Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Yeah, I wasn’t sure either.” I grab my bag from the couch I was sitting on, and he takes it from me, catching me off guard. “So—” I look around. “—do you want to hang by the pool, or do you want to go down to the beach?”
“I’m good with whatever you want to do.”
“The beach it is,” I mutter, then with him at my side and his hand burning through the thin material of my cover-up right above my ass, I lead him through the hotel and down to the beach. It takes some time to get two loungers together, and really, the only reason we do is because he carries one halfway down the sand to where there’s another one that’s free. And even when I ask if I can carry our bags, he denies me, which is sweet in a way I’m not used to.
“Do you wanna go in the water?” he asks after we get ourselves set up.
“Sure.” I take off my cover-up and toss it on the lounge chair, then grab my sunblock and start applying it.
“Do you want some?” I ask before I toss the tube of it back in my bag, and look at him over my shoulder. My skin heats when I realize his eyes are on my ass that is completely exposed. The one-piece bathing suit I have on is one that looks completely modest from the front, but in the back, it’s curved low, exposing my entire spine, with a thong that is cut high.
Clearing his throat, his heated gaze meets mine. “I’m good for now.”
“Did you already apply? Skin cancer is not something to play with,” I nervously ramble, and he smiles before taking off his shirt.
“I’m protected.” He tosses his shirt away while I try—really try—to take my eyes off him. It’s impossible. He’s gorgeous, all smooth, tan skin covered with ink that looks like individual pieces of art that blend together perfectly. “Ready?”
“Yep,” I lie, dropping the bottle in my hand into my bag before starting toward the water.
Unlike when we were walking down here from the lobby, he doesn’t stay at my side. He walks behind me, making me even more nervous. I should’ve thought about changing my suit, but even if I did, none of my others are any better. Actually, they probably show even more skin, since they’re all bikinis.
We wade into the water, and when it’s up to my waist, he moves to my side. I look out at the view and drag in a deep breath as I take it all in—the sand between my toes, the sun warm on my skin, and the cool water brushing against my heated flesh like a soft caress.
“It’s so beautiful here.”
“It is,” he agrees, and I glance up at him. Like in all those cheesy romance movies my mom loves so much, he’s not looking at the view; his eyes are on me. My face warms along with the rest of me, and I walk farther out into the clear sea to cool down.
“I know you’re here and that you’re American from your accent, but are you just visiting?” I ask to fill the silence.
“I’m here on vacation for a few days, but I travel all over Europe for work,” he replies.
“Really?”
“Really.” He grabs hold of me around the waist when a wave rushes in, almost knocking me over.
“Thanks,” I whisper, and look up at him. Jeez, he’s tall. I already knew that when I was in my heels on the plane, but standing out here with him, he seems like a giant. His fingers dig into my hips where he’s still holding me, and I realize I’ve been trapped by his gaze once again. Ducking my head, I take a step back, and his hands fall away. “So, what do you do for work?”
“I’m a diver.”
“That’s a job?” My brows dart together as I glance up at him.
“Yeah.” He laughs. “Me and my crew salvage wreckage and, on occasion, work on pipelines or on ships that need to be repaired while at sea.”
“I guess I never thought about that being a thing actual humans did for work.” I tip my head to the side. “That has to be pretty dangerous.”
“No more than traveling in a plane every day.”
“Flying is actually a lot safer than people think it is,” I mumble, not sure that I agree with him.
“You don’t have to convince me. I go into everything in my life understanding the risk,” he says quietly as I retie my hair I feel falling out of the bun I have it in. The intensity in the way he watches is unsettling and does nothing to help my nerves that are wrapped up so tight I feel like I might come out of my skin.
“So, the two guys with you…?” I let the question hang.