Free Be My Queen by RayeAnn Carter Page B

the air was warm, despite it being before noon. They pulled into the last empty spot in the lot. The girls piled out and took over the ladies’ changing room. He made his way more slowly and waited by the water fountain.
    The girls came out wearing skimpy, sexy swimsuits. All except his girl. Lavender was sexy, all right; every inch of her was, but the one piece and the ruffles at her hips left something to the imagination, and Diego was imagining. She stepped right up to him. "You like?"
    "The swimsuit?" He eyed her. "Or you?" He circled his hands around her waist.
    "Both? Either?"
    He skimmed his hands up her torso. "Yes, very."
    Her long, wavy hair was up in a ponytail. The nape of her neck was lovely. It tasted good, too.
    He stepped back and opened his trunk again. The girls put their day clothes inside. Then he pulled off his shirt and grabbed the blanket and sunscreen.
    When the girls found the perfect spot, he laid the blanket down for Lavender and passed her the bottle. "Slick me up?"
    She gave him her sexy smile.
    "Do you burn?" asked Vishva.
    "I turn as red as a lobster and am in a lot of pain, then my skin comes off in sheets and I wake up white again. It's a family trait."
    "Poor boy." She stretched out her golden arms. She'd probably never been sunburned in her life.
    Lavender coated him thoroughly, getting her hands under the edge of his swim shorts. He stole a few kisses in return, then talked her into letting him coat her. She might not need it as much as he did, but it wasn't just an excuse.
    He did her top half first and almost wished more of her skin showed so he could touch it. Almost. Then he started with her feet. She let him get much higher up her thigh than he'd thought she would. Her friends teased her, but Diego let her do the top part herself. If he'd touched the tender flesh he hadn't been allowed to before, he'd be embarrassingly hard and painfully, too. He walked back to the car and took out the purple swim cover-up that Mrs. Raleigh had given him for Lavender. It had been left at her house by a friend of Jessica's years ago.
    He held it out to her. "You're beautiful."
    Somehow the glimpse of her through the holes had a harder effect on him than the swimming suit had. He closed his eyes. "You're gorgeous. I think I need a quick dip."
    The girls laughed and some came along.
    The water was even warmer than it had been the other night. He played around, splashing Vishva and Ariel, then went back to Lavender. Ignored the boys talking to her and her friends, he laid his wet body on top of hers. She turned her head and gave him a look, but since she didn't tell him to move, he didn't.
    The boys moved their focus onto the other girls. One helped Caiside put sunscreen on her back. Who were these kids, anyway, out of school on a Tuesday morning?
    Vishva and Ariel had their own share of admirers. Diego was happy for them. As long as those boys recognized which girl was his.
    *~*~*
    Lavender's friends piled out of Diego's car a few blocks from Miss Magnolia's. Could she risk sneaking home and rinsing the grit off if Miss Magnolia was out? Would the other girls let her be first? Miss Magnolia had never punished any of them before, but she'd threatened to several times. What if today was the day she followed through?
    Lavender couldn't risk it, but she still needed a shower after the beach. Eating out hadn't been bad, because everyone had been in swimsuits and sandals, but if she changed, her new clothes would get as gritty as Diego's car seat was with her in it.
    "Where to next?"
    Lavender bit her lip.
    "I was thinking of Mrs. Raleigh's. I need a shower."
    She shot him a glance. "Not with me, you aren't."
    Diego laughed. "Hope springs eternal."
    She'd get a nicer shower if she only had to fight for hot water with one other person. "Would Mrs. Raleigh mind? If I took a shower, too?"
    Diego touched his phone. "She'll even let you use her bathroom. Nicer soaps."
    She put her hand on his thigh. "Is this place