remembered, they were already at the ocean’s edge.
“Put me down, you idiot,” she demanded, trying to wriggle free and escape before he dunked her in the Atlantic. He simply held on more tightly and kept walking.
The icy water skimmed the bottoms of her feet. “It couldn’t be any colder if there were ice cubes in here,” she squealed. “Sean Devaney, put me down right this instant.”
He looked steadily into her eyes. “Now?” he inquired lightly. “You want me to put you down right now?”
Deanna saw the trick, but it was already too late. Sean released her. She hit the water with a splash. It was no more than three feet deep, but she sank into it with a shriek of dismay. It was like stepping under the shower and belatedly realizing that she’d forgotten to turn on the hot water. The shock of cold nearly paralyzed her.
The instant she managed to get on her feet, she brushed her soaking wet hair out of her eyes and faced Sean with a determined look. “You are in so much trouble,” she said.
Her indignation was enough to heat her up as she went after him, diving neatly below the surface and aiming directly for his knees. She took him by surprise, managing to knock him off his feet. Satisfied with her sneak attack, she surfaced just as he stood up, sputtering.
“So, that’s the way you want to play,” he said, a glint in his eyes as he came after her.
Deanna tried to evade his reach, but Sean was quicker. He had her off her feet and in the water before she could plead for mercy. Then Kevin was in the middle of things, splashing them both. When he managed to hit Sean squarely in the face with a handful of water, Deanna saw her chance. She ran for shore.
Sean caught her just before she hit the beach, carried her right back out and sank down in water to his shoulders, still holding her cradled against his chest.
“Ready to concede yet?” he inquired, his gaze locked with hers.
Deanna was aware of every single spot where their bodies were in contact. Given the temperature of the water and the heat they were generating, she was amazed that this part of the Atlantic hadn’t turned into a steam bath. She tried to respond to Sean’s taunt, but she couldn’t seem to form the words, couldn’t even think.
Suddenly Sean’s eyes darkened as if the heat had finally gotten to him, as well. His hand slipped higher, brushing against the already hard bud of her nipple. Even through her suit the sensation shot fiery heat straight through her. His knowing gaze held hers, daring her to protest or move away.
But Deanna didn’t want to move. She wanted that almost innocent caress to last forever, wanted the wild flaring of need to build and build until she was writhing beneath Sean and he was burying himself deep inside her.
Oh, no, she thought with a moan. What was happening to her? She was turning into a bundle of exposed nerves, sensitive to every brush of Sean’s fingers across her flesh. If she could react like this with her son just a few feet away and Sean doing practically nothing, what would happen if he truly set out to seduce her?
“We’re going to finish this one of these days,” he told her quietly, still holding her gaze.
She shuddered at the certainty in his voice. There was little point in denying his claim. They were destined to finish this. They had been for weeks now. Only old fears and uncertainties, which ran deep in both of them, had kept the tide of their wanting in check.
His lips curved. “No argument?”
She solemnly shook her head. “Why waste my breath?”
“Geez, Dee, why not torment me a little more?” he muttered hoarsely. “I thought you’d at least tell me I was crazy to think for one minute that you and I…” His voice trailed off and he glanced toward Kevin who was splashing nearby, safe with his colorful floating device twisted around his waist. “Well, you know.”
Deanna smiled at his attempt at discretion. “I know.” She rested her hand against his cheek, loving the way the combination of stubble, heat and icy salt water felt against her palm.
Eyes locked with hers, he lowered her slowly to her feet, letting her feel the tension in his body, his unmistakable arousal. With water swirling around them up to their waists, he held her tightly against him, rocking