CHAPTER 28

Rafe could tell Carmen was all up in her head about something. Maybe her grandpa and his plans to marry Felice. And maybe it was also something else. He didn’t really know, and at the moment, his only intent was to get her to relax and have some fun.

He pulled into the out-of-the-way parking spot and turned the engine off.

Carmen turned to him. “I have no idea where we are.”

He grinned. “That’s the point.”

“I don’t even see a beach. Just a forest of bushes.”

“Trust me, it’s there.”

She gave him a dubious look. “You aren’t going to kill me and bury my body where no one will ever find me, are you?”

“I bring you to a secluded beach, and that’s the first thing you think of?”

She shrugged. “I watch a lot of true crime shows.”

He shook his head. After grabbing a couple of beach towels, he got out of the truck and came around to meet Carmen in front.

“It’s so dark,” she said. “And I don’t see lights anywhere.”

“I found this beach a few years ago. It’s small, but there’s enough sand that we can wander out and get in the water. And it’s safe. Our local lifeguards know about it and said it’s fine for swimming.”

She looked over at him. “In other words, your lifeguards also come out here.”

He grinned. “That’s how I know it’s safe.” He took her hand and led her through the bushes that kept the beach opening hidden from the public. It wasn’t a wide opening, but fortunately, Rafe knew the way. It wound around like a maze for about fifty feet, but then it opened up and they were at a clearing that was nothing but private beach and ocean.

“Wow.” Carmen stared out over the small stretch of sandy beach and waves. “This is amazing.”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen any part of the beach unoccupied like this. I mean, sure, at night, but there’s always buildings and hotels and lights. Here there’s . . .”

“Nothing.”

She lifted her gaze to his and offered up a knowing smile. “Yes. Nothing. No lights, no people around. It’s perfect, Rafe.”

He knew she’d like it. He led her down to the sand where he toed off his tennis shoes and dropped them on top of their towels. He dug in the sand and hid his keys, just in case someone should happen to walk by, though it was unlikely.

“Let’s get naked,” he said.

“Are you sure?” She gave him a hesitant look.

He pulled her into his arms. “We could always lie down on the towels and just make out.”

“You would be happy doing only that, wouldn’t you?”

“I’m always happy to kiss you.”

She looked out over the ocean. “It’s beautiful tonight.”

The moon was half-full, enough to highlight the water, but not enough to put them out in full view of anyone who might happen to come by. Not that they’d be seen. Rafe made sure of that.

When she turned back to him, she said, “I’ve never skinny-dipped a day in my life.”

He smoothed his hand down her back. “You don’t have to tonight, either, if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Nothing about being with you makes me uncomfortable.” She took a step back and lifted the dress over her hips, then off, letting it drop to the towel. She hadn’t worn a bra, so she was left wearing a very pretty shade of coral underwear. She shimmied out of those and took his breath away standing in the silvery moonlight naked.

He shucked his board shorts and pulled off his tank, adding his clothes to hers.

“You look amazing naked in the moonlight,” she said.

He laughed. “Babe. Nothing compared to you.”

“Well, I’m hot and sweaty, and happy it’s dark. Let’s get in the water.”

He took her hand, and they walked to the water’s edge. The water felt cool as he waded in to his waist, but Carmen dove right in, then came up laughing.

“This feels amazing.” She dipped back under the water, coming up right in front of him, smoothing her hair back with her hands.

He drew her against him. “You look like a mermaid.”

“Yeah? You think I’m here to tempt you out to sea?” She wrapped her legs around him.

“Maybe.”

He kissed her. She tasted salty, like the ocean, but her kiss was damn sweet on his lips. He cupped his palm around her neck and dug his feet in the sand to hold them in place as the waves washed over them.

He saw lightning flash off the horizon. He knew it was far enough away not to be concerned, but he also knew a storm could roll in pretty fast, too.

Carmen pulled her lips from his. “Storm’s coming in.”

“Yeah.”

She rubbed her fingers across his jaw and rocked her hips against him. “I guess that means we should get out of the water.”

“Soon . . . ish.”

She smiled, then pushed away from him.

They splashed at each other, diving in and out of the water and laughing so hard that Rafe felt like a kid again. It was perfect to be there with Carmen, isolated and free to do whatever they wanted.

He wanted her to play for a while, to let go of whatever tension was tying her up in knots. He wanted her filled with joy, and God, he wanted to keep hearing her laugh.

By the time they walked out of the water, the wind had picked up, whipping all around them, and the lightning was moving closer. Clouds were coming in, too, obliterating the moon. But it was still humid and hot on the beach, so they didn’t even need to dry off. They collapsed on the towels, and Rafe lay on his back. Carmen came down on top of him, her nipples rubbing against his chest.

“Cold?” he asked.

“Not at all.”

“Your nipples are like tight nubs against me. I thought you might be cold.”

“No. I’m hot. Very hot.”

She leaned in and kissed him, and suddenly he was hot, too. Very damn hot. He slid his hands down and grabbed a handful of her butt to draw her body along the length of his cock. She whimpered in response and rocked against him. He wanted to rub her pussy, but his hands were covered in sand.

He rolled her off of him. “Come on.”

They stood and grabbed their clothes. He shrugged into his board shorts and dug his keys out of the sand while Carmen put her sundress back on. They made their way to the car where he had a cooler and several large bottles of water shoved in ice. He opened one, using it to pour over his hands and to scrub the sand off their bodies.

“That’s so damn cold,” she said, shivering.

“Need to get the sand off so I can touch you.”

They climbed in the truck and he started the engine, cracking the windows open, then pushed the seat all the way back so she could come over and straddle him.

Thunder cracked loudly outside, and lightning splintered the sky a brilliant white. But all he could focus on was the warm, beautiful woman sitting on top of his hard cock. He grabbed a condom from the center console and pulled his shorts down while she lifted her dress, revealing her smooth, sweet sex to his view. He swept his hand along the softness of her pussy, watching the way she threw her head back and writhed against his questing fingers.

“Your fingers are cold,” she said. “And I’m so hot.”

“Too cold?”

She looked down at him, her eyes blazing hot with passion. “No. It’s perfect. Your hand feels good, Rafe. Touch me.”

Somewhere in the distance he heard a phone buzz. Maybe on the floor of the car; he couldn’t be sure. It stopped, then started up again.

“Yours?” he asked.

She rested her hand on his shoulder and rocked her sex against his hand. “Don’t care. Make me come.”

He slid two fingers inside of her and used his thumb to roll over her clit.

“Yes. Just like that. Oh, God, I’m coming. I’m coming.”

The way her body tightened and convulsed around his fingers nearly tore him apart. And watching the way she shuddered with reckless joy was the hottest damn thing he’d ever seen.

He withdrew his fingers, and she sat on his thighs. He tore open the condom wrapper and put it on, and Carmen slid onto his shaft. Watching his cock disappear inside her made his balls quiver.

And then she gripped his shoulders and rode him while the skies opened and rain poured down in torrents all around them. Thunder shook the ground while Carmen shook every part of his body as she swayed against him, her sweet heat enveloping him in a haze of pleasure.

He gripped her hips and thrust into her, soaking in her cries of pleasure as she jammed her palm onto the roof of the truck and rode him for all he was worth.

At this moment he wasn’t worth much, because there was a storm going on inside the truck, too, and he was about to explode with it. He just had to wait for Carmen.

And when she burst, so did he, shattering along with her as they rode out their own storm together until she fell against him, her entire body shaking with the aftereffects.

“Wow,” he managed, listening to her ragged breaths while the storm moved past them.

“Yeah.” She nibbled lightly on his shoulder.

One thing was for certain. He was never going to give this woman up. She was his, and always would be. He had to tell her how he felt about her, that he loved her, and how much he wanted her in his life. Like, permanently wanted her in his life.

She rolled off, and they got fully dressed this time.

Carmen finger combed her hair, then pulled down the mirror of the visor. “Wow,” she said. “I’m a mess.”

“A beautiful mess,” he said.

She looked over at him and smiled, then reached for her shoes, grabbing her phone from the floorboard. She stared at it and frowned, scrolled, then her eyes widened.

“We need to go, Rafe. Right now.”

He could tell from the sound of her voice she didn’t like what she’d read on her phone. “What’s wrong?”

“My grandpa is in the hospital.”

His stomach clenched. “What happened?”

“I don’t know.” She looked over at him, her expression one of panic. “We need to go.”

He put the truck in gear and backed out of the parking spot, heading to the hospital. Whatever was going on, he hoped it was nothing serious.