Lies Beneath the Surface (Buried Secrets 2)
He lays me back gently against the bed, then hovers over my side carefully. Grazing his calloused finger tips over my heated flesh, my lips part forming an “O” as my eyes flutter closed. His mouth crashes down onto mine as he swallows my sigh, gently scraping his teeth over my bottom lip. He trails feather-light kisses down my cheek and across my shoulder. His touch is ever so soft and gentle that a shiver snakes up my spine. He caresses my body tenderly, not one inch of my skin untouched.
I can faintly hear the lyrics of I Melt by Rascal Flatts through the sound of the ocean kissing the shoreline. Tangled in his arms, he pours all his love into me passionately, until the morning sun rises.
Chapter 31
“Get outta the boat, darlin’.”
“Hell, NO.” I argue, laughing nervously as I grip the ladder in my fist.
“Carly Jo, have I ever let anything happen to ya?” I shake my head from side to side as I roll my lip between my teeth. “No. Now get your cute little ass in the water now.” He says firmly. Wrapping his arm around my waist, I squeal loudly as he pulls me towards him, falling back into the ocean. “See, darlin’. Told ya you ain’t got nothin’ to be worried ‘bout. The sea is calm this evenin’.”
“I love the beach, Colton. But I’m nervous as hell in the ocean. I can’t see the frickin’ shore!” Burying my face in his chest, I keep a firm grip around his neck as we tread water lazily. We’ve been out to sea for a few hours. Colton fished, while I laid under the sweltering sun, reading. Moving closer inland, Colton swore he saw dolphins and got the hankerin’ to go for a swim.
“Darlin’, how many times can you say you swam with dolphins in your life?”
“None?” My voice shakes.
“Exactly, just enjoy it. We’ll get back on the boat in a few minutes. Just wrap your legs around me and relax.” Just as I begin to argue, Colton presses two fingers to my lips as he cocks an eyebrow up at me. “Ah-ah. Calm down. Have a little faith.”
Doing as he says, my breathing skitters through my chest with trepidation. I’ve never been so far out in the ocean. Being surrounded by water as far as the eye can see causes my heart to leap into my throat with fear. But I know that I’m safe with Colton, so I try to free my inhibitions and enjoy the moment. Just as he promised, we swim with the dolphins. Well, dolphins swim around us, and beneath us, but the experience itself is simply ama
zing. Being in their habitat, experiencing the world from their view, is beyond breath taking.
Colton helps me back up the ladder, watching each slippery step carefully. Climbing onboard, he dries off and changes into dry clothes before starting the engine and cruising back to shore. The evening sun is fading into the distance, and beautiful hues of pink, orange and yellow blanket the sky. The breeze is cool, and I wrap myself in a towel securely as my sun kissed skin begins to shiver. Colton takes the rolling waves with ease, maneuvering us safely from the ocean waters to the inlets. When land falls within my vision, I breathe a little easier than I have all day.
My shoulders slump and I relax into the captain seat as a soothing calm washes over me and I begin to reflect the last few days. Our honeymoon has been amazingly blissful. We spent the first day in bed, passionately devouring each other relentlessly. The next couple days we laid on the beach, just relaxing and enjoying the sun. Colton has been itching to deep sea fish, but it took me all week to work up the courage to get on the boat. Thousands of negative thoughts filled my mind. What if I get sea sick? What if the boat runs outta gas? What if the boat capsizes? After days of pouting and some devious persuasion, I finally gave in and climbed aboard.
I won’t lie, watching the land fade into the distance behind me nearly caused a coronary. My chest swelled with anxiety and I think I held my breath for a few seconds. Once we were at sea, and I realized the waters were calm and gentle I let my guard down momentarily and enjoyed the day. I was fine as long as my feet were firmly planted on the dock of the boat. I would have never got in the ocean had Colton not dragged me in, but I put my faith in him, and together we experienced a beautiful moment that we will never forget. We’ve only been married for five days, but our love has grown by leaps and bounds in those few short days.
After tying up the boat, Colton steps up to the dock, then takes my hand in his and helps me from the boat. He wraps his hand around my hip and leads me up to the house. “If you wanna relax, darlin’, I’ll throw some food on the grill.”
“Sounds good, baby. I’m gonna jump in the shower. I’ll be down shortly.” He presses a swift kiss to my lips then swats my ass as I walk away. I waddle up the steps to the bathroom. Adjusting the faucet to a mild temperature, I step in the shower and flinch as the water cascades over my sensitive, sunkissed skin. I wash the sea salt from my hair and wash quickly, so I’m not causing supper to be late. Drying off, I leave my hair down and pull on a simple sun dress before meeting Colton on the back deck.
He’s sitting at the table with his legs stretched forward, completely relaxed in his chair as he watches the tide roll in. Walking around the table he pulls me into his lap and buries his face in my hair. He inhales deep, and a low moan rumbles through his chest.
“Supper ready, baby?” He pats my hip and I stand up, taking a seat next to his.
“I was enjoyin’ the moment.” He grunts as he fixes our plates.
He grilled primerib and corn on the cob. We eat together quietly, then after clearing the table, Colton pulls me back into his lap.
“This has been an unbelievable few weeks.” Colton says looking out at the night sky.
“Yeah and I hate to see it come to an end.”
“Damn it, don’t remind me, woman.” He laughs.
We talk about our favorite moments over our wedding and honeymoon. So many memories made. Standing up he places my feet on the wood planks and wraps his arms around my hips. “Dance with me, darlin’.” He croons against my ear.
“Baby, there’s no music.” I remind him.
He cradles my face in his hands and presses a chaste kiss to my lips. “Just listen to my heart beat, darlin’.” I melt into his chest and my knees quiver beneath me. We sway together to the steady rhythm of our beating hearts, the only other audible noise around us the swooshing of the waves.
Colton hums low in his throat and his hands begin to wander up and down the contours of my back to the swells of my ass. He trails his hand up the side of my face, and peers down into my eyes hungrily. His lips find mine and he kisses me with an instense fervor. He wraps his arms around my knees and lifts me to cradle in his arms. He charges through the back door and to the stair case, where I begin to squirm in his arms. “Put me down!” I squeal against his throat and he groans deeper. I’m seven months pregnant and he’s insisting on packin’ my fat ass up a flight of stairs. And for what, sex appeal? I try to stifle my faint laughter by covering my mouth with my hand. He cocks his eyebrow up at me in amusement, shakes his head from side to side then charges up the steps taking two at a time. Hot DAMN.
After Colton’s swift detour up the stairs my brain is in an unadulterated haze, tongue hanging from the side of the mouth, drooling over my husband. Colton winks and a devious grin twitches on his lip. He kicks the door open and sets my feet to the floor after carrying me through the entryway. Gripping my hips firmly in his steel hands he pulls me as close to his chest as he can get me, breathing a hot sultry breath against my face. Sliding his finger through the strap of my dress he says, “I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout this for days, and I just can’t get it outta my mind.”
“What?” I ask outta curiousity.