later, after he gives you all the orgasms I know a man with that body is capable of.”
***
I tried to get back to relaxing, but it wasn’t easy.
The water was calm today, so we’d brought out a few tube floats and tied them to an anchor on the beach with a long towrope. Slow and steady waves had started to rock me to sleep as I floated and soaked up the sun.
Until I heard his laugh.
I looked to the shoreline, though I didn’t really need to confirm who it was. My body tingled an alert. Ford had just come down to the beach and planted himself in the chair I’d been sitting in next to Eve and Tom. I felt six eyes bore into me as I floated. And I was pretty sure Eve was about to start an inappropriate discussion, if she hadn’t already. So I turned my face back to the sun, took a deep, cleansing breath, and concentrated on relaxing. The sound of the water breaking against the sand drowned out their voices, and after a little while, I started to drift off again.
Until suddenly I flew up in the air and splashed back down into the water.
“What the…” I pushed wet hair out of my face and spit out a mouthful of salty ocean.
Ford looked pretty damn proud of himself. He held the float I’d just been napping on in one hand. The jackass had snuck up and flipped my tube over, with me still in it.
He sported an ear-to-ear grin. “It’s hot out. I thought you could use some cooling off.”
I splashed water at him. “I was enjoying the peace.”
“You looked bored.”
I glared at him. At least I tried to, though I wasn’t actually that upset. “I didn’t sleep well last night. A little nap would have been nice.”
Ford flashed a smug smile and moved toward me. “Why didn’t you sleep well?”
I splashed more water at him as I backed up. “Go away.”
His smile grew wider. “Tell me why you didn’t sleep well, and I’ll go away.”
I splashed him again. He chuckled and lunged for me. Grabbing me by the waist, he lifted me out of the water and up into the air over his head. I screeched for him to put me down.
“Tell me.”
“Put me down so I can kick your ass.”
“What was that? Did you say dunk me?”
I tried to wiggle out of his grip. “Don’t you dare!”
I’d barely finished the sentence when he plunged me into the water. Then just as fast as he’d dunked me, he lifted me back out. Only this time when he lifted me, my slippery body slid from his hands. I attempted to run out of his reach, but before I could get any momentum going, he pulled me back. His arms wrapped around my waist, and he hauled me up against his chest.
I flailed and tried to sound pissed off, but it was difficult to pull off an angry tone while smiling. “I’m seriously going to kick your ass.”
“Yeah? That should be fun to watch.”
I attempted to unclasp his arms from around my waist, but his fingers were too damn strong. He leaned down and rested his head on my shoulder, almost whispering he said, “Stop fighting it, Valentina.”
I didn’t think he was referring to our playing around in the water. “I can’t believe you just tossed me off my raft and dunked me.”
He bear hugged me from behind. “I’m sorry. That was wrong of me. Let’s kiss and make up.”
I laughed. “You’re such a jerk.”
As fucked up as it was, I had the strongest urge to turn around, wrap my hands around his neck, legs around his waist, and climb him like a koala bear does a tree.
I didn’t. Though I allowed myself to enjoy the feeling of being wrapped in his strong arms.
I stopped struggling, and Ford whispered in my ear. “See? It’s not so hard to stop fighting it.”
I leaned my head back against his chest and closed my eyes. It felt so good; I honestly wasn’t sure how much fight I had left in me.
***
I lay on my stomach, watching two little girls make a sandcastle twenty feet away. “I remember the first time our families met on the beach. Ryan wasn’t much older than them.”
Eve and Tom had gone up to the house to shower, and Ford sat in a chair next to me.
He stood. “Scoot over a little.”
My blanket was big enough for two, although I’d been lying in the