Addicted

"Beautiful," I murmured and wrapped my arms around myself tightly. The breeze had gotten a lot colder after the sun left the sky, and I'd dressed like it was going to be blazing hot. Showing off a little bit of skin had seemed like a proper way to tease Brody, anyway. The afternoon before had been intense, delicious, addictive.

While I knew hooking up with him was a bad idea on far too many levels, I figured it was going to happen, no matter what. There was too much chemistry between us, and my dreams the night before of his hands all over me left my desire far too heightened to ignore it.

"You cold?" He moved close to me on the boat and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. His skin was warm, surprisingly enough.

"Yeah, a little." I smiled over at him as another firework lit up the sky.

He brushed his lips by my shoulder and smiled. "How in the world are you cold? It's hot as hell out here."

I laughed and turned my attention back to the sky. "Maybe I need to go back to the house and get a coat before we all head to the beach front."

"I have one in the-”

"I want mine." I turned my face toward his, locking eyes with him. "In my be

droom. It's on the floor, just beside a pile of clothes I discarded this afternoon in a hurry."

"What? Oh. Oh...yeah. We should get your coat." He licked at his lips as his hand tightened around my side, tugging me closer.

I leaned in and brushed my lips by his, grateful that he got my hint. I wanted time alone with him. We'd been with our friends nonstop over the last week and a half. After yesterday afternoon's teaser, I was ready to dive in and explore his abilities in the bedroom.

Brody reached up and gripped the side of my face, pulling me in for a longer, more probing kiss. My heart was racing in my chest by the time he moved back. His eyes moved across my face slowly as a smile lifted his lips.

"Well, I guess that was it." Clay dropped down on the other side of Brody. "What now, guys? Are we wanting to go over to the beach where the party is tonight?"

"Yeah, that sounds great, but take us back to the dock. Cora and I will walk over there later to meet up with you guys. She wants to grab her coat." Brody released my face, but kept his strong arm locked around my body.

"Coat?" Dedra laughed. "It's burning up out here."

"Not to me." I pulled my legs up and wrapped my arms around them as I looked over at Clay. "Is that okay? I know it's a lot of trouble, but I'd be grateful."

"It's no trouble, at all." Clay's expression softened as he got up and moved back.

"A coat?" Dedra nudged me in the side. "Really?"

Brody moved back and walked toward Daniel as I turned to Dee. "No, silly. I want time with him at the house."

"At the-” Her eyes widened a little. "Oh. Oh, yeah. We gotta get your coat. And tomorrow, I better get every juicy detail of that adventure."

I laughed, unable to help myself.

My friends had no modesty at all, and I loved them for it. I turned and stood up, stretching as I let my eyes move across the lake. There were a zillion boats. Getting back to the shore was going to be a huge pain in the ass; swimming back over there would have been easier, but far too dangerous. Besides, Brody hadn't been kidding. The size of that alligator a few nights back left me not willing to stick a toe in the water anymore, much less dive in headfirst in the dark.

"This should be tricky, but we'll get back over there," Daniel called out. "Just get around the side of the boat, guys, and help me make sure we don't get too close to anyone."

"Turn on the trolling motor and take it slow." Clay moved up beside Daniel as he glanced around. "Why aren't these people moving? It seems like everyone would be headed to the beach or somewhere."

"Maybe there is another round of fireworks?" Cindy asked.

"I don't know, but we can watch them from the beach." Brody moved up beside me at the front and glanced to his right. "Let's go before it starts. That'll just piss people off."

"True," I mumbled and watched for Daniel getting the boat too close to anyone off my side. We made it back to the dock about twenty minutes later when it should have taken two. I almost felt bad being so high maintenance, which wasn't me, at all. Funny enough, no one seemed to mind too much.

We made our way to the back of the boat, and the boys got off first before helping each of us get up to the dock. I smiled at Derek, who pulled me up with ease.

"Thanks."

"Anytime, pretty girl." He winked and moved toward Cindy.