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“Thank you. That’s better than being your last pick.”

A herd of piggycorns approaches the porch, Natalie atop them. “Halt,” she calls.

The piggycorns come to a stop, and she slowly stands, her bodysurfing party over.

“You’re a mess,” Pane says. “Head upstairs and have a bath.”

“Whew.” Stone waves a hand in front of his nose. “You smell awful.”

Natalie reaches for him, flexing her fingers. “Want me to touch you, big brother?”

“Don’t even think about it, Nat, or I won’t pick you up next time you have a free weekend at school. Now, do what Stone says.”

She trudges inside the house and up the stairs. A few moments later, Coco and Cristina come down.

Cristina looks so beautiful my breath stops. Her blond hair falls over her shoulders, and the dress she’s wearing—it shimmers like it’s made of silk, clinging to her body in all the right places.

Yep, it’s time to get out of here.

I rise and take her by the waist, pulling her closer. “Thank y’all for dinner. Can we help clean up?”

Pane’s gaze lands on me, then Cristina. He quashes down a small smile. “No, you kids get out of here. I’ll see you at work in the morning.”

I can’t get Cristina back to the resort soon enough.

Chapter 41

Cristina

We’re almost back at the resort when Rhett pulls the SUV off the two-lane road.

“Everything okay?”

“It’s perfect.” He kills the engine and unbuckles his seat belt. “I just couldn’t wait any longer.”

“For what?”

“For this.”

He turns and kisses me, deeply. My stomach swoops as his hands slide up my cheeks. When we break apart, we’re both breathless, and my body’s awake and primed for him.

“I don’t think,” he murmurs, “that I can wait ten more minutes to get you back to the resort.”

“Then let’s not wait.”

I climb over the armrest and onto his lap. There’s a frantic energy to this, like we can’t get to each other fast enough. Outside, the wind’s picked up, and it gently rocks the vehicle.

I bend my head and kiss Rhett. His tongue sweeps into my mouth. I moan. His fingers slide up my bare arms to the spaghetti straps resting on my shoulders. He tugs them down, and the dress falls. Cool air sweeps over my nipples, hardening them more than they already were.

Rhett’s mouth leaves mine and brushes down my throat, over my collarbone, and to my breasts.

“So beautiful,” he murmurs before taking one of my nipples in his mouth and sucking on the tip.

A hiss escapes me and my panties are immediately soaked. I want him now. I need him now.

I’ve never needed anyone like him. My body sings when he touches me, as if it’s been waiting my whole life for Rhett to show up and turn some inner dial that’s tuned to only his frequency.

He lets my nipple fall from his mouth, and he looks up at me, dark eyes inky black in the moonlight. “Cristina,” he whispers.