I nod and he hands me the glass and two small pills folded against his palm. While I’m gulping down water, he’s busy wrapping the washcloth and ice pack around my foot then securing them with the elastic band.
“Well, that ought to keep the swelling from getting much worse,” he declares as he stands. “I’ll get the—” A muted ringing cuts short whatever he was going to say. Alec pulls his cell phone out of his pocket, glances at the display and frowns. “Will you be all right here for a few minutes? I really need to take this.”
“I’ll be fine. Take your time.”
With a nod, Alec walks back into the house, not answering until he’s out of earshot. I scoot back on the lounge and lean my head back, enjoying the breathtaking view. I don’t know how long Alec is on the phone, but by the time he returns, I’m thoroughly relaxed and the pain in my ankle has lessened dramatically.
“Sorry about that. How’s the ankle?”
“Much better,” I say, shielding my eyes to look up at him.
“I hate that you got hurt. I could’ve directed you toward a nest of sea turtles just past my walk, along the dunes. Isn’t that what you said you were looking for?”
I nod. “Yeah, but we can come back another time.”
“If you feel like sitting Galen a bit more, I could run you down to see them before I take you home.”
I know I shouldn’t feel the little thrill of anticipation that blossoms in my stomach. I know I shouldn’t be so reluctant for my time with him to end. Or, at the very least, I should try to resist. But I don’t. I’m not sure I’ll ever see him again after today. With that in mind, it isn’t hard to convince myself that this one short trip won’t hurt anything. “I’d like that.”
“Just let me tell Javi,” he says, walking back into the house.
Less than five minutes later, Alec comes striding back through the door. He walks to my chair, but I stop him before he can bend and pick me up. “I can walk.” I probably can’t walk, actually. At least not comfortably. But I don’t want to put him out, which is exactly what it seems to do when he has to carry me.
He straightens and looks down at me, his right brow shooting up in that way I love. Something in the air between us thickens. It crackles with electricity. In the space of one short breath, without saying a word, everything changes.
“Is there another…position you’d rather me carry you in?” Alec’s tone is openly suggestive. I can see the difference in his eyes, in the hunger on his face. In the growl of his voice. We’re no longer pretending we don’t feel this, that we don’t both know where it’s going.
And once again, just like that, right here, on the deck, in the sunshine, we become two people I know better than anyone. We are Daire and Mason.
“Well, well, well. What have we here?” Mason asks. I startle at his voice as his shadow falls over me. I forget that he can come into the sun.
For an instant, I’m stunned. Humiliated by what he must see—the breeze teasing my hair, the sun beating down on my naked shoulders and the water bubbling around my bared br**sts, bringing my ni**les to hard points.
I gasp, instinctively leaning up and crossing my arms over my chest in modesty. I thought he’d gone for the day or I would never have risked slipping into the tub without my suit. Yet here he is, clad in nothing but a towel, obviously intent on having his own dip in the Jacuzzi.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t…I thought…if I’d known you were still here…” I stammer, beginning to stand, to go indoors where I can hide for the rest of my life, before I think better of it. I’m not exactly clothed for a dignified exit.
“Don’t apologize. I like this kind of surprise.” His eyes are warm and intense on me.
If he’d leave for just a minute, I’d get out of his way. “Please, if you’ll give me a moment—”
“No. I don’t think I will. I think I like you better this way.”
“But I—”
“No buts. And don’t pretend like this isn’t exactly where you want to be.”
How does he do that? See into my mind? Into my deepest thoughts and wildest imaginations?
“I don’t know what you mean,” I deny.
“Yes, you do. You know precisely what I mean. I know you watch me...”
My heart is hammering against my ribs as I think of all the times I have watched him—by himself, with women, in the shower, in the bed. And I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have all that attention focused on me. Just me.
Now, I do.
And I don’t think I can bring myself to stop before I find out what the rest feels like. What he feels like.
Back in reality, with my Mason, Alec doesn’t wait for me to answer. He simply bends and scoops me up into his arms. “Give me time,” he says softly. “I’ll show you just how many answers there are to that question.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Alec
With the deck steps nearby, Samantha was able to mount Galen with little assistance from me. She scooted back for me to sit in front of her this time. Not my first choice, of course but I can bide my time.
I did put my hand on her ass to steady her as she mounted. I knew it would get her flustered. I love that innocence about her. I love it so much I’m going to enjoy watching it melt away when she sees what pleasures the world has to offer. I get hard just thinking about it.
As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, Samantha tightens her arms around my waist. I flex my fingers around the reins, letting my mind wander for a minute. I can picture Samantha’s hands bound with these very leather straps, her hair fanned out on a pillow, her lips red and swollen from sucking my cock. I grit my teeth against where the fantasy goes next. This time is going to be sweeter than ever. It’s been so long…
The ride to the dune where I saw the sea turtle nest doesn’t take very long, which is fine with me. This slow, date-like beginning is strictly for Samantha’s benefit. I should probably warn her that it won’t last long. I don’t have the patience to drag this phase out to its normal length. As much as I’d like to, I can’t skip it altogether, though. There has to be a certain level of trust established, and it happens during this period. I know this from past experience. I’ve just never been this anxious before. It really has been too long.
For a couple of years now, I’ve limited myself to just watching when I go to my favorite…establishments. I found that it keeps me from getting that cold-turkey withdrawal sensation. But watching is nothing like doing.