Finding Kenna (SEAL Team Hawaii #3)(39)

Kenna did her best to control herself, then threw herself into his arms. Marshall stumbled and went to his knees in the surf. She put a hand on his chest and pushed, until he was sitting. She then straddled him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m fine,” she said. “I wasn’t paying attention. Serves me right.”

“I almost ran you over,” Marshall murmured, running his hands up and down her back as he held her to him.

Kenna scooted closer, until she could feel his cock against her folds. It was an intimate position, even if neither of them was turned on. She loved being close to him like this. “You didn’t,” she reassured him.

Marshall met her gaze and nodded, finally understanding that she was fine. He reached up and ran his hand over her hair, gripping a fistful. He pulled on it lightly, until her chin tipped up. Then he leaned forward and kissed the underside of her chin. He relaxed his grip a bit but didn’t let go of her hair.

Kenna tilted her head back down and wiggled on his lap. Yeah, okay, now she was turned on, and she could feel Marshall’s cock throbbing against her pussy. The waves lapped around them and the sun was beating on their heads. Kenna knew there were other people on the beach, enjoying the beautiful day, but she only had eyes for one man.

She gazed at him and licked her lips, tasting nothing but salt. She knew she’d never forget today and being with Marshall.

“Don’t look at me that way,” he said.

“What way?” Kenna asked.

“As if you want to strip me bare and have your wicked way with me right here on the beach.”

“Can’t help it,” Kenna admitted.

“Woman, do you know how awful that would be?”

She blinked in surprise. “What?”

“Sex on the beach. It’s a great fruity drink, but the actual physical action is the worst idea ever. I can’t think of anything worse than sand on my cock when I want to fuck you.”

His words made her shiver in excitement. “You ever done it?”

“Are you listening to me, woman?” he asked in mock exasperation. “No. Fuck no.”

“We’d have to be careful,” she mused. “But I have a feeling you could figure out a way to make it work.”

Marshall was already shaking his head. “Nope. Not happening. I’ll have sex on a boat, in a cabin at the beach, on a grassy piece of land near the beach, but on the actual sand? No way.”

Kenna giggled.

“Hey guys, are these yours?” a man asked from nearby.

Kenna turned to see a guy holding their boogey boards.

“Yeah, thanks, man. Can you just throw them up there on the sand? We’ll get them in a second.”

“No problem,” the man said with a smile. “If I had a pretty girl on my lap, I wouldn’t want to deal with the boards either.”

Kenna smiled at him, then looked back at Marshall. He was watching her with an intense look in his eyes she couldn’t interpret. One of his hands went to the small of her back, pressing her even tighter against him.

“I’m not perfect,” he said.

Kenna frowned. It wasn’t what she’d expected him to say. “We’ve had this conversation. I know you aren’t.”

“No, I mean it. I’ve done things in my life that would scare the shit out of any rational human being. When I’m in a bad mood, I can be an asshole to my friends and to strangers on the street. I’m a cynic, and the first thing I think when I see someone panhandling on the side of the road is that they’re a scammer and just trying to get money for drugs. I’m suspicious of people’s motives in general, and I don’t really know my neighbors.”

“Marshall—” Kenna started, but he kept talking.

“I want to be the man you think I am, but I’m human. I say the wrong thing all the time, and I’m scared to death that you’re gonna realize I’m not the man you’ve built up in your head and you’ll break up with me. All I’m asking is that if I do something you don’t like, or you hear something about me that pisses you off or you don’t understand…talk to me about it. If my answer isn’t good enough, then you can leave.”

“I’m not leaving.” Kenna had no idea where this was coming from, but she desperately wanted to soothe him.

“I think I need you, Kenna,” he said. “I need you to bring me out of my shell. To force me to see the good in the world rather than the bad. It’s been so long since I’ve met someone I feel as if I can just be myself with. Be Marshall, rather than the smart aleck. The SEAL.”

Kenna leaned forward and rested her forehead on his. “You’ve got me,” she told him earnestly.

“Promise me,” he said, moving his hand to the nape of her neck. “Promise me if you hear shit about me that bothers you, you’ll talk to me about it.”

For the first time, Kenna got nervous. “What shit?”

He shook his head. “Promise me,” he repeated, squeezing her neck. Not hard, but enough to get her attention.

“I promise,” she whispered.

At her words, every muscle in Marshall’s body seemed to loosen. He ran his thumb over her nape as if in apology for how hard he’d been gripping her. “Good. Thank you for today, Kenna. I can’t remember a date I’ve enjoyed as much as this one.”