Beat of the Heart (Runaway Train, #2)(52)

“Take me down to the water,” I commanded.

“With pleasure.” He held out his hand again, and I slipped mine into his. We high stepped our way through the almost knee level grass towards the riverbank. When we reached it, I bent over, peering down at the gently flowing stream. In my mind, I had pictured harsh rapids flowing from the waterfalls, but this was so smooth. “Look how crystal clear that water is. You can see straight through to the bottom.”

“If you think it looks amazing, you should feel it.”

In a flash, I stepped out of my flip-flops and started tentatively wading into the water. As I dodged branches and other debris on the bottom, my toes squished through the silky sand. The refreshing coolness lapped against my ankles, and I sighed in renewed contentment. “It’s warmer than I’d thought it would be.”

“Wanna go swimming?” AJ asked from behind me.

As I glanced over my shoulder, I could see the wicked gleam burning in his eyes at the suggestion. “Hmm, we seem to have forgotten our bathing suits.”

“Who says we need them?”

I shot him a coy smile. “Are you suggesting we go skinny dipping?”

“Now why would you automatically think I was insinuating a nude swim?”

“Because you’re a complete and total horndog?”

AJ laughed. “Now Mia, my mind wasn’t being so devious. I simply meant for us to swim in our underwear.”

“Of course you did.”

Playing with the hem of his shirt, AJ questioned, “So are you game?”

The heat blazing all around me, singeing my exposed skin, made the water feel even more heavenly against my ankles. I wanted nothing more than my entire body to be enveloped in the coolness. “Are you sure no one can see us out here?”

“Nope. We’re too far off the beaten path.”

“Okay then, I’m game.”

“Fuck yeah!” he exclaimed, jerking his shirt over his head so fast I thought he’d rip the fabric.

I had barely gotten my shirt over my head when I noticed AJ was already stripped to his boxers and stood watching me intently. “This isn’t a peep show, Mr. Resendiz.”

“You can’t fault a man for enjoying the view.”

My fingers hesitated on the button of my shorts. I hated AJ seeing me naked with the lights on. With the sun beating against us and illuminating even the shady parts of the woods, he was going to see way more than I wanted.

When I continued to stall, AJ sloshed into the water, bridging the gap between us. He walked me back to the shore before his fingers replaced mine on my shorts. As he unbuttoned them, he stared intently at me. “I know what you’re thinking, so I guess I need to repeat it once again. I love every square inch of your body, including these fabulous round hips…” He trailed off as he pushed my shorts over my butt and down to my feet. On his knees, he glanced up at me. “And it bears repeating once again how much I adore and worship this ass,” he said before sending a stinging smack against one of my cheeks.

My face flushed with warmth. I wanted more than anything to believe that AJ was sincere in what he said about my body, but I had too many years of self-loathing ingrained in me. With desire and admiration glimmering in his eyes, I crooked my finger, beckoning him to me. As he rose up from the ground, his gaze locked in on mine as I gave him a truly grateful smile. “Thank you, AJ.”

“You’re welcome,” he murmured, pushing long strands of hair out of my face.

I ducked my head down to press a lingering kiss against his chest above his heart. Even under my lips, I could feel the strong beat of his heart—one that was so amazingly kind and giving. I peeked up at him through the shroud of hair covering my face. “In spite of all the joking and innuendo, you sure do know how to make a girl feel wanted.”

He grinned down at me. “I’m glad you’re finally realizing how magnificent I am, both in and out of the bedroom.”

At his cockiness, I sank my teeth into the skin where I had once tenderly kissed. AJ yelped and jumped back. “Mia Martinelli, did you just bite me?” He rubbed his chest while giving me a pouty face. “What a waste. I mean, it wasn’t even a love bite either.”

I giggled. “Yeah, well, that will teach you to make douche comments when I’m being genuine,” I replied as I stepped out of my shorts.

At the sight of me in my bra and panties, AJ’s expression switched over to one of pure lust. After I tossed my shorts on the bank, I wagged my finger at him. “Just swimming, remember?”

“Yeah, yeah,” he grunted.

Brushing past him, I made my way deeper into the water. The further I walked into the stream, the deeper my toes sank into the squishy mud. When I realized AJ had yet to join me, I glanced over my shoulder. I spied AJ shoving his wallet back in his shorts. The blazing sun caught the gold foil wrapper, and I giggled in spite of myself. After I recovered, I called, “I would think swimming protection would include a life vest and sunscreen, not a condom.”

He used his free hand to scratch the back of his neck. I could tell he was waging war with himself as to whether to bring it with him or drop it back on the pile of clothes.

Turning around in the water, I crossed my arms over my breasts. “Do I turn you on so much that you can’t imagine taking a harmless swim without us banging?”