“You don’t want to spend the rest of the honeymoon hiding indoors because your skin burns. Sunscreen. Now.”
She stilled, turning around with a pout. “Fine. But as punishment, you have to rub sunscreen on me everywhere.”
In what world did she think that was a punishment? All right, maybe it was, just not in the way she believed.
I was very thorough. I started by rubbing it into her ankles and calves, massaging her legs up to her thighs. I was sitting on a lounge chair and Josie was standing between my open thighs. My head was level with her navel, and then her breasts as I rubbed the cream on her stomach.
How I’d lavish them with attention, suck on those nipples until she squirmed, begging for more, begging for release. I tried to keep my gaze on her belly, but when I moved on to massage the cream on her neck, I couldn’t ignore the way her nipples had turned hard, peeking through the fabric.
I was turning her on. Fuck. I glanced up at her, but she only met my gaze for a fraction of a second before turning around.
“And now my back, please.” Her voice was husky. Her breaths were more labored.
Don’t read anything into it. You just had your hands all over her and weren’t being quick about it. Of course, her body reacted.
After I finished, I applied cream on myself, only asking Josie to help with my back, and then we darted into the water.
“This is amazing. How can it be so clear?”
It was one of the most scenic views I’d had the privilege to see, and experiencing it with Josie only made it more special. She half swam, half walked, observing the little multicolored fish swimming around.
“Holy shit, that’s a shark?” she shrieked.
“It’s a small one. Native to these waters. Completely harmless,” I assured her.
“How do you know?”
“Apparently I was more thorough in my research than you were in yours.”
“Hmpf. You’re sure they’re harmless? Even if their teeth are proportionally smaller, they can still do some damage.”
I saw an opportunity for teasing right there and then. Or maybe I was just looking for an excuse to touch her again. I placed my hands on her shoulders, pulling her closer.
“How exactly do you imagine you’ll get through scuba diving? You’re going to get close to large fish. Some might have teeth. Some might even be dangerous.”
“Yes, but there will be a pro with me, so I’ll be safe.”
“I see. So, the sharks aren’t the problem here. I am. I’m offended.”
She grinned, playfully patting my cheek. “You’ll get over it.”
“Josie, you don’t honestly think I’d risk anything happening to you, do you?”
Her shoulders relaxed. “You wouldn’t... normally. But here’s the thing. You’re more afraid of wildlife than I am. If something really attacked you, I bet you’d save your own sorry ass.”
“You calling me a coward?”
“Yes, sir, I am.”
Before she could guess my intention, I started tickling her armpits.
She gave an adorable shriek, and I wrestled her to the beach, tumbling with her onto the wet sand. The movement freed her from my other arm, and Josie seized the chance. She gave as good as she got. Her laughter was contagious. Pure happiness, pure relaxation. I wanted to give her more of this. Wanted to give her a reason to laugh like that every day.
I stopped her the only way I knew how—with a kiss. I pinned her wrists above her head, holding them captive with my hands. I’d intended just to surprise her long enough for her to stop tickling me, but as usual, I got completely wrapped up in her.
What I’d do to this woman if she belonged to me. I’d always known that Josie was sexy, but this pushed me to the very edge of my self-control.
I deepened the kiss, trailing my fingers down the side of her body until she moaned against my lips.