“I’ll carry you.”
“If you do that you won’t be able to see where you’re going. Agh!” She squeaked in surprise as he lifted her and threw her over his shoulder.
“Put me down!” Laughing, she thumped his back with her fists. “Matt! You’re behaving like a caveman.”
“A man who is about to have sex in a cave is entitled to behave like a caveman.” He strode across the beach, the wash of light from the Ocean Club above them illuminating the sand. He crossed South Beach, scene of numerous lobster bakes and drunken teenage parties and headed to the adjacent cove.
The sounds of the Ocean Club were drowned out by the sound of sea on sand, and he paused by the entrance to the cave and pulled off Frankie’s shoes.
Only then did he lower her feet onto the sand.
Unbalanced, she grabbed the front of his shirt. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“No talking. Me Tarzan, you Jane. Get inside the cave.”
“Tarzan lived in a jungle. What if someone else is in here?” She peered into the darkness.
“There isn’t. They banned sex in here a few years ago after the lifeboat crew had to rescue a couple of naked teenagers who lost track of time and almost drowned. There was a town meeting where they tried to decide what to put on the sign. ‘No sex, high risk of drowning’ was voted out in favor of ‘No nighttime bathing.’”
“So we’re not supposed to be here?”
“We’re breaking every rule in the book. How does that feel?”
“Surprisingly good.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ve spent my life trying to live down my family’s reputation but tonight I intend to live up to it.”
He smiled, loving this new side of her. “Who are you and what have you done with Frankie?”
“Are you complaining?”
“Hell, no.” He scooped her into his arms again and carried her deep into the cave, holding his phone out for light. “Which do you prefer? Grainy sand or sharp rocks?” His voice echoed and rocks glimmered and gleamed in the dim light.
“You make it sound so erotic.” But there was a tremor in her voice, and her breath was warm on his neck. “Matt—” she sounded breathless “—what if we lose track and drown?”
“I’m a great swimmer.” He lowered her until her feet touched the sand. Then he drew her top over her head and pushed it into his pocket.
“What are you doing?”
“I don’t want to risk the tide washing it away and having to explain to the locals why Frankie Cole is walking along Main Street topless.”
“If I’m taking my shirt off, so are you.” She tugged roughly and buttons flew. “Oops.”
“You’re an animal.” Laughing, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. He felt her fingers fumbling with his zip and moaned as she dropped to her knees in front of him. “Frankie—”
“I’ve never done this before so if I do it wrong, you’ll have to tell me.”
He braced his hand on the rock in front of him, his breath leaving his body in a hiss as she drew him into the soft warmth of her mouth. “Holy shit—”
“Am I hurting you?”
“No.”
“Are you sure? Because I heard you moan.”
He dropped his head onto his arm. “It was a good moan.”
“Oh—” She sounded smug. “In that case there are a few other things I’d like to try—”
He was about to ask what other things but then she did something with her tongue that wiped coherent thought from his brain.