”
“Can you two please stop in public,” Noah grumbles, pulling Rachel out of my arms and into his.
Ramon appears behind him and takes Rachel for himself, while I smile and greet my own parents. They both look happy and relaxed, which I guess is nothing new with them, but seeing them here in Italy, they look different.
My mother holds me at arms length after we’ve hugged. “You look handsome and in love.”
“I have the same look Dad has whenever he’s around you,” I reply.
Dad shakes his head, his face filled with humor, and love. “Whatever you’re trying to butter your mother up for, it isn’t going to work.” He wraps his arm around Moms waist, keeping her close. His lips brush the top of her head, and I realize that I have exactly what they do—a love that will last through the years.
Blinking the emotion from my eyes, I glance at Rachel and see her eyes already on me. I reach for her hand and tug her back into my arms. “We’re engaged.” From the stunned expressions on their face I think I should have used more tact, but at least Rachel finds it amusing when she giggles against my chest.
“I didn’t mean to just blurt that out.” I loudly exhale. “We’ve loved each other for years, and once Rachel is ready, we’ll get married.”
“And you?” Dad asks.
I look at Rachel while I answer, “I was ready yesterday.”
Mom steps forward and hugs us both, and over her shoulder, I watch as the others grin.
I sigh relieved that’s over with and that they all seem to be happy for us. I do add, “You can’t tell anyone else though, not until we’ve told Paige and Olivia, which we’ll do once we’re back in the states.”
“We want to try and talk to Paige.” Rachel looks between her two Dads. “I need everything right between us.”
Ramon steps forward and wraps his arms around Rachel, while holding my gaze. “Everything will be right between you eventually. Just go easy, okay?”
Frowning, I focus on Rachel and realize my frown matches hers as she asks Ramon, “Have you spoken to her?”
“We have, and she’ll talk to you when you go and see her.” He kisses her on the forehead. “She loves you both, surely you know that?”
“We do. It’s just been difficult accepting her attitude toward us being together, when everyone else is okay with it.”
“Rachel, it was weird for everyone to begin with. You’ve been raised as cousins, so it took a bit of getting used to. But, no one really wants to stand in the way of the people they love, when they fall in love with each other,” Ramon says, glancing at my mom and dad who both nod in agreement.
“Tonight, we’ll celebrate, but now we’re itching to have a look around at the Florentine architecture,” Noah adds.
“And the museums, full of art,” Mom comments.
“We know our way around, so we’ll be your tour guide,” Rachel suggests. “My favorite has to be the narrow streets with houses covered in flowers. It’s so beautiful and something I hope never to forget.”
“Then lead the way, daughter.” Noah urges us from the hotel, taking Rachel from me.
Dad chuckles and wraps his arm over my shoulders while he holds Moms hand on his left. “You do realize that my brother and Noah are going to do their best to keep you both apart today?”
“They can try,” I grumble.
“They will.” Mom shakes her head. “You’ll be able to catch up later.”
Later turned out to be much, much later. Like five hours later when I catch Rachel taking five minutes in the botanical gardens, and what appear to be tears on her face.
Before Noah or Ramon can get to her, I have her face cupped in my hands while I kiss her tears away. “What’s wrong?”
In response she throws herself into my arms and holds on tight while my heart breaks for her sorrow. I feel helpless because I have no clue why she’s so upset. All I can do is rub her back slowly and whisper how much I love her into her ear.
I meet Ramon’s gaze over her shoulder as he approaches, probably to take her from me, but that isn’t going to work this time.
I shake my head in warning, which causes him to pause and frown when he takes a look at his daughter.
“Rachel, please tell me what’s wrong. I hate that you’re so upset, I don’t know how to make it better.”
She sniffles into my shirt and lifts her watery eyes to mine. “Can we go back to our apartment? I don’t want to be here anymore.” Her arms tighten around my neck and she buries her face into the crook of my neck—her comfort place. “I was looking forward to today, and I know my dads were trying to have fun with us, but I hate how they’ve ruined today. I know they didn’t mean to, but they have, and I don’t want to be here with them anymore. I just want it to be us.”
Ramon stands his ground and says gruffly, “I’m sorry Rachel.”
She stills and slowly turns to face him.
“We’d never do anything to upset you, and I’m so sorry we have.” He takes a tentative step toward her. “Forgive us and stay.”
Rachel stays in my arms but nods her head. “Okay.” Turning back to me, she asks, “Do you want to stay?”
I’m torn as I look at her. She might have agreed to her father but I’m not sure it’s what she really wants. At the same time I want to see my parents and eat dinner with them. So I think up a compromise. “We’ll eat an early dinner and then head back, okay?”
Her gaze drops to my shirt and she stays silent, which makes me feel like a fool for forcing her to stay when I know it isn’t really what she wants.
26
Rachel
I feel such a baby crying all over Alexander, but I really have had enough. It’s not really just today, but a few things that finally brought me to tears. I’m missing talking to my sister, and I’m sure the heat is affecting me in some way. I haven’t been sleeping properly because my brain won’t shut down the arguments I’m having in there with Paige. Then today was the icing on the cake really.
I love my dads and I know they were playing with Alexander and I, but they’d unintentionally ruined the day for me. I’d wanted to wander around on Alexander’s arm with our families. That never happened.
Alexander wants to spend time with his parents, which I understand, but I’m too annoyed at mine to want to hang around.
Which is why I’m lying to Alexander for the first time. “I’m going to go and wash up in the restrooms. I’ll catch up to you.”
“I’ll come with you,” he offers.
I shake my head and force the smile to reach my eyes. “You can’t come in with me, so I’d rather catch up to everyone than have you waiting.”
He glances off into the distance to where they wait for us and then back to me. “If you’re sure.”
“I am.” I reach up and kiss his cheek. “I love you.”
Before he can reply, I’m jogging toward the restrooms before I slow to a walk as I approach. Quickly glancing around, I don’t see my family, so I take the path to the right of the restrooms and make my way out of the gardens.
Guilt builds inside of me because I’ve never just up and disappeared on anyone before, but today, I don’t know. Something isn’t right, and I don’t want to be a part of anything right now.
The closer I get to the apartment, the more edgy I become. So I find my phone and message Alexander: Don’t worry about me. X
My phone rings and rings, which I ignore in my pocket, and then a message beeps, followed by another and another.
Letting myself into the apartment, I stand with my back against the closed door and look around wondering what to do next. I should have stayed and faced everyone instead of running away.
I’m not going to lie though—the air conditioning and the peace make it worth coming back here alone. My eyes focus on the unmade bed through the small entryway, and it looks so enticing.
My purse slips out of my hands and then I’m lying on the bed staring up at the ceiling. I take my phone from my pocket and turning onto my side, I open it up to messages from Alexander.
Where are you?
Rachel?
Are you at the apartment?
Rachel, I’m going crazy.
I love you.
Tears come to my eyes and I do something that I’ve avoided until we’re at home; I call my sister.
It takes a few minutes for her to answer but when she does her voice sounds so far away. I mean I know she is, but she sounds different.
“Paige, are you all right?” I ask, concerned.
“I can’t talk to you right now,” she replies and I can’t control the gasp and the tears that fill my eyes again. “Rachel, what’s wrong?” she quickly adds. “I didn’t mean to … I don’t know.” Paige sighs. “I can’t do anything right lately, and now you’ve called me and I’ve made you cry.”
Kissing Cousins (McKenzie Cousins Book 4) Page 11