Her eyes were circles. She didn’t answer, so I walked over to a vacant lounge chair, put both our pairs of shoes down, and then pulled my muscle shirt over my head. I looked up at the sun. I hadn’t brought any sunscreen with me, so we wouldn’t be able to stay naked too long. But if I could get Ruby naked, get her out of her shell a little…

And then what? Seduce a virgin? This was new territory for me. But God, I wanted her.

I turned around and looked at her. She was still standing there, covering her chest. I met her gaze as I slid my shorts and boxer briefs over my hips.

My cock was at half-mast. I couldn’t help it, being around her. At least I didn’t have a raging hard-on. Though when I’d seen her nipples harden in front of my eyes, I’d had to will it down.

Her eyebrows rose slightly. Only slightly, as if she were trying to keep them down.

But I noticed.

It put another grin on my face.

“See?” I said, putting my clothes on the chair next to our shoes. “Not so hard, is it?”

And she burst out laughing.

“What?”

“I’m sorry. It’s… You said ‘not so hard.’ And I thought…”

I couldn’t help a laugh myself. “I know what you thought.” I looked down at my half-erect cock. “You, Ruby Lee, have a dirty mind.”

She covered her mouth. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Just get naked. If I can do it, you can do it.”

“There’s a world of difference between you and me, Ryan.”

“I think that’s the first time you’ve called me by my name.” And I liked the sound of my name from her red lips.

I liked it a lot.

“Is it?”

“Yeah.” I tapped my foot. “I’m waiting.”

“Oh, no. Not going to happen.”

“Come on. Rip it off like you did the tank top. Like a bandage. Best to get it over with.”

“I can’t.”

“I can’t believe you’d be ashamed of that body.”

She huffed. “I’m not ashamed of anything!”

“Well, then…”

She licked her full lips. I willed my cock not to respond.

“All right.” She unclenched her arms from around her chest and slowly peeled off her shorts and underpants.

I deliberately did not stare. I didn’t want to have her go charging out of here.

But God… That body had been created in heaven.

Sure, I knew she worked out. I knew her perfect musculature was the result of a lot of strength training and cardio, but surely a deity had carved those breasts, those perfectly formed hard nipples. That dark bush that was not too hairy and not too sparse, but just right. Those hips that swelled the perfect amount. Those long, slender legs tapering down to perfect ankles and feet.

Theodore Mathias might be a criminally insane psycho, but he had helped create an angel.

She stood with her knees together.

“Come here,” I said. “Put your clothes on the chair.”

“What if someone takes them?”

“Look around. Everyone leaves their stuff. It’s safe here. And if your clothes get stolen, I’ll buy you new ones. How’s that?”

“I wasn’t asking—”

“Ruby, I know you weren’t. It was a joke. Okay?”

She smiled timidly. “Okay.”

“You want to continue our walk? Get a drink? Go into the water?”

She twisted her lips. “Maybe a drink. It’s hot out here. Do you think they have water with a twist of lime?”

I smiled. “I’m betting they do.” I held out my hand. “Come on.”

She came forward, placed her clothes on the chair next to mine, and again I tried like hell not to stare at her.

If only her gorgeous hair were down, falling over those milky shoulders, down her back nearly to the crease of that perfect ass…

I itched to touch her. To feel that smooth skin beneath my fingertips.

But I’d promised her a drink. I held out my hand again to her, and to my surprise she took it. Most likely for reassurance, not because she wanted to hold hands, but I’d take what I could get. I led her to the bar near the center of the nude beach.

The bartender grinned. “What can I get for you and your beautiful lady, mon?”

Ruby blushed.

“Just two waters with a twist of lime.”

“Comin’ right up.”

I handed Ruby her water in a plastic cup with a wedge of lime on the edge. “See?”

“Don’t you want a real drink?”

“Not this early. Maybe later. Besides, we have the rehearsal this afternoon. Joe and Tal would never forgive me if I showed up with alcohol on my breath.” Actually, they wouldn’t care if I had a drink, but I didn’t want one at the moment. I wanted to enjoy this time with Ruby without alcohol. She, on the other hand, could use a heavy dose of the social lubricant. But I wasn’t going to push it.

Despite the heat, her nipples were still hard as rocks, her areolas wrinkled. They were brownish pink and beautiful. I knew they were hard because she was nervous, embarrassed, but I hoped maybe she was a little turned on as well.

She took a sip of her water and cleared her throat. “Now what?”

“Whatever you want. We can keep walking. Take a dip in the water. Go over to the pool.” I gestured. The pool was behind the bar. The same pool where I had met Juliet last night. We walked away from the bar.

And speak of the fucking devil.

Juliet came bounding toward us, her tits bouncing. In the light of day, she wasn’t nearly as pretty as she’d been last night. Still, she wasn’t bad to look at, and I would’ve looked my fill if not for the much better eye candy standing next to me.

“Hi, Ryan!” She turned to Ruby. “And hi…”

“Ruby.” Ruby held out her hand.

Juliet took Ruby’s hand and let it drop quickly. “Did you all enjoy your walk last night?”

“We sure did,” I said.

A couple girls walked toward us.

“These are my friends, Shayna and Lisa,” Juliet said.

Oddly, the roommates looked nothing like Juliet, the ultimate California girl, but they both had the same sorority feel. Shayna was African-American with a tight body. Maybe a dancer? Lisa was red-haired and freckled with a few more curves. I hoped she was wearing sunscreen.

“We’re looking for some fun,” Juliet continued.

You won’t find it here. But I didn’t say that. “I’m sure you can find lots of fun around this place.”

Three Jamaican men ambled up then, dressed in board shorts. “Couldn’t help overhearing you lovelies. If you’re looking for some fun, we can take you for a ride on our Jet Skis.”

“That sounds great,” Juliet bubbled. “How about it, guys?”

“I don’t know, Jules,” Shayna said.

“Oh, come on, Shay,” Lisa urged. “It’ll be fun.”

The first man held out his hand. “I’m Mark, and this is Rashaun and J.J.”

“I’m Juliet. This is Shayna and Lisa. And Ryan and Ruby.”

“Now that we know each other, come on, then.” Mark smiled, his stark white teeth contrasting with his dark brown face.

Ruby pulled at my arm.

I turned toward her. “What is it?”

“I have a bad feeling about this,” she whispered. “Tell them not to go.”

Ruby was a cop. If she had a bad feeling, I couldn’t ignore it. “Hey, ladies,” I said. “Can I get you all a drink?” I wasn’t sure what else to say. Although I might be able to take Mark and maybe one of the others, I wouldn’t be able to hold my own against the three of them. Of course, there were plenty of people around. It was unlikely they’d start anything.

“That’s sweet,” Juliet said. “But I’d love a ride on a Jet Ski.” She turned to the guys. “Are you all staying at the resort?”

“We have day passes. It’s our day off. We live here.”

Did this resort offer day passes? I didn’t know. Ruby looked at me again with urgency in her eyes.

“I’m up for it,” Lisa said, taking hold of Mark’s arm. “I’ve never ridden on a Jet Ski before.”

“It’s lots of fun.” Mark smiled. “We’ll just stay around here. We won’t be out long. I promise.”

“I’m in,” Juliet said. “Shay, come on. Please?”

Shayna’s forehead was wrinkled.

Ruby spoke up, her eyes fearful. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. If it doesn’t feel right.”

I looked out at the ocean. Jet Skis were everywhere. These guys were probably okay.

Juliet rolled her eyes at Ruby’s comment. “It won’t be the same without you, Shay.”

Shayna sighed. “All right. We won’t be gone long, right?”

Rashaun winked at her. “Just tell us when you want to come back, and we’ll bring you back. But we’re locals, and we can show you some sights. It’ll be fun.”

Ruby tugged on my hand.

“Ladies,” I said. “Don’t go.”

“Why not?” Lisa asked.

What could I say? I looked to Ruby.

She got serious. “You don’t know these guys. You’re in a foreign country. It’s not safe.”

Juliet scoffed. “Who are you? A cop?”

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Ruby said. “Go ask the bartender if he knows these guys before you take off. Ask if the resort gives day passes.”

“I’m sure they do,” Juliet said. “I think I read it somewhere.”

Juliet didn’t look like she did a lot of reading. I opened my mouth to say something—I wasn’t sure what—but Mark beat me to it.

“Hey, look. No problem, mon,” Mark said. “You don’t want to go, we’ll go ourselves. Or find some other nice girls. Nice meeting you.” He turned.

“No!” Lisa grabbed his arm. “I’m going.”

“Me too,” Juliet said and looked longingly at Shayna.

“All right.”

“See you all later!” Juliet waved us off as she and her girlfriends followed the three men down the beach to where the Jet Skis were docked.

Ruby let out a sigh.

“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” I said.

“Probably. I hope so. But that’s a new kind of stupid, getting on a Jet Ski in a foreign country with someone you’ve never met.”

“I agree. But they’re young. They don’t know any better.”

“Are you serious? I never would have done that, even at their age. By the time I was their age, I’d been on my own for years.”

“Look. We’ll wait here until they come back, okay? Will that make you feel better?”

“I’d like to, but it’s getting toward lunchtime. We need to shower and change and then meet the others for the rehearsal.”

I checked my watch. Ruby was right. Jade and Melanie—and my brothers, for that matter—would never forgive us if we missed their planned rehearsal luncheon. They’d reserved a private dining area farther up on the non-nude portion of the beach. Ruby would get to try jerk chicken and curried goat. Both were on the menu, according to Marj.

“They’ll be fine, Ruby.”

She smiled. “You’re probably right.” Then she looked down. “I can’t believe I’m standing here naked.”

“Ha! The whole thing with the guys and the Jet Skis made you forget it for a bit. That’s good. See? It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. Let’s go.” She walked toward the lounge chair where our clothes were still sitting.

We dressed quickly and walked back to the house. As much as I wanted to invite Ruby to shower with me, I held off.

But before this week was over, I’d get further than first base.