Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
She nodded against my hand.
Like that, I fucked her. I rocked in and out. I swiveled my hips. With each pump, her muffled cries grew more intense. Her hands curled around my shoulders, digging in. Desire crashed wildly through me as we both moved faster, building friction, seeking release.
When her noises grew louder, I let go of her mouth. “Play with your clit. Need you to come really fucking soon,” I demanded.
She obeyed, thrusting a hand between us, stroking her clit as I held her against the door, snapping my hips, driving into her, and reveling in the sweet urgency of tonight.
The need we felt for each other.
The unexpected coming together.
She chased her own orgasm, racing after it. She started to shout my name, and I covered her mouth with mine so she screamed into my lips as she came undone in a wild frenzy of silence and heat.
I kissed her cries as she tightened against my cock, her pleasure flipping the switch in me. I gave a muffled roar then followed her there with a few deep pumps. My world spun away, and I came seconds later by the ocean under the stars, stealing a hot, necessary moment with this woman named for a jewel.
I didn’t want to leave her when I took her back to her hotel, but Kate had called, and I had business to tend to.
Besides, I knew it was better I didn’t spend every second with Ruby, no matter what I wanted. The more time I spent with her, the harder it would be to leave her.
And I’d have to leave when this was over.
So when we reached her hotel, I kissed her gently, then said, “I already miss you.”
“That’s just the orgasm talking,” she teased, but there was distance in her eyes.
Yeah, she knew about self-preservation too.
27
WHAT HAPPENS IN FLAMINGO KEY
Ruby
I didn’t see him at all the next morning or afternoon—and I missed him. Weird, too, that it had taken such a short time to become that accustomed to his company. But I had prep to do for the tour, so I spent the day focused on my business and when he dropped me off last night, Jake had told me that he’d be holed up in his hotel room with paperwork all the next day. He’d rolled his eyes when he said it, and I’d teased him, saying, “Such a horrible thing for a recovery specialist to have to do.”
“Bounty hunters hate paperwork,” he’d grumbled before he’d kissed me goodnight.
Now, as the afternoon wound down and I got ready for the boat party, I was excited to see him. He’d pick me up in an hour, and I’d get to spend a little time with him in the water before the festivities.
While I got dressed and then headed for the beach, I thought about Jake and me and this thing between us. I wasn’t sure what to call it—a tryst? An affair? A fling?—but I thought maybe we could do this. Make it work. Find a way to keep this up when we returned home. We lived close enough to each other that it was feasible.
There was, of course, the issue with my mother and Eli—we both wanted different things. But once this was resolved, maybe we could form some kind of life together.
We were going to the boat party to ask questions and gather intel. But I’d also watch for an opportunity to ask Jake if he’d like to keep seeing each other after the investigation was done. And if I found the chance to ask him, I would take it.
I treaded azure-blue waters next to the yacht, looking up at Jake still on deck in his swim shorts with the early evening sun glinting off his light-brown hair. It was strange—good strange—to see him at ease while in the open like this. Since we’d met, there had been secrets and investigations and stolen moments tangled together. But few chances to just lounge in the sun.
We’d arrived early for the party, hoping to catch Kalila with some questions before the rest of the guests arrived aboard Devon’s boat, still moored at the end of the pier. Since our quarry wasn’t there yet, it had seemed like a good time to goof off. Just a smidge.
“C’mon,” I called to Jake. “I don’t bite.”
He grinned down at me. “Says the woman who roots for the shark in Jaws.”
“Okay, then. I don’t bite unless you deserve it,” I said, “and you ask very nicely.”
“I will definitely be asking nicely tonight,” he said, and that comment emboldened me too. Sure, it was a sexy comment, but it also implied we’d be spending time together.
Maybe more after we left this island. I hoped.
“Only if you catch me,” I said, pushing off the hull of the boat with my feet and skimming along the shallow water. Jake dove in and gave chase. I darted away as fast as I could, but soon, he stretched one long arm and hooked my ankle. Underwater, I laughed and then popped to the surface, and so did he.