I can't help the wry smirk that pulls at my lips, though, when I take in the huge floppy hat on her head. It seems her friend is a woman of her word. Sophie looks adorably ridiculous in it, and I want nothing more than to march over there, take her in my arms, and soundly kiss her.
She and her friend finally settle and lie on beach chairs in the sun for a while. Well, the friend lies in the sun. Sophie has removed her hat, but she's sitting in the shade under an umbrella. She still applies sunscreen on her skin periodically, though.
Watching her rub the white lotion into her skin is better than the best porn flick. I'm so hard I couldn't stand up if I wanted to for fear of embarrassing myself in front of everyone on this beach.
I doesn't matter how many times I stroke one out, one look at her is enough to have my cock rising to attention. Apparently, it doesn't matter where I'm at either. The public be damned. Every atom in my body is screaming at me in primal instinct to claim her already.
I don't know how long I sit there sweating in the hot-ass sun while I watch her, but I'm relieved when she and her friend finally stand.
Finally, they're leaving, and we can get out of this heatwave.
If I thought the ladies were going to be kind enough to go back into the air conditioning of their hotel, I was mistaken.
Instead, my lips thin when I see them walk over to a volleyball court. Every muscle in my body tenses, and my nostrils flare in irritation when I see that there are several bare-chested males at said volleyball court.
The friend is already introducing them, no doubt looking to get them into the game.
Oh hell no…
I'm making my way across the sand before I even fully process what I'm going to say when I get over there.
All I know is that this isn't happening. She's not going to be hopping around in front of a bunch of horny dickwads—especially in that miniscule bikini that's threatening to expose a nipple or her pussy at any moment.
"Sophie." Her name comes out as a growl, but damn it, I can't help it.
I see the surprise register on her face as she turns to me, followed swiftly by irritation. "Axe?" She says my name like it's something distasteful, and maybe there's something wrong with me, but it sets my pulse to racing.
"What are you doing here?" she asks me, her eyes flicking over my body. I have to fight the urge to flex when I see her checking me out. I work out every day. Always have. But I've never been more thankful for my ripped abs and buff physique than in this moment when I see a hint of something that mirrors the attraction I feel for her light her pretty blue eyes.
"I thought we agreed you weren't coming to the beach this weekend?" I don't know why I'm goading her. I know my comment is going to piss her off, but it seems like I just can't help myself.
Her eyes flash fire. "We didn't agree anything since you have no say whatsoever in what I do."
I feel several pairs of curious eyes on us, but I ignore them.
I knew what her reaction would be, but my jaw still ticks at hearing her mouth off that I have no claim over her. Oh, my sweet little ruby, you just have no idea…
"Don't I?" I raise an eyebrow at her.
She starts to spin away from me, but I grab her and loop my arms around her waist. I bend down just low enough where only she can hear me and whisper in her ear, "You're not going to play this game, Sophie."
She pushes against me, and my entire body reacts to the sensation of her hands on my bare chest. Fire licks throughout my veins, priming me for more.
If the tiny gasp she emits is any indication, she feels it too. Her eyes flick up to me, and I capture them with my own. God, they're so beautiful, especially in the sunlight like this. They look somehow even bluer. They're prettier than the ocean behind us.
"You can't tell me what to do." Her breathy voice lacks conviction despite her protest.
"If you think I'm going to stand back and watch all these men drool over your barely covered body, think again, sweetheart. I'll rip the eyes from each man here before I abide that. Besides, you'll burn out here under this noonday sun."
She looks up at me with wide eyes as if trying to gauge how serious I am. I'm deadly serious, and she must realize it because she finally expels an exasperated breath.
"You're completely crazy. You know that, right?" She frowns up at me.
I can't stop the smile that breaks across my face as I tug on her long, red braid. "Only when it comes to you, my little ruby."
She rolls her eyes, but I ignore her.
"Take a walk with me."