Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [84]
"Oh, God," she murmured as his mouth moved down the side of her neck. "We have to stop."
"We're just getting started."
"I -- this is crazy," she said breathlessly, pulling away from him. "We're on a public beach. Tyler, stop."
He sat back, knowing she was right. He watched her fidget with her blouse and her hair and whatever else seemed out of place. He wanted to tell her to stop. He liked her loose and messy and a little out of control. He liked her passion and her spirit and, well, pretty much everything else about her.
"You're staring again," she said. "And I'm embarrassed."
"Why? We just kissed."
"It felt like more than just a kiss." She darted a quick look at him, then glanced away.
He flopped down onto his back, closing his eyes against the bright sun. She was right. It hadn't felt like a kiss; it had felt like a promise.
"Tyler, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
Her words didn't come right away. "Are you connected to K.C. in some way? Are you part of a plan to get back at my father? Is this about revenge?"
His eyes flew open, and he sat up. "Why would you think that?" he asked, genuinely surprised at her conclusion.
"You both show up here unexpectedly. You want information about the race. You're going to sail with my father. It all adds up."
"That adds up? How far did you go in math?"
"You didn't answer my question."
"No, I'm not connected to K.C." He was glad he could tell the truth.
"Good." She put her arms around her knees and stared out at the water. "What do you want to do now?"
"Believe me, you don't want to know the answer to that question."
She turned her head to look at him, her gaze drifting down to his mouth. "I really want to kiss you again."
"Then come here," he said softly.
"I can't. I seem to go up in smoke every time you touch me."
"It's one of your most appealing qualities."
She scrambled to her feet. "I need to walk."
"Walk? You need to walk? Now?"
"Exercise would be good."
"I can think of a more interesting form of exercise than walking."
"Come with me," she said. "There's a cave on the other side of those rocks. I'll show it to you."
"Now you're talking." He held out his hand. "Help me up."
A smile curved her lips. "Do you think I'm going to fall for that?"
"Please."
"Fine."
She slipped her hand into his, and, for a moment, he was tempted to pull her back down on the sand and kiss her senseless. But two young children chose that moment to run by him, kicking up sand with their bare feet, and he knew this wasn't the time nor the place.
Once on his feet, he didn't let go of her hand, and, after a momentary resistance, she relaxed, and they walked along the water's edge together. Tyler had never been so aware of the details of his existence than he was at this moment with Kate. All of his senses were engaged. The sand was cool beneath his bare feet, the sun was warm on his head, and the woman beside him was soft, feminine, desirable -- and he was as hard as a rock. He needed to relax, too, he told himself, but the tension wouldn't go away. All he could think about was how easy it would be to lean over and kiss her again. He picked up the pace.
"Hey, what's the hurry?" Kate asked as she jogged to keep up with him.
"I'll race you to the cave."
"You don't know where it is," she called after him, but he didn't care. He needed to run along the shoreline. He needed to burn off the sexual energy that was making him crazy.
He heard her footsteps behind him, then felt her draw alongside. Damn, she was fast. She flung him a smile and passed him by.
"What the hell was that?" he asked breathlessly when he caught up to her.
"That was a sprint. I beat you."
"I let you win."
"Liar."
He could think of only one way to shut her up. He tackled her.