Page 43 of Sand in My Boots

“I think we’ll let the mystery linger. But seeing as we don’t have all the time in the world, we should get going on the boat.”

Right. The cruise. I’m thinking Cameron and I differ in our definitions of “cruise.”

We walk the short way to the speedboat. The steering wheel is in the center, covered by a small shade in the shape of a T, with two seats behind it and more cushioned seats at the back.

Once onboard, Axel continues to take the lead, settling himself in the driver’s seat, leaving Cameron and me together on the back bench. No sooner has Cameron wrapped his arms around me, the boat shoots forward. Not too fast because we’re still in the marina, but once we travel past the protected area, Axel increases pressure on the throttle, and the boat takes off on the open water.

Thank goodness I tied up my hair, because the few strands out of the bun are whipping around my face. Several times, Cameron tucks them behind my ear with a smile. At one point, he leans in, his mouth right up against my ear, and rasps over the sound of the boat’s engine, “Told you to trust me.”

Not wanting to give him too much of an ego trip, I don’t say what I want to: “I’ll never doubt you again.” Instead, I reply, “Thanks for arranging this.” It’s the best he’s going to get.

Axel drives us around the ocean, Cameron doing a good job of being a tour guide, pointing out each of the different islands as we pass by. We’re a good few miles off the coast, so it’s hard to tell the difference. He must come out here often to have the knowledge he does.

Cameron and I sit huddled together on the back of the boat as time marches on. With no way to measure it, I relax into his arms. His hand traces designs on my arms and more than once, I catch myself wanting to kiss him. The way he holds onto me indicates the feeling’s mutual.

A short while later, the boat slows, coming closer to what looks like a deserted beach. Axel pulls the front of the boat up onto the sand and cuts the engine.

“You’ve got an hour. I’ll be back.”

Nothing more said, he waves us off the boat, Cameron guiding the way. He climbs down off the back, the water covering the tops of his ankles. His hands stay out in the air, waiting for me to join him. I waste no time tossing myself off the side, hoping he’ll catch me. I land awkwardly in his arms, our fronts pressed together, and for a moment, I don’t move. His arms squeeze mine, tightening around my forearms, hauling me in closer if that’s possible. Our eyes are level, and heat radiates off us. When the urge strikes, I don’t waste it this time. I meld our mouths together. As soon as they touch, sparks ignite, doused a second later when our bags land with a plop on the sand.

“Have fun, you two.” It’s the last directive Axel gives before taking off.

With me still in his arms, Cameron takes a few steps back, giving the boat ample room to back up and dart away, leaving the two of us alone on the sand. Though I yearn to kiss him more, he lowers me to the ground.

“How was the ‘cruise’ around the islands?” His playful tone makes up for the disappointment I feel at our lost connection.

Before I answer, I stare off at the horizon. The sun at its highest, the water is calm, seeming to go on for miles. The cloudless sky kisses the water in the distance. The view is beautiful. We can’t be too far from the resort, but what my eyes see is different.

“This view is amazing.”

“She sure is.” Cameron’s response gives me pause until I turn to face him. His sunglasses sit on his head, and I’m greeted with the sight of his eyes hungrily devouring me. There’s a softness to them, a delicate vigor in contrast with the way he’s eye-fucking me.

“You planned this the other day.”

His face crinkles. “Yeah, so?”

“Before we had sex.” He confirms with a nod. “So what did you have in mind for how we’d spend this hour?”

His tongue moistens his lips, his hands grasp my arm, drawing me into him. I’m forced to look up. He doesn’t speak right away, giving me the time to ponder what his answer will be. Did he plan this secret rendezvous with this in mind? Did he have another motive when he originally planned it?

“I’m not sure what you think is going to go down here on this private island we have all to ourselves, but I think you’re getting the wrong idea.” His tone is serious, making me question all the different emotions coursing through me.

“Oh. My bad. Guess we’re here to sunbathe.”

“Mind if I do it in the nude?”

“But why?” I wonder, his question not making sense. He went specifically to his locker to grab his suit. That’s what he said. His head shakes as I try to make sense of what’s happening. “Then why did I need to have mine?” I challenge, not letting him off the hook. “You made it clear I needed a suit.”

His shoulders lift. “Didn’t want you not to have the option nor feel like I was pressuring you into anything.”

My mind reels with this new information. At every turn, he surprises me. First, not a cruise around the island. Now, a naked romp in the sand.

“You hate sand.” The words leap from my mouth without my brain processing them.

“Indeed.”

“And there’s no shower until we get to your place. Which won’t be for a while.”