“I know because you’re doing it to me, too. Touch me,” she whispered.
She didn’t have to ask twice. He claimed her in a punishingly intense kiss that lit her up from the inside out as he carried her into shallow water and sat on the ocean floor with her straddling his lap, the water lapping at their chests. They kissed urgently and frenzied as he untied her bathing suit and pulled the top down, palming one breast. Electricity arced through her at the feel of his rough hand on her. He tangled his fingers in her hair, drawing her head back, and tore his mouth away, sealing it over her neck, sucking and licking until she was desperate and writhing for more.
“Oh God, don’t stop.” Every suck, every lick, made her body clench with need.
She rocked along his hard length, feeling every inch of it as he pushed his fingers into the bottom of her bathing suit, teasing between her legs. She arched back, lifting her breasts out of the water. He lowered his mouth, teased her nipple with his teeth and tongue, sending titillating sensations skittering through her. His fingers entered her at the same time as he sucked her nipple against the roof of his mouth, and the overwhelming pleasure drew a long surrendering moan from her lungs.
“You’re dangerously sexy,” he said against her breast.
She’d never felt sexy before, but when she was in his arms, he made her feel that way. She rocked her hips, riding his fingers. His thumb moved over the sensitive bundle of nerves, sending heat spiking through her. He sucked and licked and grazed his teeth over one nipple, then lavished the other with the same beautifully torturous attention. Her skin tingled, her blood burned, and she could barely breathe as he took her right up to the verge of madness—and kept her there. Her body trembled and shook, clenching greedily, as his fingers stroked over the hidden spot inside time and time again with laser precision, teasing and taunting, slow and sensual, then fast and urgent. She dug her nails into his shoulders, trying to keep up with the emotions whipping through her, but it was like being tossed in a storm of pleasure.
“Brant,” she pleaded, riding his fingers faster.
“Let go for me, baby.”
He tugged her mouth down to his, feasting on her, working her body like he knew it by heart. Every exquisite stroke caused a gasp, a quickening of her pulse, taking her closer to release. Need stacked up inside her, until she felt like she was going to burst. His tongue plunged deeper into her mouth, and his fingers fucked her faster. He pressed harder with his thumb in a mind-numbing circular rhythm, and spirals of ecstasy tore through her with savage intensity. Her hips bucked, her sex clenched, and she cried out. He swallowed her sounds, cupping the back of her head, keeping their mouths fused. Her climax went on and on, deeper than the thrill of an orgasm, more powerful and all-consuming than anything she’d ever imagined. Her entire body flexed and tingled. Her toes curled into the ocean floor, and all at once, lights bloomed behind her closed lids as a magnificent explosion of heat and cold burst inside her. And then she was floating down from the most exquisite peak, and Brant was holding her, kissing her, whispering between each tender press of his lips. “So beautiful . . . Feel so good . . . Waited so long for you . . .”
She collapsed against him, closing her eyes in sweet relief. He showered her in kisses, running his hands up her back and through her hair. Neither said a word, their hearts beating to the same frantic rhythm. Brant kissed her temple, wrapping his arms tightly around her, and for the second time in twenty-four hours, she didn’t want to rush away. She braced herself for anxiety to hit, for the need to flee to consume her as it had at the bar. But as the minutes ticked by, she felt safe and happy, high on the beautiful thing blossoming between them. She stopped waiting for the fear to hit and reveled in the goodness of them.
He held her as the sky darkened around them, until they began shivering with cold, and then he tied her bathing suit, and they made their way up to the blanket. Brant wrapped her in a towel and kissed her softly, looking at her with longing, passion, and affection. She could tell he was struggling to find words, just as she was.
He pulled two sweatshirts out of his bag and helped her put one on. It was warm and cozy, and tumbled nearly to her knees. As he put on his sweatshirt, she lifted her sleeve, breathing in his familiar scent. He’d thought of this, of her needing a sweatshirt when the sun went down. How could something so little mean so much?
He took her hand and gazed deeply into her eyes. “I’m not ready to go yet. Are you?”
She shook her head, feeling more at peace than she ever had. He sat on the blanket, guiding her down to sit with her back to his chest, and wrapped his arms around her. Then he draped a towel over their legs and patted the blanket beside them, calling Scrappy over from where he lay on the sand, still tethered to his leash. Scrappy curled up next to them. They sat for a long time, barely talking above a whisper, listening to the sounds of the water kissing at the rocks and Scrappy snoring.
There was comfort in the quiet. Cait could almost feel his thoughts, and she had a feeling he could feel hers.
Brant kissed her cheek, whispering, “Stay with me tonight?”
She wanted to. Desperately. But this was perfect. She wanted to savor it, and she didn’t want to take a chance that she might freak out later and ruin their night. She turned her face so she could see him. “Tomorrow, okay?”
“Everything’s okay, babe.”
He kissed her softly, and there beneath the stars, with the moon shining down on them and a cool breeze kissing their cheeks, Cait felt her walls coming down and Brant tiptoeing in.
CHAPTER TWELVE
CAIT HAD NEVER seen so much commotion at Rock Harbor Beach. It was Friday evening, and she stood at the top of the dunes taking off her sandals with Brant, Abby, and Aiden. All around them, people were chatting excitedly and carrying supplies down from the parking lot in preparation for movie night. They were playing E.T., which Cait had never seen. She was as excited to spend downtime with Abby and Aiden as she was to be on a real date with Brant. Double dates were new to her, but then again, so was just about everything she’d been through these last few months. She picked up her sandals and Scrappy, taking in the activity on the beach below, where an enormous movie screen and massive speakers had been erected. People were milling about, setting up blankets and chairs, racing in and out of the water, and kids darted across the sand. It was a good thing Brant and Aiden had claimed a spot for them earlier in the afternoon because the beach was packed as far as the eye could see.
“Are you sure your stuff will still be there?” Cait asked.
“Yeah,” Brant said. “Nobody steals stuff around here.”
“This is going to be fun!” Abby shoved her flip-flops in her bag and took Aiden’s arm. “I love dates with my man, but a double date with my sister and her man makes it even better.”
“This is my first double date,” Cait admitted.
“And it’ll be your best.” Brant winked, his eyes twinkling with heat. “Until our next one, that is.”
As they headed down to the beach, he brushed his fingers over hers and blew her a kiss. When he’d picked her up at her apartment, they’d devoured each other until she’d been weak-kneed, but he hadn’t even held her hand since they’d met up with Aiden and Abby in the parking lot half an hour ago. She kept waiting for him to reach for her, longing for that connection, but she knew he was trying to do the right thing by being careful about PDA. As much as she appreciated that, she missed the closeness they’d shared last night.