"CAREFUL THERE, Castle."

If August was startled by my sudden appearance on his lap, he didn't sound like it. No, his voice, as usual, had a deep, husky calm to it. The effect of it washed over me, settling into my bones and making it incredibly hard to push forward and slide off his lap.

And another thing that made it hard?

August wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me back down.

Yeah, I wasn't going anywhere.

"I think it's safer if you stay here," he murmured, tightening his hold on me so I was forced to sink deeper into his lap. Not that I minded. Although my ass was now making direct contact with his crotch, and I heard August swallow a groan as I readjusted to make myself more comfortable. It tickled my nerve endings, making me feel jittery.

"I can just sit on the bench back there," I offered.

Who knows why I offered. I didn't really want to move, not when August's bare chest was hot and hard against my back, and his fingers were tracing circles on my side. If he noticed the goosebumps he was causing, he didn't say anything.

"You'd have to make it there without falling over," August pointed out. "And the water is choppy."

It wasn't. Not that choppy, but I decided not to point that out.

"I just need to be able to see. Here." August took my legs, twisting them so they draped diagonally across his lap, and my torso was tucked against his side. Instinctively, I lifted my arm to fit better, curling it around his shoulders. One of his hands returned to the steering wheel while the other curved around my side, and his fingers continued to tickle my side. "That's better."

"August..." I started but paused when I realized how breathy my voice sounded and cleared my throat. Then I tried again. "August, I can just move. I don't want to distract you from, you know, driving."

Even as I said the words, I made no effort to actually get up. In fact, my fingers started copying August's, tracing little patterns on his upper arm.

I'd never been this close to a man who felt so good before. So comforting but also so commanding in his presence.

August chuckled. "Castle, you'll distract me no matter what. You think I wasn't distracted a minute ago when you were leaning against the dashboard wearing that yellow bikini?"

My stomach flipped, but I brushed away his words and asked, "Do you want me to put my dress back on?"

There was a pause before August answered. He spoke so low that the hum of the boat and the wind whipping around us nearly made it impossible for me to hear him.

"You really should. You should put your dress back on, and you should go sit on that bench, and you should stay at least three feet away from me at all times. That's what should happen, and that's what I should tell you. But is that what I want? Hell no, Castle."

Considering I could feel the effect my body was having on his, I suspected that might be his answer.

But I also suspected he wasn't going to do anything about what he really wanted. About what I really wanted.

Because I could tell, just by how he talked about what he should do, he felt a certain level of guilt for holding me like this. For wanting me the way he did. But God, did I love it. I could easily become addicted to the feeling of having his body wrapped around mine, intertwined with mine.

"It's not what I want, either," I whispered in his ear.

"Fuck," he groaned.

Because if we were both confessing it, we both knew we were screwed.

"Maybe you really should go check into that hotel on Emerald Isle," he said, just as I saw the faint outline of the other island appear in the distance. The clouds were starting to roll in, masking it a bit.

"I thought we weren't talking about what I should do," I countered.

August turned his head, and his lips were suddenly only inches from mine. When he spoke, I felt the words brush over me like a caress. "Then what are we talking about, Castle?" 

"The things we want to do," I murmured, afraid that if I spoke too loud, I might scare him off.

His eyes dropped to my mouth. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."

I held my breath while August's gaze traced the edges of my lips, and I wondered if, just maybe, instead of talking about it, he was just going to do it. But then his eyes flicked back up to mine, and I swallowed.

"Why not, Fletcher?" I asked.

Something flared in his eyes before he leaned closer, lips grazing my earlobe as he replied, his voice beautifully gruff, desire thickly coating his words.

"Because I know you, Castle. If I start talking about what I want to do, you're going to tell me to do it."

"And what's wrong with that?"

He pulled back, smokey eyes looking over my face. I was sure he saw the mischief that danced in my eyes, mixing with the longing that was growing increasingly worse with every shift of his body against mine, with every caress of his fingers on my side, with every inch his cock seemed to grow against my ass.

"I thought we've been over this." His lips tilted slightly before he said words I'd never forget. "We're in a time crunch here, and like hell am I going to start something with you only to rush it. If I'm going to kiss you, I'm going to take my goddamn time memorizing your lips. And if I'm going to touch you, Castle, I'm going to do a good fucking job. I need enough time to tease every inch of you until you're begging me for more."

My breath caught in my throat. I never really expected August to talk like that. Like he planned to kiss me. Like he planned to touch me. Like he was openly acknowledging the tension between us.

"You really think I'm one to beg?" I asked breathlessly.

At this point, I was all talk, and he knew it.

His lips curved into a delicious smirk. "Nah, Castle. I don't think you're one to beg. But I think you will be."

His touch grew firm as it dragged down my side and gripped my hips, pulling me tighter against his body.

I gasped as he lined us up perfectly and rocked his erection between my legs. A whimper nearly slipped out of my mouth as I felt him. All of him. Every inch of him that wanted to make me beg. And goddamnit, I probably would if it came down to that.

"What happened to the humble August Fletcher?"

"What happened to him?" August grunted, grinding against me. "You happened to him. You drive him fucking wild."

"Is that so?" I breathed.

I should stop; I really should. But we weren't doing things we should today; we were doing things we wanted. So I twisted in August's lap, intent on driving him even more wild. It was addictive, knowing what I could do to him. And knowing what he might do back...that was even more intoxicating. I was in awe of the heat rushing through my veins, spurring me on.

"Castle..."

August said my name like a warning, but I couldn't stop. I straddled him, slipping one leg on either side of his hips. My hands moved without even thinking, landing on his bare chest and dragging down it. His breaths were shallow beneath my touch, quickening.

"You're trying to fucking kill me," he growled, eyes trailing down my front as he gripped my waist firmly. I could tell he was trying to decide what to do with it–if he should pull me closer or push me away. His fingers dug into my side with the perfect amount of pressure, and I just knew he was right: when he did touch me, if he ever did touch me, he was going to do a good fucking job.

But distant thunder interrupted whatever I was going to say. August's body stilled at the sound, and I relented, slipping off his lap. Like he said, it wasn't the time. We didn't have the time right now.

But once again, August pulled me back down, tucking me into his side like I had been before. But this time, his touch was businesslike. A little rough, like he couldn't bother with finesse right now.

"Be good," he grunted in my ear.

It was a warning for me to behave while he got to work.

And then he did, pushing the boat to a new speed that sent us flying across the water. Emerald Isle wasn't far now, and I could easily spot August's target: the marina on the shoreline, dotted with boats and a few people roaming the wooden planks.

"They kept the order at the docks when it came in, so I'll jump off, grab it, and we can turn right back around."

I could tell his confidence in our situation was wavering–if only slightly. And that made a touch of anxiety wash over me, especially as the sky continued to darken. Not drastically, but almost eerily. Because behind us, the sun still shone. It blasted across the sparkling water, but it didn't follow us.

"The storm's still pretty far ahead of us, so it'll be at our backs on our return trip," August said, reading my mind. "We'll make it."

I took a deep breath, nodding. But I knew August could feel the tension in my body. His hold on me tightened as he pushed the accelerator forward, zipping us closer to the island. He didn't slow down until he had to, once again maneuvering into and through the marina with expertise and ease.

"Do you need me to come with you and help carry anything?" I asked as I followed him down to the main deck.

He shook his head as he tied the boat to the dock. "No. I'll be right back, Castle."

And then he flashed me an encouraging smile before jumping off.

I sighed, but true to his word, August returned with a handful of boxes under his arms in a matter of minutes. A few drops of rain began to splatter on the deck, and after glancing up at the sky, August's lips drew into a firm line.

"Stay in the cabin on the way back," he said, throwing the ropes back onto the boat after loosening them.

"I don't mind getting wet."

His lips twitched. "I'm sure you don't," he muttered.

I rolled my eyes. "That's not what I meant."

"I know," he said with a lopsided grin. "But it would make me feel better. And I need to focus. You make it very hard to focus, Castle."

"When you told me to be good, I was good," I protested. "I can be good."

"Fuck, I know you can," he grunted, grabbing my arm and leading me to the small door that led to the interior of the boat. "I know you can be good for me. But right now, I need you in the cabin."

The slight pattering of the rain grew more consistent, and I relented, knowing we didn't have the time to waste arguing. So I slipped into the cabin, sitting on a plush couch wrapped around a gleaming oak table, and watched through the windows as August dashed back up to the captain's seat.

The trip back to Evergreen took half the time it took to get to Emerald Isle. It was clear from the waves as they crashed against the window that August was intent on returning us to his slip in the marina as quickly as possible. The storm chased us, but we seemed to be just far enough ahead of it that the only thing we had to battle through was slightly rougher water.

At least until we docked.

Once we'd slowed, the weather caught up. I glanced outside to see rain pelting down on August as he worked to secure the boat. At one point, I opened the door, intent on helping, but I didn't get more than a step outside before August's glare had me retreating.

Unlike at the bar, I was out of my depth and could recognize that. I might know how to make a mean old fashioned, but I had no idea how to rig up a yacht, and I'd probably be in his way. So I stayed in the cabin, jumping when a clap of thunder shook the floor beneath me. A second later, a dripping wet August burst through the door, looking oversized in such a small space.

And the first thing he said was, "You okay?"

"Me?" I repeated. "I'm fine." My eyes raked over him. "Are you okay?"

He shook his hair out before slicking it back. He was still shirtless, and I watched, entranced by the water droplets that dribbled down his bare chest.

"I'm good," he said as he tried to catch a breath. "Now that we're back."

I stood, tentatively closing the distance between us. When it came to him, I didn't know how to stay away.

He watched me, curiosity in his gaze. But his words were all business.

"I think we should stay here until the worst of it passes," he said.

I nodded. That was fine with me. It was certainly...cozy in here.

"So what you're saying is, we have some...time."

Heat flashed in his gaze, and I knew I was in for it.

But I couldn't fucking wait.

"Yeah, Castle." He drew his bottom lip between his teeth while pinning me with a look. "We have time."

☀️

a/n:

time for what? 👀👀👀

thanks for reading!
xoxo amelie