The Daddy Box Set

Later that night, James wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest. My arms draped over him, and our legs twined together. Our breathing had long since slowed, and my body felt like it had been hit by a train. In the best possible way.

My train was sexy and thoughtful and attentive and intelligent. I still didn’t quite know what was happening between us, but I knew that he wanted it, too.

Wrapped up in his arms, I knew that our problems weren’t gone. At least for now, however, it felt like we could handle them.

Chapter Twenty-Three

James

Gabrielle squealed with joy as I tackled her to the sand, rolling us so that she landed on top of me.

“Say that you’ll try it,” I demanded. Her hair fell in soft waves around us, blocking out the world. Her eyes danced with mischief as they locked with mine.

“Never,” she breathed, her wet bikini heaving against my chest. “I hate heights, James. How about scuba diving instead?”

“You want me to go down to all the creepy crawly shit?” I feigned horror, my eyes wide.

“You love going down.” That much was true. I couldn’t get enough of Gabrielle.

“On you,” I stated the obvious. “The unknown depths of the ocean? Did you not see Jaws?”

She rolled her eyes at me and bent her head to kiss me. “I’ll protect you.”

“From a genetically engineered shark? I think I’ll pass.” I was actually willing to try scuba diving, but I still wanted her to go skydiving with me.

“Fair point, but at least we’d go together. That’d be something. The dolphin that got eaten by the genetically engineered shark with that girl who was about to take the bar.” Her eyes crinkled as she laughed.

I tucked her hair behind her ear and planted a kiss on her collarbone. “You are so much more than the ‘girl who was about to take the bar.’ If they made a movie about our untimely, grisly demise, the girl who plays you would be the main character.”

She punched my arm and rolled off of me. “Gee, thanks. While you’re thinking about scuba diving, wanna give me another go at the jet skis?”

I cocked an eyebrow at her. “Are you sure that you’re ready to face that level of defeat again?”

“Oh, I plan on schooling your ass this time, Mr. Skye.” She brushed the sand off her body as she stood. Her ass jiggled in the most delicious way. Blood surged to my cock.

That motel beckoned to me again, but first, we were going to hit play on the race she’d paused the first time that we’d gone jet skiing. “Are you now? I’d like to see you try, Ms. Ralls.”

She ran all the way to the man renting the jet skis, gestured to me, accepted her life jacket, and then mounted her jet ski with the expertise that she’d shown the last time. She gunned the throttle before I’d made a single move towards the stand.

I stood watching her for a second, transfixed by her. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, then jogged to grab my own life jacket and jet ski.

She shrieked as I came up behind her. “Motherfucker, how are you so fast?”

“I have many hidden talents that I’d be willing to demonstrate for you. For instance, did you know that I can juggle?” Her jaw dropped at the exact moment that I spun and raised my prop to send a shower of water over her.

“You asshole,” she sputtered as she laughed.

She took off, her delicate wrist pulling the throttle all the way back. The jet ski skidded on the wake of an incoming ski boat, and she lost control, flying into the air and landing with hardly a splash in the water.

My heart pounded in my chest as I raced over. I couldn’t breathe. My mind swirled until I saw her curls break water. She laughed and swam toward her jet ski. It had cut out when she’d been flung from it.

I angled to her carefully, not wanting to make any extra waves for her to deal with. Worry clouded my vision. I couldn’t think straight. She looked fine, but I wouldn’t believe it until I heard her say it. “You okay, Gabbi?”

“I’m fine, babe. Really, the wake just caught me off guard. Don’t worry about it.” Icy fingers clutched at my heart as she called me babe. It just seemed so easy. I knew I should not be feeling these kinds of things. Especially not with Gabrielle.

We played around for another hour or so before I decided that it was time to break for lunch.

“Only if it means that we’re even,” she insisted.