No matter how many times Carrie frowns in my direction, the grin on my face won’t disappear at having Michael with me. He makes me happy and I’ve really missed him this morning.

My sister is up to something but I haven’t figured out what. I have a sneaky suspicion it has something to do with Sinclair, but neither of them are giving anything away. It’s annoying but I’ve decided to leave them to it. I’m happy with Michael. I’m hoping, when he isn’t working, I’ll be able to spend all my time with him.

Even after working all morning and the meeting with my father, Michael still has a lot of energy, which thankfully is directed toward me.

The tender stroke along my thigh, or against my arm is arousing, so I’m glad that he tossed my cover up over my head before we moved to the restaurant for lunch. The food is amazing and the calamari is fresh from the ocean today. That’s one of the things I love about being on the Island—the freshness of seafood and how it’s prepared. But sitting by the ocean to actually eat with the man who has quickly jumped into my heart makes it all the more enjoyable.

“You okay?” Michael whispers into my ear. “You’re quiet.”

“I’m thinking.” I smile. “About you.”

“Hmm, I like the sound of that.”

“You are not the only two present at this table,” Carrie hisses. “What’s wrong with having some manners?”

Michael’s face tightens with anger. He holds my gaze, slowly inhaling and exhaling as though my scent is grounding him before he faces my sister. Carrie visibly shrinks and her bravado seems to have disappeared. Beside her, Sinclair looks as though he wishes he were anywhere but here. I wish Michael and I were as well.

“What is your problem Carrie? I haven’t done anything to you.”

“That’s the problem,” Sinclair mumbles under his breath but we both hear him.

Michael narrows his eyes on the man before turning back to my jealous sister. That’s what she is and I really don’t understand why. If it was over Michael, then I could understand that, but her behavior toward me started when I turned twenty-one. It was as though a switch had been turned on overnight. Nothing I have done or said since has agreed with her. It’s the main reason I stay away from family vacation time as my mother calls it. It’s actually no vacation for me. I have a feeling this is going to be the last and that makes me sad.

“What’s going on with you?” I ask her, unable to hide the hurt I’m feeling. “We used to get along, but now, everything,” I pause, “and I mean everything, has to be an argument or disagreement, or even a dig toward whom I’m with. I don’t know what happened, Carrie, but if you don’t stop with it then you’ll lose me.” Michael intertwines his fingers with mine for support, as I add, “Although, I think that’s already happened.”

Standing, I slip my fingers free of Michael’s and grab my dish of food and wine glass. I nod to a free table and Michael collects his own things and moves across with me.

“I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t, Brooke.” Michael captures my face between his hands and places a sweet kiss to my lips. “You have nothing to apologize for.” He kisses me again and we sit, finishing off our food and the rest of the white wine. My appetite isn’t as good as it had been a few minutes earlier, but I refuse to allow Carrie to ruin anything else for me.

“Do you still want to go in the water with me?” Michael asks, wiggling his brows.

It has the intended effect and I laugh feeling like a weight has lifted from my chest.

I grin, wave over to one of the waiters and tell him with my hands that I’ll pay later. They know that I always keep my promise so it works well when I want to spend time at the beach because it means that I don’t have to carry money with me.

“Hey,” Michael snags my hand, “what about paying?”

“I’ll call in and pay later. They trust me.”

“Thank you, but this is on me.”

Before I can say anything Michael disappears into the tavern and I smile at the handsome figure he makes. He’s tall and has a body made for pleasure—mine to be precise.

He’s back with a frown across his brows.

“What’s wrong?”

He curses under his breath. “Did you know that Carrie and Sinclair charged their meals to your account?”

I gasp and look around for them, but they’ve gone. “I’ll make sure to mention it at dinner tonight.” I grin. “When father asks about my day, I’ll mention it then.”

He chuckles. “Let’s go and get you nice and,” he leans closer, whispering, “wet.”

Goose bumps race across my body at the promise in his words. “I like that idea.”

My frown returns tenfold when I see Carrie lounging with Sinclair as though they haven’t just stiffed me with their bill. Carrie knows that, on the odd occasion that we eat together, we pay our own way. Regardless of how childlike it makes me look, I’m going to make sure I don’t forget today over the dinner table.

“Um, let’s not leave anything with them,” Michael suggests.

“I’m good with that. I only have my wrap, but I don’t really want to leave it around strangers.”

“You won’t need to.”

I follow his line of sight and notice Sirena and Garrett on two loungers off in the shade with Elias looking flat out in his stroller.

Michael slings his arm around my shoulders and guides me in their direction. Garrett sees us first and must have whispered something to Sirena because her gaze is soon on us.

“I’m surprised to see you both down here? Isn’t it a bit hot for Elias?”

Sirena rolls her eyes at Michael, while I give him a really look.

“Michael, I hate to be the one to inform you of this, but children have played around in heat like this for centuries,” Sirena makes a tsk sound. “Besides, he’s in the shade.”

“You know those two behind you?” Garrett asks.

Without turning around, I agree, “My sister and, maybe, a friend. I’m not sure anymore.”

Michael changes the topic. “We’re going in the water, can we leave our things with you guys?”

“Yeah, sure. We’re going to be here maybe an hour longer and then we’ll head back to the hotel.”

We strip down to our swimwear and taking my hand, Michael walks me down to the ocean. The water is clear and refreshing. We walk further in and the water laps around my thighs. I peer through the depths and catch the odd fish swimming away. I let my hand float in the water and minutes later, I realize that Michael is watching me instead of the scenery.

“You take my breath away, Brooke.” He brings me into the circle of his arms and every thought and worry slips away. “Can you swim?”

“Very well.”

“Good, just wanted to be sure. Wrap your legs around my waist.” He lifts me against him and my body ignites. My hands go around his neck and I stroke the nape, feeling Michael shiver under my touch. “I’m beginning to wonder about the wisdom of this,” he moans and grabbing ahold of my bottom, he flips us so he’s floating on his back with me lying above him.

I relax and let him swim us further out and around into a small cove.

Grinning, I tease, “Are you about to have your wicked way with me, Mr. McKenzie?”

“And what if I am, Miss. Jordan?”

I wiggle further down and end up with his erection nudging against my bottom. Smiling, I add, “Feeling amorous?”

Reaching behind me, I tease his flesh and find myself briefly submerged in water as his arms quickly come up around my waist. We break the surface spluttering.

Michael laughs. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting your hands on me.”

“Really?” I raise a brow. “I mean, how could you not with the thickness of that thing bobbing about in the water, tapping me on the bottom? It wanted attention.” I smirk.

“That thing?” He tickles me, his eyes wide with amusement. “That thing is what you bathed with your climax this morning.”

My eyes widen and I feel a blush creeping along my cheekbones. “You had to say that out loud?”

He gathers me close, slipping his hand into the back of my bikini panties, his fingers searching. “How sore are you?”

I tug the small triangles of fabric away from my breasts and leaning in, rub against Michael’s chest. He curses. Lifting me up, he seals his warm mouth over a nipple, biting it until it’s hard as a pebble. My hands grip his head to me and when he shifts to my other breast, a shiver runs down my spine.

“You are so responsive to me,” he says against my chest. “You didn’t answer me?”

About what?

I frown and he gently rubs between my legs in response.

“I haven’t felt sore, although I’ve ached all morning for you to fill me again.”

His breath catches in his throat and he lets out a shaky sigh. “Then let me love you.”

In reply, I slip my hand between us and shove the front of his shorts over his erection. He hisses in response and I groan at the feel of his smooth flesh in my hands. It throbs as though it’s alive.

Michael moves my panties to one side and as I hold him upright, I slowly become impaled on him.

I grip his shoulders and throw my head back gasping for breath at the feel of him stretching me wide as I take all of him.

“I’m hurting you,” he mumbles, his face dropping to my shoulders.

“You’re not…feels good…so good.” Lifting up slightly, I slowly slide back down his shaft. I chew my lip, concentrating on the sensation of his cock as he strokes along my sensitive walls. “So good, Michael.” I shiver.

His gaze is fierce and when he claims my lips, I feel as though he’s not just kissing me with his mouth, but with his whole body. His tongue invades my mouth while every one of my senses is tuned into him. My arms wrap tightly around his neck grounding me to him. Michael grips my hips and slides me up and down on his dick. It doesn’t take long before I mewl in a most delicious climax.

Michael holds me down on his shaft as he twitches and coats my walls with the warmth of his release. The intensity of our climax leaves me lethargic and I smile against Michael’s shoulder. I slightly bite down before I sooth the tiny mark with my tongue and grin when Michael shudders.

“I think I need to sit down,” he admits. “You sucked me dry baby.”

“Mmm, well, I’m certainly having a lot of firsts with you.”

“I don’t hear any complaints.” He lifts me slightly and puts my bottoms back in place.

I’d do the same for him but of course, I’m unable to do that without stroking him.

He growls. “You should come with a warning.”

Chuckling, I whisper, “I thought I did,” into his ear.

“We’re never going to make it back to shore at this rate.” Michael floats on his back, taking me with him. “Cover your breasts. Those are for my eyes only.”

“I’d forgotten. Shows just how used to being naked I am with you.”

His eyes fill with humor. “I love being naked with you.” A frown crosses his gaze. “But I hope you know that I love just being with you. Holding your hand at dinner with my family. Having lunch today. I enjoy being with you, Brooke. I need you to know that it isn’t about sex.” He smirks. “Although, I think you’re going to end up killing me with pleasure at some point.”

Swallowing back tears, I hold his gaze. “I know and I love being with you. I felt the connection with you the minute our eyes met across the dinner table.” I softly smile. “My heads been turned in your direction ever since.”

His hands caress my thighs before he grips my bottom and holds on to me as he places his feet on ground. “I’m glad we’re both on the same page.” He kisses me on the nose and strides out of the ocean.