I freaking love it. You're the sexiest guy on Earth.
I stay silent.
"So you do like it?"
"If you don't mind, I'm trying to concentrate on getting through these waves."
"Oh sorry. I wasn't aware we needed silence."
"I'm taking in nature."
Dirk snorts.
"What?"
"You're not a very good liar, are you?"
"Are you?"
"Asked you first."
"Are we back in school now?"
"It's too bad, we can't go back. I'd kiss you before Juan did so you didn't have the memory of him shoving his tongue down your throat for your first kiss."
That wouldn't have been fair to the rest of the male population. Plus, you would have ruined me for life.
"Aww. But poor Stacy would be jealous when you pulled my hair instead of hers."
"Pretty sure you'd enjoy that too."
Yep, I sure would.
"Ha! So you're a good liar then?"
"I didn't say that."
"Do you lie often?"
"Umm, did we skip the part where I never claimed to be a liar?"
"So you're not a liar?"
"No, I am not," he sternly says.
"Good. Since you only tell the truth, what do you think about when you stare at your arrows in the mirror?"
"What?" he laughs.
"You heard me."
"I think what you just did is considered entrapment."
"Stop avoiding my questions."
"I'm doing nothing of the sort. You're the one who can't stop your dirty thoughts."
You have no idea.
I huff. "Not the one who made a statement with ink."
"Says the girl who designed an outfit that made it look like she was wearing nothing and then had rhinestones over her nipples."
"My costumes—"
"Oh no, you don't. You said you designed your tour outfit."
Can't deny that one.
"I fully appreciated your creativity, though," he teases.
A swell of water pushes us closer to shore.
"It's getting rougher. Are you able to paddle faster for a bit, or do you need a break?" he asks.
"I can go faster."
"Okay. See the fifth dock?"
"Barely."
"Let's try to get past it, and then we can take a break."
We spend the next hour fighting bigger waves, and when we finally get past the dock, my arms are on fire.
"That part of the beach looks like it doesn't belong to anyone. Let's go to shore for a break," Dirk directs.
"Thank goodness. My arms are going to fall off my body."
We get to shore, and he helps me out of the boat. Once the kayak is on shore, Dirk removes the sunscreen from his bag and squirts it in his hands. "Take off your vest."
I remove it.
He steps in front of me. His delicious scent makes my butterflies go crazy, and he gives me a forearm and palm massage that makes my body throb. He concentrates on my face the entire time with a cocky expression on his. "Feel good?"
"Mm-hmm."
He gets more sunscreen and steps closer, so my face is only inches from his pecs. He adds the lotion to my biceps and shoulders and continues kneading all my muscles. He murmurs, "You like this?"
"Mm-hmm."
And since he isn't close enough already, he eliminates any room between us and moves my hair to the side before sliding his hands over my body to my back.
My insides turn to Jell-O.
I could lick his pecs right now.
"What about this?" He pushes his thumbs on both sides of my spine and glides them down to the top of my swimsuit.
"Mm-hmm." I glance down at his arrows.
He spins me, so my back is against his torso. He brings his hands around to my stomach and inches his fingers under the fabric of my suit.
I inhale and freeze.
Oh, God. Please go lower.
He doesn't. "You're a little red here. I don't think I covered you last time. Sorry." His fingers stay barely under my suit, and he continues covering me in the sunscreen. When he's done, he asks, "Want me to get your legs?"
I nod but say, "I'll get it."
He splays his hands on the side of my thighs. "You just nodded."
"Mm-hmm."
"That means yes, but you said you'd get it."
Snap out of it, Zoe.
"Oh, right. No. I'll do it. Thank you."
We quickly both cover our legs in sunscreen, and I take the bottle. "Turn."
After I spend a reasonable amount of time on his back, I step in front of him.
His lips twitch. "Don't forget my tatts."
Against my will, I glance at his arrows.
More cockiness fills his face, and he raises his eyebrows above his glasses.
I slide my hands over his biceps. "Did you just flex your muscle?"
"Nope."
"Pretty sure you did."
He flexes his muscles. "See the difference."
Holy shit.
I shrug like it isn't a big deal. I glide my hands under his rattlesnake pendent and concentrate on his pecs