Escorting the Groom (The Escort Collection 4)

That barracuda had scared the bejeebles out of me.

But what was even worse? The way I'd clung to Lucas as if he was the last life preserver on Earth. I never depended on anyone but myself. I'd learned the hard way that was the only way to make it through this world. But I'd been playing a dangerous game these last few days, and it was starting to catch up to me.

Once we'd gotten home, Lucas had put me in the shower and washed my hair. He was tender with his attention, taking care of me. He must've asked me ten times if I was really okay. I was okay with the barracuda—and I was totally serious about putting a spear in the thing myself—but I was not okay with what was going on inside of me.

I didn't want to be away from Lucas. I wanted to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner with him. I wanted to sit on his lap. I wanted him inside me all the time. I had an undeniable craving for his body. We'd been having sex until I was sore, but still, it wasn't enough.

After we showered and Lucas watched me dry my hair, claiming he didn't want to leave me alone, he led me to bed. "Let's just watch a movie and chill for a little while," he said. "I think we've had enough excitement for one day."

"Okay," I said agreeably. But the fire raging between my legs told a different story—I was, in fact, ready for more excitement. I dropped the towel on the floor and climbed, naked, onto the bed.

"What are you doing?" he asked, watching me with hooded eyes.

"Relaxing." I crawled up toward where he was propped up on the bed and straddled him. I could feel him, already hard and thick beneath me.

"You need to rest." He attempted to gently lift me from his lap, but I clamped my thighs against him stubbornly.

"Don't make such a big deal out of it. I'm fine."

He took a lock of my hair in between his fingers and stroked it. "I was worried about you," he said in a soft voice. "When I saw you go back underwater… it was scary."

I leaned forward and kissed his nose. "Then maybe you're the one who needs to relax."

He smiled at me, his dimple showing. "I think I'm recovered enough."

I arched an eyebrow at him. "Enough for what?"

He put his hands on my ass and pulled me forward so that his erection rubbed me through his mesh shorts. "I think you know, Blakey."

"If you weren't so handsome and well-endowed, you'd seriously be bugging me with that nickname by now."

"Lucky for me," Lucas said in a teasing tone.

"And me." I grinned at him then leaned in for a lingering kiss. Our tongues connected gently at first and then with more urgency.

I pulled his shorts off and arranged our naked bodies against each other. We both practically sighed in relief. This felt right. As I slid his cock into me and started to ride him, pleasure ripped through me. And I realized one thing: this felt too good to be true.

But I was going to let myself have it, even if it was just for right now.

LUCAS

We went back to French Cay the next day.

"You sure you want to go back in there?" Billy asked Blake, his eyes searching hers. "I can take you over to Smith's Reef. We can snorkel right from the beach."

"I need to get over my fear," she said bravely. "We're in paradise, right? What good is it if I'm too afraid to explore the world around me? I live in Boston, for Christ's sake. It's freezing there ninety percent of the time."

With that, Blake pulled her mask down, stepped up on the edge of the boat in her flippers, and jumped into the water.

"Do you want me to come in?" the captain asked me, watching for Blake below.

"I got her." I think. I jumped in the water after her, and my heart rate was already skyrocketing. Blake was determined, that was for damn sure. I adjusted my snorkel and went underwater. She was right below the surface, looking at a rainbow fish. When she saw me, she smiled, and it felt like the sun coming out. Heavenly.

She reached out for my hand, and I took it. Then we swam together, like newlyweds, to explore the reef.

There wasn't a barracuda in sight. The captain said he knew the one we'd seen the day before—his nickname was Dwayne and he was often spotted near this reef. I looked around the water for him, but he never came out.

Someday, Dwayne, I thought.