Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“Want to go to the other restaurant?” Tate suggested.
“Let’s,” I promptly agreed. “This one has bad juju.”
Once Tate and I got situated at the other place, we had a wonderful dinner, our best together so far. Maybe because I’d finally given him my real first name, I found myself opening up to him even more easily. I’d told him a bit about growing up in Western Massachusetts as an only child. I went into more detail about my failed relationship with Daniel and even relayed the story of losing my virginity. Tate also told me how he’d lost his. To my surprise, it was to his son’s mother when he was sixteen. He admitted to going a little crazy after they broke up, since he’d only been with the one girl. That was sort of how I felt at the present moment, having only been with Daniel.
But what began with me being horny and bored on this trip had turned into something completely different. I didn’t want just anyone anymore. I wanted Tate. Only Tate. I couldn’t imagine wanting anyone else for a very long time. I’d always compare my attraction to the way I was feeling right now. How do you go back to boys when you’ve fallen for a full-fledged man?
As we lingered over dessert, the restaurant staff began shutting things down, which was our cue to leave. Who knew how long we’d have stayed here talking if we weren’t forced to vacate? I suspected Tate was happy to have a safe public place to be with me given his loss of control earlier.
“Can we go down by the water?” I asked as he paid the bill.
“Yeah. A walk sounds perfect,” he said as he stood from the table.
Only, a walk wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.
Chapter 9
* * *
BLAIR
We’d just gotten down to the shoreline. There didn’t seem to be anyone else around, so this was ideal. Throwing caution to the wind, I slipped out of my dress, leaving me in my bra and underwear.
Tate’s eyes went wide. “What the hell are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
He looked around. “You can’t just take off your clothes.”
“Why not? There’s no one else nearby. I want to go for a swim.”
I turned my back toward him, unsnapping my bra and letting it fall to the sand.
Pausing for a moment, I contemplated whether to remove my thong but decided to leave the Tate torture at topless.
He watched as I ran into the ocean, lifting my arms toward the dark night sky and screaming in glee once I hit the water.
I stopped when submerged to just above my chest and turned to face him. Rather than begging him to come in, I simply bobbed up and down, patiently hoping Tate would loosen up a little and decide to join me.
For several minutes, he just stood there in place, rigid, with his arms crossed.
What a hardass.
But then, I finally saw him undo his pants and kick them off. He lifted his shirt over his head, and even from afar, I could make out the ripples in his abs. I’d only gotten quick glimpses of his bare body during the massage, and he’d been mostly on his stomach, but his carved back wasn’t for the weak, either.
He stalked toward the water, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. Excitement raced through me.
Tate dove into the water and swam toward me until we faced each other.
“Well, hello there.” I smiled. “What made you change your mind?”
“I was afraid you’d get eaten by a shark if I wasn’t here to protect you.”
“Seriously?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I’m the shark, actually.”
“Oh. I like the sound of that.” I winked. “Sharks bite, don’t they?”
“Sometimes,” he muttered, his eyes falling to my lips.
“Hmmmmm…”
He looked up at the purple-hued sky for a moment. “I really want to kiss you again, but I told myself I wouldn’t.”
“Well, that’s dumb.” I scoffed. “No one’s life will be saved by you depriving yourself, Tate. You’re depriving both of us.” I splashed him playfully.
To my surprise, he splashed me back with greater force.
We broke out into laughter and a frenzy of splashing until we were both thoroughly drenched.
When we finally stopped, I reached up and ran my fingers through his wet mane. Tate’s eyes fluttered closed as he bent his head back and let out a muffled groan.
And then I felt it.
The most excruciating pain in my left leg.
“Ow!”
Tate moved back suddenly. “What happened?”
“I just got stung by something!” Panic filled me. “Oh no. There are venomous jellyfish in this ocean. I remember reading about it before I came here.”
“Fuck. Where do you feel it? Your leg?”
“Near my ankle.” I felt dizzy.
Tate sprang into action. “Let’s get you out of here.” He lifted me, and I immediately covered my bare breasts with my hands.