“We take care of each other.” Nerves make my mouth dry.

Pierce leans in closer, fingers skimming my cheek. It’s the gentlest caress. “Why are you so guarded?”

“Why do you ask so many personal questions?”

“Because I like you and I’m trying to get to know you.”

“You like me because I let you screw me on a dryer.” I take another sip of water, my face as hot as the rest of my body.

“I liked you before that.” His grin widens. “And I like you more because of that.”

I gesture between us. “This isn’t a good idea if we’re going to be working for you and your brother.” Lawson is too hungry for this property for it to be the last he buys.

“Business is business. We can keep it separate. I had a lot of fun last night.” He dips his head and his cold fingers tilt my chin up. “I think you had fun too. I think we could have more fun, together.” His lips hover over mine. “What about you? What do you think?”

Flashbacks of last night flicker through my head like a slideshow on fast-forward when his chest meets mine and his thumb sweeps across my bottom lip. We have one more night at the beach house before we have to go back to our apartment and real life. Who knows what will happen after that? Based on our conversations, he’s only here temporarily, anyway. I can’t deny the sex was awesome, or that I kind of like how much joy he derives from antagonizing me. I could have a summer fling, the kind I should’ve had years ago, before my life fell apart.

I grace him with what I hope is the same cocky smile he likes to give me. “I’m up for some fun.”

“I knew you’d come around.”

He kisses me, a quick brushing of lips before he steps back. “Wanna get out of here?”

I find Marley to let her know I’m leaving with Pierce, to which I get a thumbs-up and a have fun. And then we’re out the doors, heading for the beach.

He crouches when we reach the sand and removes my shoes, carrying them as we walk down the beach. Quickly. I’ve had a few drinks and it’s fairly dark, aside from the moon and the stars and the porch lights from houses. We make it halfway down the beach before he spins me around, crushing my body against his. He takes my face between his palms and tilts my head back as his tongue sweeps inside. I latch onto his forearms, my legs turning watery under the unexpected but welcome kiss. We drop to the sand, mouths fused as I pull him over me.

“We should’ve left sooner.” He grinds his hips against me, his groan desperate, one hand shoved in my hair. The other smoothing down my side and then back up. He breaks the kiss, biting my bottom lip before nibbling his way down my throat. He palms my breast through the fabric, squeezing.

I bite my lip to stifle a moan. I can’t believe we’re back to making out on the beach. It might be deserted for the most part, but I can both hear and see the bar in the distance.

I’m too consumed to care, though, high on the sale and the buzz of hormones and alcohol. We’re both frantic mouths and roaming hands, tugging at fabric, unbuttoning, unzipping, pushing and pulling. Fingers explore, panties are pulled to the side, the tear of foil brings with it tangible relief to the ache between my thighs. Or bodies align and then he’s in me, the dark sky lit up with a million stars I can still see as my eyes close and I let sensation take over. We crash into each other like waves at high tide, desperate, chasing a building release.

“I’m gonna come, Rian, and I don’t want to go over the edge alone.”

“I’m right there with you,” I whisper into his ear.

Two thrusts later I come on a moan that he smothers with his mouth. The kiss is as vicious as the orgasm. He follows after me, movements erratic and intense as his own release steals his coordination.

After a few long, suspended moments, he lifts his head from the crook of my neck, thumb stroking along my jaw, eyes fixed on mine. And then he smiles. “We’re having a sleepover. We’re going to do this all night, and I’m going to cuddle you like a motherfucker after I finishing sexing every last orgasm out of you.”

“Okay.” I mean, what else can I really say to that?

CHAPTER 15

CUDDLE FUCK

PIERCE

This is not how I meant for tonight to go down. I’d planned to catch up with Rian, have a few drinks, and maybe invite her back to my place for a private celebration for two.

Except I hadn’t gotten that far. I blame it on the little green dress. Currently I’m still inside Rian. Still breathing hard, because I fucked her on the beach. And she let me. My cock twitches despite having come less than thirty seconds ago.

I have a system, a routine, a plan I usually follow with women, and she’s blowing that all to shreds. I’m usually a lot better at taking things slow, but not with Rian.

“Are you okay?” I ask, guttural and low.

“Yes.” It’s more raspy whisper than anything.

I scan the beach. Thankfully it’s still empty. We’re close to my brother’s place. Closer than we are to the rental. I fold back on my knees and shift the top of her dress so it covers her breasts. This is the second time I’ve fucked the hell out of this woman. In two days.

I ease out and adjust her panties—which I never bothered to take off—and her dress into place so she’s not flashing the world when she stands. It’s only after she’s covered that I slip the condom off, tie a knot in it and shove it in my pocket. Gross, yes. But better than leaving it for a bird to choke on and die. Or a toddler to pick up while making sand castles tomorrow.

“Come on, hotness.” I take her hands and pull her into a sitting position. As I stand, I bring her with me. The temperature has dropped significantly since the sun disappeared.

Rian shivers and crosses her arms over her chest, head bowed as I pick my shirt up off the ground and shake it out.

“Arms out, baby,” I murmur.

She peeks up.

“You’re shivering. Let’s get you inside and warmed up.”

“What about you?”

“I’m the asshole who fucked you on beach in May. I deserve to be cold.” She slips her arms into the sleeves. It’s huge on her, but at least it’s a barrier against the cool breeze coming off the water.

I grab her shoes and tuck her into my side, walking briskly up the beach. She has to jog to keep up, so I pause for a moment, dip down, tuck her knees into the crook of my arm and swing her up.

“What’re you doing? I’m too heavy!” Rian protests, but latches her arms around my neck and snuggles right in. If I’d been smart enough to wait until we were back at her place, we could be in a damn bed now.

“Hardly,” I scoff.

Clouds have started to roll in, and I have to wonder if we’re in for a storm tonight.

I jog toward my brother’s beach house. The three thousand square feet of open concept living space feels small with the two of us currently living here together. But once the master bedroom is renovated in the bungalow we purchased, I can always move in there while I finish the rest of the house. My condo in Manhattan is way too far to be a reasonable drive, so I haven’t been back in weeks. And I don’t really want to.

I have to set Rian down to unlock the door, but I wrap one arm around her, keeping her tight against my chest.

“God, I’m itchy,” she mumbles as she reaches down to scratch her calf, while holding onto my arm for balance.