Tingle to touch every fucking inch of her.

And knowing I can’t. I shouldn’t.

Until—

She reaches toward me and caresses my shoulder with her small hand. Glides her magic fingers down my arm to my hand that’s beneath the water. I have no idea what she’s up to, but she…

Oh, God…

She lifts it and places it on her breast.

“Baby,” I groan, reveling in the soft feel of her.

I don’t do anything except breathe, and I’m not sure if I’m even doing that. I had my hand on her last night and she was liquid fire. Heat. Passion. Until we were interrupted. Until the world butted into something that was just the two of us.

We’re alone now. Carly and me. Just us. Only a pair of panties and boxer briefs keeping my dick from sinking into her. She’ll be so hot around me compared to the cool water. Responsive. Hopefully a little wild.

“I—”

“Touch me, Austin,” she all but begs, cutting off my last bit of resistance. “Please touch me.”

I’m strong, but I’m only a man. It’ll take more than a punch from Chance to keep me from her now.

10

CARLY

Despite being in the cool water, Austin’s palm is warm against my flesh. I close my eyes and let out a soft sigh.

He can’t see my scars. Not yet. They’re mostly on my inner thighs, but there are a few on my back. He may see them when we get out of the spring, but I can’t worry about that now. Not when his strong hand is cupping me so delectably.

He jerks his hand away. “Carly…”

I pop my eyes open. “Damn it. I know you like me. I know you want me.”

He groans. “God, I do. But baby, the last thing I ever want to do is hurt you.”

“Did you hurt me last night when you had your fingers inside me?”

“I—”

“I’ll answer for you. You didn’t, Austin. You didn’t hurt me. You made me feel. And God, it’s been so long.”

His resistance crumbles. He grabs me then, pulls me into his embrace. Instead of his lips meeting mine, though, they brush against my forehead. “Carly…I want you so much, but fuck. We need to talk first.”

A quick roll of his hips and I come in contact with the proof of his desire, but the seriousness in his gaze has me stilling.

“About what?” I ask cautiously.

“About what happened to you. I know you want me to treat you like nothing happened, but we’re going to do things that might… I don’t know what.”

I look at his chest and run my fingertips over the skin. “I was taken from the diner in town. Millie’s. Kidnapped. I was held for three years on an island and—” I swallow, trying not to let the memories mess with where we are.

“What did they do to you?”