Though Alex could barely look at the lounge chairs without thinking about Kendall riding his cock on one the other night. He clenched his jaw and adjusted his shorts. Relaxation. Right. Somehow, it had seemed like a good enough idea when he mentioned it, but now he had a full day laid out ahead of him and he was supposed to… sun himself?
What the fuck was he even doing here?
A flash of pink farther down the beach caught his eye and Alex went still. Even at this distance, he knew that body, had kissed his way along the curve of her waist, had gripped her lithe thighs, had buried his face in her now-barely-concealed pussy. Kendall.
He started for her without having any intention of doing so. With each step, more details came into focus. The bright pink bikini that stood out against her pale skin. How little those scraps of fabric covered. The curves of her ass were mostly left bare, the suit cutting up in almost a V to its ties. She turned to say something to the pretty Asian woman next to her and he got a good look at the front of it.
Fuck.
The suit dipped so low in the front, he could almost see her pussy. And the top’s triangles looked in danger of sliding out of place with one wrong move. He simultaneously wanted to throw a towel over her and fall to his knees and worship her right here and now.
He should stop. Should turn around. Should walk away until he had control of himself, until he was sure he could act right in an interaction with her.
Alex didn’t do any of those things. He marched up to her, stepping between her and the sun, and growled. “You didn’t say goodbye this morning.”
“Ah!” Kendall jumped and, Jesus, he thought he might have to lunge forward to cover her breasts from a wardrobe malfunction before anyone saw. Thankfully—wretchedly—the fabric stayed in place. She took a step back and her hands fluttered at her sides. “Oh. Alex. It’s you.”
He had absolutely no reason to be annoyed at her response. None at all. But he couldn’t help wanting some fucking acknowledgement. Something to indicate she was as messed up over him as he was over her. He turned to her friend and held out a hand. “We didn’t meet propertly before. I’m Alex.”
“Grace,” she said slowly and gave him a solid handshake.
“Need some help setting up?”
She looked between them and arched her eyebrows. “Actually, I think I’m going to find a drink. I’ll be back… in fifteen minutes or so.”
“Traitor,” Kendall hissed.
And, yeah, that annoyed the shit out of Alex. First she snuck out, leaving that vague ass note, and now she obviously didn’t want to be alone with him. He started to say it was fine, that he’d leave, but Grace was gone before he had a chance, her confident stride creating distance between them quickly. He turned back to Kendall and crossed his arms over his chest. “You left.”
“I left you a note.” She looked around like she expected an audience to gather, but no one was paying them the least bit of attention. “I’m trying to be reasonable.”
This should be good. “Reasonable.”
“Yes, reasonable. I booked this trip to reconnect with friends, and I’ve spent most of the time with you.” She propped her hands on her hips, and it was everything he could do to keep his gaze on her face. “Look, at the end of this you’re going back to Dawson’s Creek and I’m going back to New York, and while that is good and fine and whatever, I like being with you a lot and I needed some distance to get my head on straight.”
Because she was falling for him.
Just like he was falling for her.
The realization should send him running for the hills. He knew what came after that initial blissful time. Reality. Shit would happen, life would worm its way through the cracks, and she’d realize this was all a mistake and leave. Then he’d be left picking up the pieces yet again. There were no guarantees in the future, nothing except the simple truth that the wheel always turned and it always sent people he cared about scattering before it. Away from him.
Even as he laid out all the reasons he should turn around and walk away, Alex planted his feet. “Did it work?”
She blinked. “Did what work?”
“The distance. Did it get your head on straight?” He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Or did you pick out that bikini hoping I’d see you in it and lose my fucking mind?”
She tugged at the ties of her bottoms, as if that would do a damn thing to cover her more. “I bought this before I knew you.”
That, he believed. “Did you wear it before today?”