“Be careful!” I shriek at one point, when he’s so far out on the water he’s just a little blip on a surfboard, a giant wave coming at him. I’m positive he couldn’t hear me.
It didn’t matter—I needed to yell just to get out some of my panic. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest and panic clawed at my insides. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.
And I can’t analyze why I care so damn much.
By the time he’s finished with his lesson, I’m a mess, barely keeping my composure. I’ve got my arms wrapped around my bent legs and I’m shivering despite the heat as Perry makes his way over to me. His smile is wide and his muscular body is still dripping wet and oh God he is so incredibly sexy.
I’m also mad at him for putting his life at risk like that. I don’t know if my heart can take much more of that.
“Wasn’t that amazing?” He grins, looking pleased with himself.
“You caught on fast.” My voice is tight.
He doesn’t even notice, plopping down on the ground next to me, his skin automatically covered in sand. “It was such a rush out there. I fucking loved it.”
I’m glad someone loved it. I could barely stand watching him.
“You’re turning pink,” he observes, his fingers skimming my shoulder, making me tremble. “Soon you’ll be as bright as the suit you’re wearing if you don’t watch it.”
I scowl at him. “I used sunscreen.”
“You might need more.” He turns away from me and props his hands into the sand behind him, tilting his head back and closing his eyes. I study him, marveling yet again at how handsome he is. How loose and relaxed he seems right now. The surfing might’ve led to a near heart attack for me, but it seems to have completely calmed him down. “I feel good. This trip has been…nice.”
A mild way to put it.
“Yes,” I murmur, sliding my fingers in the sand right next to him. I wish I could touch him freely. Drift my fingers across his thigh. Tuck a single finger beneath the loose waistband of his swim trunks. Would he mind? Or would he think it weird?
I decide not to test it.
“Very nice,” I finish when I realize he seems to be waiting for more of a response from me. “I’ve had a—good time.”
“Me too.” He angles his head toward me, his lips curved. “I’ve learned a lot.”
“Same.”
He chuckles. “What the hell are we doing, Charlotte?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, loving how real we’re being in this moment. “Let’s not overanalyze it. Our day is almost over.”
“We leave tomorrow at ten,” he says, his voice soft.
My heart pangs. Less than twenty-four hours until we have to go home. “That’s so soon.”
“Too soon.” He doesn’t hesitate when he reaches for me, tangling his fingers in my hair and tucking a few loose strands behind my ear. “I like you like this. Half-naked and watching me show off.”
“Perry.”
“What?” He caresses my cheek, his touch featherlight. “I can tell you want to touch me, wife.”
“Us Lancasters aren’t very touchy people,” I admit. “We never really have been.”
“Oh yeah?” He leans in so his mouth is level with my ear. “Well, you’ve been touching me a lot lately.”
Sometimes he makes it so easy.
“You don’t mind?”
He pulls away frowning. “Why would I mind? I like it.”