‘Determination. I like it,’ he said, positioning the board and holding it steady for her.
Cara pulled herself up and lay on her stomach, swearing that this time she would get it.
‘Okay, get ready,’ Aidan called out beside her.
‘The wave’s coming—no, relax and go with it. Let the momentum build. Feel the way it grips you and then find the sweet spot. Feel how it sucks you backwards and then the adrenaline rush as it launches you forward. Okay, here it is—and go!’
With a thrust Cara felt the wave pick up the board as she surged forward and she relaxed into its grip and submitted to its force. Trembling with excitement she pushed to her knees, steadied and then stumbled to her feet. The board rocked her one way and the wave pulled her another and then, arms outstretched as if she were balancing on a tightrope, Cara found the sweet spot Aidan was talking about and rode the board into shore until its fins dragged on the sandy bottom.
Elated, she jumped off the board and let out a giant whoop, pumping her fist in the air. As the board floated towards the shore she turned and ran back out to Aidan. Without thinking she launched herself into his arms and nearly knocked him over. ‘I did it! I did it! ‘
She wrapped her arms and legs around him and bounced with pure delight. ‘Now I know why all those surfers spend hours and hours sitting on the beach waiting for the waves to come up. That was the best feeling in the world.’ She couldn’t stop herself from babbling. ‘I felt like I was floating on air. I felt like I could do anything.’
Cara realised that Aidan wasn’t saying anything and then she suddenly became aware that his hands were cupping her bottom and that her legs were wrapped tightly around his lean hips.
Oh, my Lord, and he was … hard, his arousal pressing against her soft belly. An instant rush of liquid fire drenched her lower body and she didn’t know whether to straighten her legs or squeeze them tighter.
Her body had a mind of its own and chose the latter and a look of abject pain crossed Aidan’s handsome face.
‘Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.’
Aidan gripped her bottom harder to hold her still and clenched his jaw. ‘You didn’t … hurt me exactly. Just hold steady before, oh, Jesus, Cara, please stop squeezing your thighs, you’re killing me here.’
Cara stilled. She was? With her heart drumming so loudly inside her head Cara couldn’t think of anything else except for the man holding her so tightly in his arms.
She was completely aware of their near-nudity and of the warm silky water swirling around their hips. She could feel the fabric of his shorts rough against her core, her bikini so small it was as if it wasn’t even there.
Her body felt boneless and she knew that if Aidan were to move his fingers just a little higher he would be able to feel how aroused she was. He would be able to move the tiny strip of fabric to the side and slip his fingers inside her already-parted flesh.
Unable to prevent it, she let out a low moan and her lower body completely ignored Aidan’s instructions to hold still and pressed down against the thick ridge of his penis.
He said a word she had once had a nanny wash her mouth out for and then his mouth captured hers and all the pent-up lust she had been trying to keep at bay broke over her like one of the waves surging around them.
Aidan locked one hand in her hair and pressed the other into the small of her back, urging her even closer.
Cara gave herself over to the warm thrust of his tongue and clutched his shoulders, running her hands over his strong back and revelling in the feel of his muscles bunching and releasing as he fought to keep them upright in the surf.
She caught another of his deep groans in her mouth and then she felt his fingers slide beneath the fabric of her bikini bottoms and sanity returned. ‘Aidan!’
She pushed at his shoulders when he didn’t immediately respond and then his fingers found her wetness and she nearly succumbed to the fever he caused inside of her. ‘Aidan, stop,’ she gasped weakly.
Those skilful fingers withdrew and she wanted to take back her words and beg him to continue. When he slid them free of her bikini bottoms she made a low keening sound and buried her face against his neck, breathing in his musky male scent and willing her body to stop throbbing.
She felt him lower his face against her hair and breathe deeply. He might have kissed her there, she wasn’t sure, but when she made to unwind her legs he stayed her. ‘Hold on.’ He gritted his teeth. ‘Just give me a minute.’
Feeling a thrill race through her when she realised that he was as close to release as she had been, Cara didn’t move a muscle. His breathing was ragged beside her ear and after a minute she felt him pull himself back under control. A bird called overhead and she heard the muted sound of distant conversation farther along the beach.