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"Anchored just out of sight that way," he replies, pointing south "This marina is only for small boats"

"Oh Maybe we can take the tender out there and hang out?"

"Not today, darling We’ll have to settle for a picnic on the beach, if that’s OK"

Darling? I frown We continue down the stairs until we finally reach the sand

I take my sandals off ier years taking over as I relish the sand between

"I’ve heard the ruround and stretching s out in the late day sun

"About your wild nature on the beach"

I chuckle at that characterization as Vincent takes off his shirt

Holy God I can’t stop staring at him He’s exactly like Ja but I don’t look away and neither does he "I’m not bad, eh? You’re not so hard to look at yourself But"--he eyes my body in the one-piece suit--"I’d rather you wore the bikinis e’re on our private beach"

"Our beach?" I s ahead of yourself, don’t you think?"

And then he’s on top ofagainstcloser and closer to mine as each second passes "This is your beach, Harper This is your home I am your future, not Jaht Tonight Just give ht to show you I’m the perfectdown hard enough to affectall the sae

"You can," he whispers back His legs part so he can straddle ive me permission"

"Permission for what?"

"To kiss you for one"

"You’ve already kissed ift Because I want to kiss you like I mean it And I can’t steal one of those I don’t want it to be a surprise or souard I want it to be purposeful, and welcomed, and returned" We stare at each other for a few more seconds and then he rolls off s out on the hot sand now He leans back on his arh I can wait"