“This is amazing. How can it be so clear?”
It was one of the most scenic views I’d had the privilege to see, and experiencing it with Josie only made it more special. She half swam, half walked, observing the little multicolored fish swimming around.
“Holy shit, that’s a shark?” she shrieked.
“It’s a small one. Native to these waters. Completely harmless,” I assured her.
“How do you know?”
“Apparently I was more thorough in my research than you were in yours.”
“Hmpf. You’re sure they’re harmless? Even if their teeth are proportionally smaller, they can still do some damage.”
I saw an opportunity for teasing right there and then. Or maybe I was just looking for an excuse to touch her again. I placed my hands on her shoulders, pulling her closer.
“How exactly do you imagine you’ll get through scuba diving? You’re going to get close to large fish. Some might have teeth. Some might even be dangerous.”
“Yes, but there will be a pro with me, so I’ll be safe.”
“I see. So, the sharks aren’t the problem here. I am. I’m offended.”
She grinned, playfully patting my cheek. “You’ll get over it.”
“Josie, you don’t honestly think I’d risk anything happening to you, do you?”
Her shoulders relaxed. “You wouldn’t... normally. But here’s the thing. You’re more afraid of wildlife than I am. If something really attacked you, I bet you’d save your own sorry ass.”
“You calling me a coward?”
“Yes, sir, I am.”
Before she could guess my intention, I started tickling her armpits.
She gave an adorable shriek, and I wrestled her to the beach, tumbling with her onto the wet sand. The movement freed her from my other arm, and Josie seized the chance. She gave as good as she got. Her laughter was contagious. Pure happiness, pure relaxation. I wanted to give her more of this. Wanted to give her a reason to laugh like that every day.
I stopped her the only way I knew how—with a kiss. I pinned her wrists above her head, holding them captive with my hands. I’d intended just to surprise her long enough for her to stop tickling me, but as usual, I got completely wrapped up in her.
What I’d do to this woman if she belonged to me. I’d always known that Josie was sexy, but this pushed me to the very edge of my self-control.
I deepened the kiss, trailing my fingers down the side of her body until she moaned against my lips.
Then she tore her mouth away from me. Her cheeks were flushed, her mouth red. She was avoiding my gaze. I’d crossed a line. Fuck. I shouldn’t have kissed her like that. Yet, instead of feeling guilty, I wondered just how wet she was for me. I moved over to the side, freeing her, and she immediately scrambled to her feet, heading to the lounge chair. I didn’t go after her. I knew enough about Josie to know she needed to be on her own, to digest this. Hell, I needed to digest this.
I couldn’t go on like this. Kissing her for no reason, claiming more each time. I needed to pull myself together and not screw this up.
I went to the beach bar first, getting a drink for each of us. When I returned, Josie was reading, so I set the tray on the small plastic table between our lounge chairs.
“I brought you coconut water. You’ve wanted to try this, right?”
Josie lowered her book, grabbing one glass, slurping as if she’d been dying of thirst.
She was still avoiding my gaze. I needed to fix this. From now on, no more kissing and touching if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.
She spat out a mouthful. “This is awful.”
I laughed, taking the glass from her because the spitting turned into choking.
“That’s what you get for trying everything.”
She looked at my glass of caipirinha with narrowed eyes. “You knew it tasted like shit.”
“I even told you it did. You just said you’d make up your own mind, remember?”
“Ugh... sometimes I think I need saving from myself.”
“I agree. Remember that when you book that scuba diving course.”
She scrunched her nose adorably before going back to her book. The title was 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
“I’ve been meaning to get that book,” I said, lying back on my own lounge chair. “How is it?”
“Some advice is common sense; some is actually more insightful than I thought.”
She gave some examples, and we both came up with ways of integrating them in our routines.
I’d always loved our conversations, the way we built on the other’s ideas. It always came easy to me to talk about everything from business to personal issues with Josie, and I wouldn’t make the mistake of losing that.
Things between us seemed to go back to normal as the day progressed. We talked about everything from politics to history to discussing some of the local wildlife after Josie bought a book on it from the hotel shop. I also couldn’t let the opportunity for teasing pass when she looked at S in the animal index.
“Any chance you’re researching sharks?” I asked casually. She glared at me. “Admit it, you want to check if they’re harmless or not. You don’t trust me?”
“You’ve proven a bit untrustworthy as of late,” she said just as casually, flipping another page. Shit. I couldn’t argue with that.
I followed through with my resolution only for a few hours. But when Josie emerged from the bedroom dressed for dinner, I knew I didn’t have a chance of sticking to my own rules tonight.
She was wearing a light pink dress in a flowy fabric that reached all the way to the floor. From the front, it looked inconspicuous, with a halter neck, no cleavage. But her back was uncovered, and the dress dipped so low that I could almost see her crack.
“Josie.” Yes, I knew it had sounded like a growl, but goddamn, I just couldn’t do better at the moment. “You look... stunning.”
She smoothed her hands down her waist, laughing. “I’m even a bit tan already. You were right about the sunscreen. Even so, my skin itched a bit after the shower. The after-sun lotion helped. Should we go?”
“Yes.” Because if I was alone with her for long, I didn’t know what I would do.
“Welcome, we have a special table for you tonight,” the server informed us when we stepped in the outdoor restaurant. We’d decided on trying out local cuisine tonight. I’d called the concierge to reserve a table, and when the man had asked if I wanted the extra package for honeymooners, I couldn’t resist saying yes. The package included a secluded table in a special gazebo, adorned with twinkle lights.
I wanted the best for Josie. Unless I coerced her to come on another trip while we were married, she wouldn’t fly here again.
The hostess winked at me, saying, “The best table, as you requested.”
So much for this staying a secret.
Josie looked at me with wide eyes once we were alone. “You requested this?”
“Thought you’d like it.”
“Thanks,” she muttered, returning to studying the menu. “My God, I want to order everything.”
“So, do it.”
“Ha! I’ve already had too many empty calories from the cocktails on the beach.”