When we returned to the front deck, I suddenly became nervous. To give myself something to do, I sat on my chair, took out the sunscreen from my bag, and began rubbing it into my thighs. I always liked to spend twenty minutes in the sun without any protection, to soak in vitamin D, but the sun was too strong now.

Carter sat at the edge of my lounge chair. “I’m sorry about the interruption.”

“You don’t have to be sorry.”

“Val, look at me,” he said softly. “Are you regretting what happened in there?”

“No, but I can’t believe I completely forgot we were not alone. I’m just ashamed.”

“Don’t be. It was my fault. I completely forgot about... anyone else on the boat, honestly. I never lose myself this way.”

I was now rubbing sunscreen on my arms and shoulders.

“I’ll rub it on your back,” he offered, but I hesitated. “I’m not going to try anything, Val. Not today. We’re not alone. We learned our lesson.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Well, I certainly did. But I’m not sure about you.”

“Are you doubting me?”

“Yes.” Feeling sassy, I added, “I really do.”

He laughed, looking at me incredulously. “Try me.”

He held out his palm for me to pour cream on it, and after I scrutinized him for a beat, I poured a generous amount, then turned my back to him. He cheated, of course, and didn’t simply spread it on my back. Instead, he slipped his fingers under the clasp around my neck, then along the sides of my boobs.

“Think that part will be in the sun?” I teased. My voice was strained, and I was getting more aroused by the second. Especially because having his hands on me made it impossible not to think about how those fingers had felt between my legs. He’d set me on fire with his mouth, but those fingers... they’d been my undoing.

“Can’t be too careful.” After a few seconds, he confessed, “I can’t stop touching you. But that’s exactly what got us in trouble before.”

I turned to face him, afraid that he’d be too tempted to seduce me otherwise. I was turned on as hell again. I knew it, and by the sharp intake of breath when he looked down at my erect nipples, he knew it too.

“You were right.” His voice was a little gruff, as if he was fighting against letting out sexier sounds, like a growl, or a groan.

“About?”

“When I’m around you, I don’t seem to remember we’re not alone. But I will do my best. Want anything more to drink? I can make you a cocktail.”

“Sounds good.”

“Any particular requests?”

“Nah, I’ll drink anything.”

He returned a few minutes later with a Mai Tai. We lay side by side, soaking up the sun.