“Oh,” she said, breathless as his lips found the sensitive spot just below her ear. “That was nice of you.”

“You smell so good. Just like I remember.”

Sydney tilted her head to give him better access to her neck.

His arms tightened around her, bringing her even closer to him.

She reached back to bring his mouth down on hers.

The night before, on the deck of the Beachcomber, he’d been all about restraint. Tonight, he devoured.

Sydney twisted in his arms, needing to get closer, and the boat took an unsteady dip.

“Whoa,” Luke said, laughing.

Buddy whined from his post in the front, and Sydney couldn’t believe she’d forgotten where they were.

Luke shifted to steady them and brought her into direct contact with his erection. “Sorry,” he muttered.

Sydney wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed against him, drawing a deep groan from him.

“What do you say we take this somewhere more comfortable?”

“Yes,” she said, still breathless from the passionate kiss. “Please.” When she started to return to her seat, he stopped her.

“Stay,” he said. “Right here.” He arranged her so he could keep her close but still row.

The movement of the boat, the play of his body wrapped around hers as he rowed and the feel of his lips on her neck combined to make her burn for him. She rested her hand on his leg. Almost as if it had a mind of its own, her hand traveled from his calf to his knee, relearning him as it went.

“We’ll be going in circles if you keep that up,” he said gruffly.

She withdrew her hand. “Oh.”

“That wasn’t a complaint.”

Sydney smiled at the restraint she heard in his tone. Being with him like this reminded her of those long-ago summers when she’d had not a care in the world beyond finding a way to spend as much time with him as she possibly could. The carefree feeling was a welcome change from her reality of late.

The moment the boat bottom scraped against the shore, Buddy bolted.

“He doesn’t have his sea legs,” Sydney said, taking the hand Luke offered and stepping out of the boat.

“Yet.” He tightened his grip on her hand and tugged her into his arms for another of those drugging kisses that stole her breath and left her weak in the knees.

As much as it pained her to admit, no other man had ever made her weak in the knees. Only Luke. Sydney reached up for a handful of soft dark hair as her tongue tangled with his.