The Two Week Stand (Sizzling Beach 1)

And honestly, after what I’ve been through, I’ll take that.

I readjust my goggles, put the mouthpiece back in my mouth, and then lower my head into the water.

All is good for a few seconds, and then I breathe in and take a load of water. I lift my head up, coughing and spluttering, yanking the mouthpiece out.

“Argh!” I shove the bloody goggles up to the top of my head.

I’m tempted to pull them off and launch them into the ocean, but I don’t want to get billed for losing them and end up having to pay for a new set for them. I really have no clue how much snorkels and goggles cost.

“Your tube is the wrong way.”

“What?” I turn in the water to find West behind me.

Where the heck did he come from? I thought he’d swum off to explore with the rest of the group. Guess I was wrong.

“Your breathing tube. It’s the wrong way.”

He swims closer, and I find my body tensing in anticipation of his nearness.

“Here.” He takes the breathing bit from me and shows me how the tube is the wrong way. “So, when you go under, the tube is in the water too.”

My cheeks flame red with mortification. “Oh my God. I’m so embarrassed. I’m such an idiot.”

“I’d disagree with you, but …”

I give him a dirty look and splash water at him.

“Hey!” He’s laughing. “You said it! Not me! See, this is why you should listen when the guy on the boat—you know, the expert—is talking, telling you what you need to do.”

“I was listening.” I totally wasn’t. I’ve always had a hard time listening to instructions. Someone starts talking, and I just tune out and go into the stories in my head. My teachers always said I was a dreamer. I wasn’t. I was—am a writer. “Kind of. But you weren’t listening.”

“No, but I’ve snorkeled hundreds of times. You’ve snorkeled …” He gestures his hand for me to finish for him.

“Never,” I say begrudgingly.

“Well, seeing as though I like you, you can stick with me, and I’ll guide you, make sure you don’t drown yourself.”

He likes me?

That’s all I heard in that statement that mattered. I got the rest, and hanging with him for the duration of this trip and not by myself is hardly a hardship.

“You sure you don’t mind? I won’t be holding you back?”

“I’m sure. I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t.”

“Then, I accept your offer.”

He smiles. “First, let’s tighten your goggles a little too. They look like they’re letting in a bit of water.” He swims behind me and starts tightening the elastic strap.

I’m just here, treading water, with his fingers leaving little trails of fire on my head, wherever they touch.

I’ve just had the worst experience a person could have. Caught my mother having an affair with my fiancé, my heart shredded to pieces, and I’m literally on my honeymoon alone, lusting over this guy.

My libido clearly hasn’t gotten the memo.

Or maybe I just wasn’t as into Tim as I thought I was. Maybe I just liked the idea of him more than I actually liked him.

The security he was offering. The way he treated me kindly—until he didn’t.

“All done.”

West’s hands fall to my shoulders. My skin breaks out in goose bumps.

“You ready to snorkel?” His voice is deep and husky in my ear.

I have to suppress a shudder.

I swallow down and say, “Yes.” It comes out a little croaky.

“You sound nervous.”

I turn in the water to face him. His hands fall from my shoulders. It’s definitely easier to think and talk when his hands aren’t on me. Those big hands that covered my shoulders … just imagine what they could do to me …

Okay, so I was wrong. Removing his hands from me didn’t help.

Now, I’m looking into his face because in the water, we’re the same height, and all I can think about is him touching me with those hands and my lips sucking the water droplets from his mouth.

An image of me and him having sex flashes through my mind.

My heart speeds up. I can feel my body heating in response to the thought. I’m in warmish water, but I feel like I’m on fire. I know my neck and chest are flushed because West’s eyes are now on them.

Stupid body gives my thoughts away every time.

His eyes lift, meeting mine with knowledge.

He knows I want him.

We’re already close, but when he tips his head forward, it puts his mouth centimeters from mine.

I gulp down. His breath blows through my parted lips.

I bite down on my lip and try to regain control over my body.

I’m in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and I’m getting aroused over a guy I barely know.

“We’ll snorkel now. We’ll talk about this later.”

This? What’s this?

But I don’t get a chance to ask because he’s swimming away, ducking his head down into the water.