His behavior toward me messed with my head. A big, powerful guy like that had kissed me with so much gentleness. When he moved away, it was obvious he was rock hard. Yet he hadn’t pushed for more.

He disappeared somewhere in the back of the boat. Finally, I mustered the courage to find him. The water was still and the boat was steady.

I stopped at the top of the stairs, spotting him with a bottle in one hand and a carton in the other. He had this oddly innocent expression on his face. Though there was nothing innocent about Tade, his disarming expression made me think for one second I could trust him.

“What do you have there?” I asked.

As he glanced up, the sun highlighted strands of copper in his hair and green eyes. His mouth curved into a glorious smile, reminding me what it felt like when he kissed me. My stomach did flips again.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. His sexy scruff had me doing the same.

“I—uh—forgot about the champagne I brought. My mother likes to drink this Mimosa concoction she claims all women like. I thought…”

Not in my wildest dreams had I thought a guy like him would be flustered. Something in me cheered as he stumbled over his explanation. This beautiful man was at a loss for words.

“I thought you might want one,” he finished.

I shook my head. I’d had more than my quota for alcohol the last few times I’d been out and it had made me do stupid things. The last thing I needed was for Mom’s wild prophecy to come true with me getting drunk and doing anything stupid, including hurling on his boat.

He disappeared into the shadows before coming up empty handed.

“I’m all tapped out. I’m not used to this dating thing,” he admitted.

Shrugging, I added, “Me either. I’ve actually never been on a date until you.”

Uncertainty clouded my admission when he stared at me stupefied.

“I was homeschooled,” I blurted.

His eyes widened. “Are you a freshman? I probably should have asked that.”

“No, I’m a senior. I just haven’t dated anyone until you.”

A sexy grin bloomed on his face.

“That makes me your first.”

He stalked forward.

“Yours too by your own admission.”

“Then we should celebrate.”

His sly smile should have scared me. But I felt anything but.

“How?”

He tipped up my chin and leaned down to take liberties I’d extended to no man before him.

Butterflies took flight in my chest. A thrill zigged through me as if I’d plunged over the first hill on a roller coaster.

His arms coiled around my back to hold there in the middle. When he didn’t grab my ass or anything like that, I melted against him. Our kiss continued until my mouth was bruised and my hormones were on hyper drive.

Electric pulses sparked over my skin in beat with my heart. I felt him long and hard, pressed against me. In that moment, I wanted his hands to explore me, though they remained where they were.

I hadn’t ever thought about sex this way with any guy until now. How could he turn my life upside down in a few weeks? As he lingered for a second longer before we separated, I allowed myself to feel happy.

Too bad storm clouds rolled in.

“We should head back,” he announced, moving to stand by the wheel. “Can you hold this steady here while I pull up the anchor?”

“Sure.” My voice came out small.

Despite my fear, I moved to it and he stood behind me, and pushed a button.

I grinned, glancing over my shoulder. “That was it.”

He shrugged before placing a kiss at the top of my head.

“Do you hear that?” There was a faint rattle. “That means it’s working.”

I laughed. “Why did you need me?”

“Oh, I needed a reason to stand behind you and do this.” He nuzzled my neck as his hands wrapped around my waist.

“This was fun,” I admitted.

Even now, his teasing kisses didn’t feel like he was pressuring me for more.

“I had fun too. Can we do this again soon?” he asked.

My lack of dating skills had me leaning on the side of honesty.

“I have a lot of work to do this weekend, but Monday night maybe?”

He nipped around my ear and neck. “I’m not sure I can hold out that long.”

I couldn’t stop the giggle. “Sure you can. I know it will be hard.”

He stopped and I thought maybe my joke had been a bad one.

He angled my head to face him, all serious like. “Yes, it will be hard.” A smirk sprouted on his face. “But for you, I’ll wait.”

My stomach did backflips as I marveled at the new feeling inside me.

Once the anchor was secure and he announced the readings were good, he helped me navigate the boat in a wide U-turn. I nearly passed out when he left me to ensure the sails were positioned and secure.

As we neared the dock back at campus, I asked, “Is this where you keep your boat?”

“No.” I followed his glance up to the dark clouds that had met us halfway. “But it looks like a downpour is coming. I don’t want you to have to walk in that.”

“I don’t mind. I want to help.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded and gratefully, he took over. He steered the boat to head farther up the coastline. I’d enjoyed too much standing so close to him, mixing our body heat and stirring his arousal.

After we pulled into the boat slip, I went to fold the blanket while he secured the lines and sails. I also cleaned up what little mess was left from our breakfast. Just as we stepped onto the dock, the skies let loose.

We ran for a nearby boat shed and stood beneath the overhang. Although I shivered, I was delighted beyond measure. I’d conquered my fears of the water. On top of that, nothing bad had happened. Smiling, he snuck a finger under my chin to angle my head so he could kiss me until I heard the telltale sound of a camera clicking.