At the table Sofia spots me and her eyes flit to Tobias. A knowing smile appears, and I overhear her tell Andy, “I think this place is tired, don’t you?”

“Yeah, you wanna go somewhere else?”

Tobias slips onto his chair like a Lion taking his place on a mountaintop, and turns his head to watch me round the table and take the seat beside him. His deep voice betrays nothing of what happened between us as he offers, “Let’s walk on the sand.”

“Yes, the beach!” Sofia grins, leaning back in her chair as if it’s been decided.

I’m floating on air. Whatever they want to do is fine by me. Tobias took hold of me and didn’t let go until he promised there would be more. It’s all I can do to not grin like a schoolgirl.

“Let’s pick up a pint of something,” Andy suggests as he opens up the leather bill holder. His credit card sits in it, and he lifts the pen and signs his name.

“What the fuck, dude?” Tobias growls, reaching for it.

Andy jumps out of his chair, and holds the paid tab out of reach. “I got this.” Off Tobias’s look he says with complete seriousness, “You just gave me the chance of a lifetime. I’m gonna show you who I am.”

“Show me by booking more fights.”

Andy signs the receipt while standing, his muscular body turned away so Tobias can’t try anything funny. “I’m gonna do more than that.” Over his shoulder he smirks at his friend. “You just watch.”

Sofia and I are staring at the new World Heavyweight Champion for his reaction. He’s skeptical, no sign of hope in his eyes. He blinks to me and a light appears in them, but it has nothing to do with Andy. A small smile turns up the corners of my mouth as neither of us looks away. He lays his hand on the table, palm up. I glance to it, hesitating, but slide mine onto his. Thick fingers wrap and give me a strong squeeze.

“You like the sand?” he asks, his voice low and meant for just me.

“I love it.”

“You wanna take a walk with me?”

I whisper, “Yes,” feeling oddly shy.

“Good. Because I wanna show you how beautiful Boca can be.” He kisses my fingertips and murmurs, “But just warning you, ya might not wanna leave.”

Andy asks, “You guys ready?” eyes are on my cousin.

The boys let us girls walk into the restaurant first and Sofia slips her hand around my waist to whisper, “Having fun?”

“Nah,” I smile. “I’m having a fucking blast.”

“Did you?”

“No, not that,” I whisper as we nod goodbye to the hostess on our way out.

“Other things?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Ooooh I’m so excited for you.”

“Tell Emma hands off.”

Sofia chuckles under her breath. “Pretty sure that’s unnecessary. This beast only has eyes for you.” She glances over her shoulder and I do, too. Tobias is watching me, and she’s right, he’s locked onto me like there is no one else in the world he’d rather look at. “Hey Andy! Where are we getting this boozy pint of num num you talked about?”

He grins at her. “You just let us take care of that.”

A cab ride to a hip liquor store later and we’ve got two small bottles of whiskey for the guys, and one vodka for Sofia and I to share as we step onto the beach.

The guys are behind us, talking about the fight. They’re in such a heat over it I think it must be the first chance they’ve had to discuss his win since the judges ruled in his favor.

With the cool sand slipping between our toes, Sofia and I carry our heels by their straps and stare up at the sky. Dreamily she says, “When we’re at the plantation, there are so many more. You can see the Milky Way!”

“I remember you showed me that when we were little,” I murmur, staring upward. “The city lights obscure some of the stars here.”

“Yeah,” she whispers. “But we know they’re up there.”

“Sofia?”

“Hmm?”

“It’s been so great spending this time with you.”

She glances to me, lights from the pier tracing her face. “Yeah?”

“We don’t get to see you that much.” My eyelashes drop toward the sand. “All the cousins talk about it. All of us wish you were raised in Atlanta.”

Looping her arm through mine she reminds me, “If I was, I wouldn’t be who I am.”

“I know.”

“I wouldn’t have helped all the people I’ve helped, Hannah.”

“I know.”

We walk in silence a while with the waves crashing to our right, their reach just shy of our bare toes.

Sofia offers, “I sometimes feel on the outside.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. I’m very close to Celia. She’s my best friend, but she’s not blood like you guys.” Gazing up at the sky, Sofia explains, “Being raised in a house with so many people, I’ve never been lonely except for the times when I go to Atlanta and I see you and Ben and Emma and Ethan laughing about things I wasn’t a part of. And Max? He and Caden both revere you, and they’re so relaxed when you’re around. But with me they’re stiff. Remember when Grams was sick in the hospital and you left me alone with them to get us something to drink from the vending machines? Conversation just stopped. They don’t know how to talk to me. And I feel the exact same way. It makes me a little sad.”

“They’re the eldest children of my dad’s twin, so of course they’re closer to me because of that connection. But Soph, one time when you left, Max told Caden they should take a road trip to Louisiana to spend time with you. Did they ever do it?”

“No,” she whispers.

“Is it good to know they wanted to, at least?”

She nods a little and eyes me. “They said that?”

“Yes. If anything they’re in awe of you. You’re very loved. Never forget it.”

Sofia holds my unwavering look, smiles, and for a second I barely recognize her because she looks so much younger and very vulnerable. “I love you guys, too. I can’t wait for Emma to get here. We’re going to have so much fun! Boca won’t know what hit it!”

“But she’s pissed she wasn’t invited earlier.”

“She’ll get over it.”

Tobias calls up, “You cold, ladies?”

We both glance back and shake our heads. It’s a beautiful night out. She slows and asks Andy, “Can I try whatever the fuck you called that?”

He laughs, “Sure, if you’ll give me a little taste of that clear crap you’re drinking.”

“Stoli is not crap.”

“There are better vodkas.”

“I like what I like!” She throws up her hands, rolling her eyes yet slowing to join him.

Tobias takes my cousin’s place, strolling up to me as they fall back. Pier lights trace his face and the angles are sharp and powerful. I love how he walks, like every step makes the ground shudder.

“Hey beautiful.”

Smiling, I run my hands through my hair to tame it from the warm night breeze. He and I walk beside each other in no hurry to break the peace with idle conversation. I glance to him from under my eyelashes. Heat floods my cheeks as lust-filled images play themselves out while I gaze at his handsome profile.

I wonder how many women he’s had. A professional fighter traveling the world has probably had hundreds throwing their panties at him in every language. If I weren’t so excited to be here I might get jealous at the thought but, frankly, I’m grateful he’s learned how to do what he just did to me.

My first time was with a guy so small I had to break up with him immediately afterward. Can’t remember what lie I told him to save his ego, but it was the size of my pinky and even at fifteen I knew I needed way more than that lip balm stick to commit to. I waited for the next time until I was eighteen as a promise to Jaimie, my stepmother. We made a deal, she and I, and it was a very emotional day I’ll never forget. Tore down any remaining walls she and I had between us from her not being my real mom.

But back to the men. Every one has tried my patience until my hope was nothing but a nub smaller than that first guy’s little cock, which is saying a lot. Or a little.

“What are you laughing at?” Tobias asks as he catches me giggling.

“I can’t tell you. Can I have a taste?”

He cocks an eyebrow, a sexy gleam in his eyes. “Right out here in front of everyone?”

Smacking his arm I reach for the pint, dryly saying, “Ha ha.”

His voice deepens on a challenge. “You don’t want to taste me?”

With my eyelashes fluttering I confess, “I might want to taste you.”

He stops walking and slides his thick fingers around my neck and up the back of my head. “I want to feel your lips wrapped around me…”

“I tasted you already,” I interrupt, feeling hot and agitated as I hear Sofia and Andy’s voices growing nearer.

“You tasted my mouth, babe. I’m made of so much more than that.” He pulls me in, crashing our mouths together until I forget there’s anyone but him. Our tongues dance and like we can’t get enough we switch sides, noses mashing against each other for a second until we latch on again.

“Woohoooo!” Sofia Sol howls. “Show me how it’s done!”

I jump up and hook my legs around his ass and Tobias grunts in response, holding my hem so that I stay covered. Then he gets distracted and his fingers begin hungrily massaging my cheeks.

“Okay, time to go!” Sofia mutters.

Andy laughs and tosses his jacket at us. “Best blanket I’ve got.”

“They’re not going to sleep,” she says, like he’s an idiot.

“For the sand!” he tells her.

“Oh.”

As they were arguing their voices faded into the distance while this kiss has never paused or broken for air. My arms clutch his back. His fingers knead into the forgiving flesh of my ass. Throbbing for him, I bite his tongue and make him growl in my mouth. I’m so hot for him I could cum with little effort. My body remembers. And it just wants more.

Under the sweet squawking of seagulls Tobias breaks free from my lips and pants, “You’re driving me crazy.” His right hand slides lower and his fingers slip under my damp panties to finger me.

“I wanted you to do that,” I whimper.

“Yeah? I thought you might. Fuck, you’re so wet,” he hisses through his teeth as his finger penetrates me just an inch in. “So fucking tight.”

“When?”

His eyes narrow and then he smirks. “When do you want it?”

“Oh…” I moan, closing my eyes and sticking my tongue out. He locks onto it and sucks.

Breaking away he rasps, his fingers dancing inside my pussy, “When do you want my cock, Hannah?”

“Ten years ago.”

He grins with lust in his eyes. “How old are you?”

I don’t care that he’s not supposed to ask me that. Right now I would tell him the code to my safe if I had one.

“Twenty-eight.”

“So eighteen would make you legal,” he smirks.

“Smart and a damn good punch. What are your flaws?”

His smile vanishes. “I have a dark side.”

Holding his stare I whisper, “Show me.”

He cups the back of my head with one hand and lowers my ass onto Andy’s jacket. My knees are bent, him kneeling between them. Tobias pulls off his shirt and lifts my head to protect my hair from the sand by using it as a pillow.

“I don’t care about that!” I tell him, clawing at his chest.

“Shh,” he murmurs, fanning out my hair on the cotton. “Let me take care of you.”

My heart stutters as I stare up at him. “You treat every girl like she’s precious? Or are you about to go dark on me?”

I mean vanishing.

Like Joe did.

Tobias squints at me while sitting on his heels. “Are you fucking with me right now?”

“No.”

He falls forward, caging me in a push-up stance to search my eyes. “Oh, I get it.”

“What?”

“Beautiful but acting insecure to look modest.”

I don’t think a Cocker has ever been called modest in their lives, except in sarcasm. Insecurities…well everyone has those, don’t they? It’s just how much you can hide them.

Lately I’ve not been very good at that skill.

I crook my index finger for him to come and give me a kiss, because who am I kidding? I can’t turn him away even if this is the only night we’ll have together.

He bends his elbows to lower himself, total push-up style that makes me laugh. But our kiss is tentative and gentle at first but within seconds shifts to voracious with me tugging at his belt and zipper, my hips craned up so that I can rub my throbbing clit against his crotch for relief.

“Heads up!” Sofia shouts with heavy warning. “Cameras!”

Like a shot Tobias is pulling my dress modestly into place as I jackknife to sitting up, confused. He snatches his shirt from the sand and covers my head. Sofia rushes to help me up. Andy shouts at the voyeurs, “Shut it down!”

I don’t know how many there are, but from their objections they’ve recognized Tobias from the fight.

“I hope they weren’t uploading us live,” I whisper to Sofia as she hastily leads me away, my head covered by the shirt.

Sofia’s hoarse with anger. “I don’t think they could tell who you were. Probably just looked like another blonde.”

“Another?”

“You know what I mean, Hannah,” she growls. “Where are your heels?”

“Dammit.”

“I so don’t envy you having a famous father.”

“I’m what made him famous.”

“Still.”

Tobias calls out to us, but she and I keep walking. He and Andy jog up. I pull his shirt off my head and hand it to him, glancing to his naked chest and wishing that could have gone a whole different way.

“I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s fine.”

Andy offers, “We took their phones and deleted the videos.”

Sofia shoots him a protective look. “Did they recognize my cousin?”

“No, why would they?”

Tobias says, “They were fans. They saw the fight. One asked if you were the girl who threw that card.”

“Oh,” I whisper.

He doesn’t know about me, my history, or my family.

That’s one of the things I like about this connection.

I don’t have to worry what he wants, what his angle is.

We’re in a different state and I doubt if this guy pays attention to who the Senator of Georgia used to be.

He didn’t even flicker when Sofia said the name ‘Cocker’ at the gym, and it was such a relief. He’s giving me what I crave — anonymity.

Tobias cups my chin, his voice deep and sincere. “Sorry I put you in that position.”

“You protected me,” I reassure him, motioning to the shirt in his hands that he gave me to hide under. “Thank you!”

He darkens and releases me, pacing away and growling, “Fuck those people! Don’t they have anything better to do?!”

Sofia is staring at the waves, the easy-going vibe we were all enjoying, gone.

She needed it as much as I did.

Her life is filled with drama and struggle. The lighthearted flirtation with Andy was probably making her feel like a new person, a break from pain and fighting.

After a few seconds of awkward silence Andy explodes, “Hey, are we going to let those fucks ruin our night? Hell no! Let’s go swimming!”

Sofia and I blink at him. She points at the white-capped darkness. “In there?”

“Yeah!”

“Aren’t there sharks?”

“Yup.”

A grin plays on her lips. “I’m in.”

“Oh no.” I start shaking my head at the ocean. “No no no no no.”

Tobias tosses his shirt on the ground, unzipping his jeans, belt hanging open in the loops as he pulls his pants down. Andy follows suit, and my fucking cousin pulls her dress right over her gorgeous head, wearing only panties, no bra, large breasts exposed in all their beautiful, naked glory.

The guys react, of course.

I mutter, “Fuck that!” and yank my dress off, too. Unsnapping my bra, my breasts fall free and I throw my arms up. “I will not be outdone!”

Sofia cracks up and goes running as Andy chases her in zigzags, water splashing under their racing bare feet.

Tobias bends down like he’s stalking me.

I back away, begging him, “Oh no! Please! You’re not throwing me in.”

“I am.”

“You’re not!” I shout, backing up faster.

“Oh, I am. By the way, Hannah?”

“Yes?”

“Nice tits.” He lunges and I scream, sprinting as fast as I’m able to in the swift current. Suddenly I’m in the air, spun around, laughing so hard my stomach hurts. Tobias throws me over his shoulder and walks us toward the ocean with me trapped in his arms.

“No, don’t! I’m afraid of sharks!”

“I’m deadlier than sharks.”

“You can’t see them coming!”

“I’ll punch them in the face,” he mutters as the water reaches his boxer briefs. The fucker throws me in!

As soon as I’m submerged I spring to the surface and feel him grabbing me around the waist. “Ah ah ah, where ya goin?”

“Let me go you bastard!”

Laughing he lifts me out of the water and walks us a couple steps in so it reaches only our lower thighs. “No sharks right here, babe. Too shallow. Those monsters can’t get you from here.”

“I’m looking at a monster.”

He places my open palm over the wet cotton covering his erection. “No, this is a monster.”

I laugh, “Oh, okay, fine.” But the feeling of him in my hand awakens me, starting at my core. He sees the change in my eyes and lowers his handsome face to mine. He searches me for a second as I tighten my hold on his length. My head tips up to receive his kiss, but Tobias waits a moment before slipping his tongue in my mouth, chest rumbling as I stroke him. His hands cup my breasts, thumbs dancing over my goosebump-covered nipples.

Against my lips he murmurs, “Stay with me tonight, Hannah.”

All I can do is whisper, “Yes.”

He nods like it’s settled and crushes my mouth once more. The world disappears into him, waves crashing against my legs as I dig my fingers into his taut shoulder blades and moan softly. After a long while of making out he breaks the kiss to gaze at me. The moonlight dances in his eyes as he rasps, “Why do you have to be so fucking perfect?”

“I’m just a woman,” I murmur, rising onto my toes to shut him up. He’s holding me so tightly as we kiss that my lungs have little room to spare.

I’ve never felt more alive.