Hot 4 (Multiple Love)

“Oh, I’m planning to,” I say. “But thank you very much in advance for everything.”

7

After wishing Natalie, Mason, Max, and Miller a perfect honeymoon, my boys get caught up talking to their dad, Blake. He almost invites himself to the beach, but they somehow manage to convince him to spend some time with his brother, Conrad, instead.

“Quick,” Holden hisses. “Let’s get out of here.” He grabs my bag from the floor and shoves it at me, taking hold of my elbow and practically frog marching me from the restaurant. His brothers follow behind us, laughing. Holden must know a shortcut to the beach because one minute we’re on a hotel path shaded by plants trailed over wooden pergolas, and the next minute, my feet hit hot white sand.

“This place is so beautiful,” Karter says. “I mean, just look at the ocean.”

I follow his gaze, finding the most tranquil looking, sparkling waves lapping at the shore. It’s an image I’ve only ever seen on the front of a holiday brochure, and I always thought those pictures were color enhanced. No wonder Natalie loves this place so much.

“There are some free sunbeds over there,” Harris says, pointing further down the beach. There are four beds and two umbrellas, which isn’t quite enough, but it will do. I don’t mind perching on the edge of a bed, or better still, lying on the shore with the sea lapping at my feet. I’ve always wanted to do that in somewhere more exciting than Florida.

The boys are more thoughtful than that, though, insisting that I take a bed and Kane and Karter share. In a second, the twins are stripping off and running into the sea, kicking up white foamy splashes behind themselves.

“You need to put on some sunscreen,” Harris calls after them. “Seriously, do I always have to play mom to these guys.”

Holden shakes his head as he straightens his bright orange beach towel. “That’s what comes with being older.”

I hadn’t really thought about which set of Banbury twins was the oldest before. “Who’s the oldest out of you two?”

“Holden,” Harris says. “Can’t you tell? He just has to be in charge.”

“Someone’s got to keep you reprobates on the straight and narrow.”

“Yeah, well, we are all grown now.” Harris begins to apply sunscreen to his shoulders and chest, his back neglected.

“I can do that for you,” I say.

Harris holds out the bottle, and I pour a little into my palm, smoothing it across his broad, muscular back. With every swipe, a frisson of electricity runs from my palm to my brain and then directly between my thighs. As I dip lower to the small of his back, I get a crazy urge to kiss him between the shoulder blades. Even though it feels intimate to slide my fingers beneath the waistband of his swim shorts, I do. There’s nothing worse than burning along the often-neglected edges of swimwear. Harris shivers against my fingertips, hanging his head as though the sensations have surged up his spine.

“You need to stop now,” he says huskily, turning and taking hold of my hand. He brings it to his lips and kisses it softly like we’re characters in Jane Eyre.

“What if I don’t want to,” I say, holding his crystalline gaze.

Harris turns to Holden. “Remind me why we’re at the beach right now and not somewhere private with this beautiful woman.”

Holden runs his hand over his severely cropped hair, his brow furrowed. Shaking his head, he mutters, “I have no fucking idea.”

“It’s Karter’s fault. Look at him.” Harris nods to where his brother is currently swimming into the depths. “He’s always been like a fish. He hates swimming pools and loves open water.”

“I think it’s nice he wanted us to come out today. I have a feeling he was thinking about me having a chance to get to know you all better.”

“Probably. Karter seems to read the very heart of people. He always knows when something is wrong. Most of the time, me and Holden are clueless.”

“Not clueless. Just no-nonsense. People should just be upfront with how they feel. What’s the point in hiding things and then blaming other people when they can’t read your mind?”

“Exactly.” Harris smiles down at me. “Anyway, we’re here now. Time to return the favor.” He holds out the bottle in his hand.

I slide the straps of my dress over my shoulders and allow it to drop to the sand. Harris’s eyes scan my body, and he nods his head approvingly. I turn, moving my hair to the side so that he has access to my back. I’m expecting him to tip some cream into his hand, but instead, he steps closer, running the point of just one finger along the slope of my shoulder, sending shivers up my spine. He’s getting his own back. “Are you sure you don’t need me to rub cream on your front? You know you can go topless here.” His finger trails over the ball of my shoulder and along the swell of my breast.