* * *
When we got home,I decided to go down to the beach to sit and watch the waves. At least, that’s what I told myself I was doing. I could see Thane’s house clearly from the beach (better than I could from our house because the palm trees were in the way) and would be able to see when he got home. I could see Thane’s bedroom from the beach. If he did return home with Candiss, I would be able to see his bedroom light go on, and I could even make out if they were stripping. I knew I was being a little creepy and stalker-ish, but I had to know. I didn’t want to ask him because I wasn’t sure I’d get a straight answer.
Remi, Lila, and Shellene always told me that I had issues trusting people, but I’d learned not to trust anyone growing up—you couldn’t survive if you trusted others. Lila had taught me about trust, and I’d let her and the girls into my heart. They had never let me down, but men? That was a whole different story. I trusted Evan (after a lot of time and convincing), and that was it. I thought maybe I could trust Thane, but that might have been a huge mistake.
I was in the middle of my thoughts when someone tapped my shoulder. I jumped to my feet so fast I almost fell over; my heart jumped into my throat, and I screamed. Whirling around to see my attacker, I came face to face with Thane.
“Can I join you?” he asked.
“It’s your beach,” I reminded him, sitting back down.
He sat beside me on my towel, but he was just too close for comfort, so I moved away from him.
“What’s up with you? You said you’d give up the Ice Queen act.”
“What didCandisswant?” I may have said her name with lots of mockery.
“I don’t believe that’s any of your business,” he said.
I stood up. “It’s my business if you’re sleeping with her. I’m not down with an STD,” I told him, putting my hands on my hips.
“I don’t remember agreeing not to see other people,” Thane reminded me.
I knew he was right. I was feeling a bit like a fool. “I don’t appreciate sharing a man when I’m having sexual encounters with him. For my safety,” I added so that he wouldn’t think it was any other reason.
“Does that mean you’ll be having more sexual encounters with me?” Thane said, standing up and moving closer to me.
I backed away. “No!”
“Okay. Then I’m free to have sex with Candiss whenever I want, right? I just want this all clear so that you don’t come back to me at a later date and say I cheated on you,” he said.
“I won’t. We’re not in a relationship and never will be,” I yelled at him. I turned and ran into the water, desperate to escape him.
The cool water was refreshing as I was feeling so hot from being so close to him. Suddenly, something grabbed me, and I screamed. Flailing my arms about, I kicked my assailant, afraid it was a sea creature.
“Darcy, stop fighting me,” Thane said, holding me tight.
“I’m going to prove something to you,” he said as he claimed my mouth with his. His fingers undid my bikini top from my neck, exposing my breasts. I wrapped my legs around his torso so that I wouldn’t fall back into the water, and he took that as a sign that I wanted him to have his way with me.
“What are you trying to prove?” I asked breathlessly. His kiss was hot and full of desire, knocking me off guard. This wasn’t what I’d intended by coming here, but it was ultimately what I wanted—I wanted him to touch me.
“That you want me as much as I want you,” he said. “Touch me, Darcy.”
I reached down and pulled his hard cock out of his shorts, rubbing my hands up and down him until he throbbed in my grasp.
Thane lifted my skirt up and pulled my bikini bottoms aside, entering me with a hard thrust; he moved inside me with a frenzied desire, and I wanted him to fill me up more than anything.
I stopped as the memory of him with Candiss flooded back into my brain, clearing away the fog that having him near me always brought.
I pulled away from him, causing him to slip out of me. “Do you love Candiss?” I asked.
“What a stupid question that is,” Thane answered.
He reached to pull me closer, putting himself back inside me. He thrust himself deep, and I moaned, “Thane.” The burning sensation started up high and worked its way down to my hot center just as I pulled away again.
“You didn’t say no,” I said. I started to swim back to shore. He followed.
“Darcy, fuck. Would you stop? I’m not in love with her. Dammit, woman.”