from my mouth to my neck, and even though I was getting more air to my lungs now than I had been a minute ago, I felt like I couldn't breathe.

I was way too practical for this. I wasn't the kind of person who let the things a guy could do with his hands and, ugh, his mouth dictate me like this, but Beau had me melting. He was too convincing, especially when he jutted his hips against mine, unashamedly letting me feel how hard he was.

I wasn't dressed to impress today. I was dressed to wallow in a cup of coffee and waste time. He wasn't supposed to be that turned on. And he wasn't supposed to make me this turned on. He wasn't supposed to be here at all.

"Oh, fuck," he groaned, dragging his lips back up to my mouth. "Collins."

Goddamnit.

He wasn't supposed to be here, but I wanted him too badly to care.

Our mouths crashed together, and I was about ready to suggest that we head back over to my hotel room when a knock sounded at the door.

And that knock was like a kick back into a reality.

—

The next few days were filled with sunshine, immaculate Beau-created cocktails, and Grayson-cooked meals.

I had no idea Grayson was so into cooking, but Nessa confessed to me that he started learning earlier this year when she struggled with her appetite. There were only certain foods she felt like she could stomach, so Grayson decided he needed to know how to make them. He enjoyed being a chef so much that he began making dinner every Sunday night for his roommates. And now, he was here cooking for us.

It was scorching the day that Grayson made fish tacos and margaritas, and after we devoured the meal, we headed back down to the beach with drinks in hand. Most of spring break had been spent on these sands, and I had no plans to complain about it.

"How are they already running around?" Madie asked, relaxing back onto her towel next to me. "I feel like I'm going to explode with how much I just ate."

My eyes scanned Beau, Grayson, and Bren. All shirtless, all running in the sand with a soccer ball, trying to keep it out of the waves. I focused on Beau, watching his abdominal muscles twist as he ran after Bren, who had just out-maneuvered Grayson and was taunting him about it.

"Let's switch this out for a football, and then see what you have to say!" I heard Grayson shout back.

"I don't know how they're doing it," I muttered, "but I'm not complaining."

Nessa, who was sunbathing on my other side, laughed. But when I glanced over at her, she was just as eager to soak in the sight before us.

"I like this side of you, Collins," she said.

"I might be a sensible girl," I said, "but I can appreciate a six-pack when I see it."

"Three six-packs," Madie muttered, her eyes watching the guys, and we all snickered. Loud enough that Bren paused, ball beneath his foot, and looked over at us. Grayson and Beau fell in line next to him, and then the three of them looked at the three of us.

Beau's eyes flicked over my bathing suit—the one he'd bought for me—and I readjusted myself purposefully on the towel, turning over. If I kept staring back at him, I wouldn't survive the heat.

"They're gonna wanna know what we're talking about," Nessa said beneath her breath, taking my lead and flipping onto her stomach.

"Don't give them the satisfaction of knowing," Madie added.

"We all know you'd be the one to say something," Nessa muttered. "You'd fold to Bren in a heartbeat."

"I would not," Madie hissed, scrunching her face at Nessa, who shot back a look of disbelief.

"Grayson already knows how hot he is," Nessa went on to say with a laugh. "The last thing he needs is a reminder."

Talking about Grayson made me think of the other night, and I turned my head to the side to face Nessa. "Are you going to tell us what you whispered in Grayson's ear?"

Nessa shifted to look at me, resting her cheek against her towel. If she wasn't already a little burned from the sun, I might have thought that she was blushing. "Are you going to tell me what Beau whispered in your ear at Mammoth Mountain?" she countered.

Damn, she got me there.

My curiosity nearly made me confess, but before I could say a word, a sharp slap landed on my ass, making me yelp from surprise. I lifted my head to see Beau marching past me toward the patio. Heat curled in my stomach as I watched him grab a beer and throw it back for a gulp. His eyes caught mine when he began making his way toward me again, and he smirked knowingly.

"Let's go swimming," he said cheekily as he walked past me. "It might relieve the sting there."

"There wouldn't be a sting if you could only keep your hands to yourself."

"I tried that for a few months, remember? Back at the beginning of the year," he pointed out with a smile. "Hated it. Besides, I don't usually hear you complain about what I do with my—"

"Beau Martin!" Nessa scolded, her mouth dropping open as Beau laughed. "Would you behave yourself?"

"Have you behaved yourself this week?" he retorted, lifting a brow.

"No," Grayson cut in, jogging up to stand next to Beau. "I don't really think she has. Look, she's wearing shorts."

I didn't understand the shorts comment, but Nessa did. I could tell from her expression that she knew what was about to happen. She couldn't scramble off her towel fast enough before Grayson scooped her up, carrying her bridal style into the waves. Nessa's laughter rode the winds back to us, and a minute later, Grayson launched a pair of wet, sopping shorts into the air. They landed on the shore with a smack.

I'd be a little concerned if I didn't know that Nessa was also wearing swimsuit bottoms.

Bren plopped down on the newly vacant towel, bringing my attention back around. I realized Beau was watching me with a soft smile. And the moment that he realized that I realized, that smile switched its tune. His expression was suspicious enough that I popped off my towel and ran toward the water, too.

When I glanced behind me to see if Beau was following, I saw two looks of satisfaction. Leave it up to Bren and Beau to plan shit like that telepathically.

Now Bren had Madie to himself, and Beau had me in the water. He'd caught up with me within seconds, circling my waist with a strong arm. Beau dragged me deeper—deep enough that my feet lifted off the sandy bottom every time a wave hit us. I decided to cling to Beau instead, legs around his hips, arms around his neck, letting him be my anchor.

He was a sturdy anchor. Strong and steadfast. I never should have second-guessed him. Or this. Us.

"I can't believe you spanked me in front of everyone," I muttered.

"It was just a little slap," he chuckled, eyes lowering. "To get your attention."

"You already had my attention."

"No, you turned away from me," he pouted.

"Yeah, for a reason. A reason you made worse when you put your hand on my ass."

"A reason, huh?" Beau took that opportunity to cup my ass as though I needed him to hold me up. As though buoyancy didn't exist. "And what kind of reason was that?"

I silently smirked, letting the cold water flow around my legs as heat swirled inside me like a riptide. When I didn't say anything, Beau began tipping me back toward the water.

"Let's just say I liked watching you run around shirtless," I confessed with a squeal. "Now stop—I don't want my hair getting wet."

"She finally admits it," he said, satisfied as all hell. "She likes me better with my shirt off."

Closing the distance between us, Beau kissed me long and hard. It was the kind of kiss that made me forget that other people existed and that time mattered. It was one of those comfort kisses, the ones that felt so good. That felt enough. I didn't need more from him right now. I just needed this.

We stayed in the ocean for a long time—until I started to feel worn down by the constant rocking of the waves and the salty sprays. Grayson and Nessa swam, too, even convincing us to play a game of chicken at one point. Grayson and Nessa won, but I was okay with that. It seemed to feed Grayson's soul a little bit, and I was pretty sure Beau only agreed to it because it meant my legs were wrapped around his neck for a bit.

"I need a break," I said after getting saltwater in my eyes for the millionth time that day.

"I'll come with you," Beau replied. But I saw how happy he was and how much fun he was having, and I immediately felt bad. The six of us stood in the shallows now, trading stories and drinking as the sun slowly set.

"No, it's okay," I insisted. "I'm just going to run to the bathroom and rinse some of the salt out of my eyes. And then I'll be back."

Before he could argue, I beelined for the house and quickly slipped into the bathroom. The cold water on my face was the very definition of refreshing, and I stood with my head in the sink for god knows how long before finally toweling off. Stepping back into the hallway, I ran smack-dab into Beau, who had already put on a clean shirt and a new, backward-facing hat.

"You didn't need to come in," I said with a sigh. "I told you I'd be right back."

He looked down at me with a funny expression. Silent. But as soon as I frowned, he shook his head with a smile.

"I wanted to come in, too." He put a hand to his hat, readjusting it. He must have bought it recently; I didn't recognize it. "My head hurts a bit."

"Probably too much sun and alcohol. You should rest for a bit inside."

Beau didn't argue when I led him to our room; he followed me inside and closed the door behind us. But when he didn't fall into bed, I couldn't help but wonder if he had a different motive for following me in here. He had been cracking dirty jokes for most of the afternoon. Maybe he wanted to take advantage of having the house to ourselves.

"Beau?"

Too busy looking around the room—for what, I wasn't sure—he didn't respond at first.

"Beau, did you want to lie down?" I said, a little louder this time.

His head jerked up, and he looked at me like...like he hadn't even realized I was talking to him. Maybe he had spent too much time in the sun today. Or had too many beers, either one. I'd lost count of how many times my margarita glass was refilled, but it was also off-balanced by how many tacos I'd inhaled.

"Nah," he said finally, lips curving. "Not really."

My stomach flipped at the implication in those words.

It felt different, though. The flip included an odd bit of nervousness, threaded through the anticipation. It seemed misplaced, but then again, Beau was acting... off, which was likely the reason for it. I doubted he was up for anything other than a nice, hard nap.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. "I'm sure, Collins."

He said my name like it felt foreign in his mouth. Like it was the first time ever saying it.

My stomach fluttered again.

Confused, I cocked my head to the side. "What did you want to do then?"

All Beau did was flash an odd smile in reply.

✨

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xoxoxo