audience. “He’s right over there.”
“ He can’t see a thing. I know because I checked.” He leaned in. “He also mentioned we’ve got at least twenty minutes before we’re anywhere close to shore and that he’d keep his distance.”
“ What?”
He busted out laughing, shifted and grabbed a plastic container full of bite-sized fruit. “Come on, babe. We’re not the first couple who’s taken a private cruise. You’re hot, I’m young, and he’s smart.” He held a piece of pineapple near her lips.
Janie opened her mouth the same way she had countless other times during their six-hour excursion. About the only time she’d fed herself had been at the Isla Mujeres all-you-can-eat buffet, and even then he’d spoon-fed her three different dessert samples. The guy had a serious mouth fixation.
He slipped the fruit inside and dragged his thumb along her lower lip before he drew away. His voice dropped. “Live a little, Janie. No one will know. No one but us.”
She couldn’t. Just thinking about it made her face flame hot, but the sun and air on her back did feel good. She imagined the sensation on her breasts, out in the open, and a flutter rippled deep in her abdomen.
He smoothed to one side the wisps of hair that had escaped her clip and kissed the back of her neck. “No pressure from me. Only support.” His lips slid to her shoulder and nipped her warm skin. “Either way, it’s time for you to roll over. I have plans for you later that won’t go well with a sunburn, so make the call. You want me to tie you back up or keep the twins free?”
No pressure. No one around but the two of them and a man named Pedro she’d never see again. “You sure he can’t see me?”
His fingers tightened on her shoulders and his lips hovered at her ear. “Checked for a reason, babe. Proud as hell to be seen with you, but not at all interested in sharing with Pedro.”
One chance. No way would she be able to do this again, and she was always telling her kids not to let opportunities pass.
Zade beamed at her, his gaze full of pride and sparkling to match the sun on the water.
“ I can’t believe I’m going to do this.” God, her voice was deep. Raspy like one of those screen goddess femme fatales.
Zade’s grin kicked up a notch. “I can’t believe I’m the lucky bastard who’s with you.” He moved back enough to let her up and reached for her beach bag. “Roll on over, wild woman. Let’s give the twins a little one on one time with Father Sun.”
She pulled in a steadying breath and rolled to her back.
The sun and wind teased her skin like a mix of warm and cool silk all at once. Her stomach clenched and her nipples hardened. Now she got it. Topless, at least, on a beach had a lot of merit. It felt great. Amazing, bohemian, come-to-momma, kind of great.
A shadow fell across her a second before the trampoline jolted and Zade straddled her, his knees at her hips. He flipped the top on her fifty-plus sunscreen and scowled down at her.
“ Something wrong?”
“ Tactical error.” He studied her another moment then shook his head and squeezed out a handful of lotion. “Nope. I’ll do it.”
“ Oh, Zade. You can’t.” The tour guide hadn’t popped into view, but God only knew what might make him change his mind.
“ Can’t have the twins out of action,” he said, all business. “Either you put on the sunscreen or I do. If it’s me, I can hone my thoughts on warming you up for later. If it’s you, I’ll come in my trunks before you get it rubbed in.”
“ But, Pedro—”
“ Is busy.” He smoothed the cool lotion up her rib cage and cupped her breasts. His voice dropped a sexy octave. “As. Am. I.”
Holy moly, his hands felt good. She arched into his confident, powerful strokes and bit back a moan. Barely two full days left to her own devices as a single woman, and she was topless on the ocean getting rubbed down by a man fourteen years her junior. Not too shabby. Wrong on so