Filthy Beautiful Forever(Filthy Beautiful Lies, #4)

“Sure, why not?” I shrug.

“I’m not getting in that freezing cold water,” Tatianna says, laying down again. “You two have fun.” She lifts the fashion magazine she was reading back in front of her face.

When I get close, Mia spanks me across the ass with a noodle. An unexpected laugh falls from my lips. There is something so playful and whimsical about her personality. She can still make me forget myself and just let go, despite our years apart. She’s always possessed that skill. It was most helpful right after my mom passed away. I needed that levity more than ever, and Mia provided it. And I suppose now is no different. I like that she doesn’t act her age.

“Come on. I’ll let you go first down the slide,” she says.

“Let me, huh?” I lift one eyebrow. I pick her up and set her down on the top of the slide. It doesn’t escape my notice that she’s removed the shorts she’d been wearing all afternoon. Her bikini bottoms don’t match the top. They’re lime green. And the rounded curve of her ass cheeks peeking from the bottom is highly distracting. “Down you go.” I place my hands on her shoulders and give her a playful push while still holding her securely.

“You wouldn’t.” She glares at me while her mouth is curved up into a crooked grin.

“Maybe I’m not as nice as the guy you remember.”

“You’re perfect,” she says, her face going serious for a moment.

She can’t say things like that. It’s confusing as shit. The conversation I had with Colton last night spins in my brain. He was convinced that I’ve been in love Mia since I was a kid.

“Collins?” she asks, her face still holding its serious expression.

“Plug your nose,” I tell her and give her a shove.

Mia goes barreling down the slide toward the ocean and just before I hear the splash, she lets out a playful squeal.

We take turns heaving ourselves down the inflatable slide-on our backs, bellies and sides. We hit the water with force and laughter, swimming-or in her case, dog-paddling-over to the ladder to climb back on board and repeat it again and again. It’s like I’ve been transported back to a simpler time. I feel like I’m six years old again without a care in the world. We’re both shivering and the salt-water stings our eyes, but our smiles refuse to fade. I’ve never had so much fun yachting. Tatianna glances up at us occasionally, but when I encourage her to join us, she turns over in her chair, saying she needs to sun her back.

“Last one in the water’s a rotten egg!” Mia calls and hits the slide at a run-flinging herself down on her stomach. I hear a splash at the bottom and then nothing else. She usually comes up laughing. My stomach drops.

“Mia?” I peer over the side of the boat.

She’s there, treading water, but with a worried expression. Shit. She probably hurt herself going over like that.

I grab a noodle and go barreling down the slide toward her. I hit the water and swim to the surface, pulling in a breath and immediately swimming hard toward her. She’s facing away from me, a few feet away. “Mia? What happened? Are you okay?”

“Don’t come over here,” she warns.

What the hell? “Mia?”

“I’m serious, Collins.”

She’s not the strongest swimmer, and when I see her head dip under the water, I wrap her in my arms and pull her up, securing the noodle around her. “Come here. I’ve got you.”

“You can’t see me like this.”

I look down, trying to understand what she means. Fuck me. Her top is off. Gone. And dear God, her breasts are every bit as glorious as I imagined. Full and round with pink nipples just begging to be sucked. Hard.

“My top flew off when I hit the water. I tried looking for it, but I think it sank.”

Thank you, gravity.

“I’ve seen it all before, sweetheart,” I remind her.

She swallows and blinks at me, little droplets of water clinging to her dark eyelashes. “Yes, but I’ve grown since then.”

“Trust me, I noticed.”

She punches me in the shoulder. “Be serious.”

“I am one-hundred-fucking-percent serious right now.” She’s still pulling away from me, still trying to cover her chest with one arm while she paddles with the other. “Stop struggling, Mia. You’ll only tire yourself out.”

She makes a small noise of defeat, then stops fighting long enough for me to pull her close.

I am wholly unprepared for the heat of her naked skin against mine, the hard peaks of her nipples rubbing against my bare chest. It sends instant awareness to my cock. The troublemaker has been looking for an opportunity to come out and play all day.

Having a mostly naked woman in my arms is no contest for the chill of the water, and warm tingles shoot through me, heating me quickly.

“There you go. I’ve got you.” My voice drops low.

She wraps her arms around my shoulders and I tread water, easily keeping us afloat with the help of the foam noodle.

“That’s it. Just relax.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Shh, it’s okay.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Her gorgeous green eyes lift to mine and I can feel her heart thumping against my chest. The moment feels heavy with anticipation. I have a half-naked Mia in my arms, and I can’t help but remember the last time we were in this position. Part of me regrets it. She was too young; I was too rough with her. God, what I wouldn’t give for a do-over. I’ve never wanted anything as bad. Shit, I don’t know where that thought came from.

I hold her close and swim as best as I can toward the stern of the yacht and the ladder attached to the swim platform.

When we reach the platform, I grab hold of the ladder, but I’m in no hurry to have her disentangle herself from me, or climb back aboard. I tighten my grip around her waist. Mia remains hanging on to me, watching me curiously, waiting to see what I’ll do.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

She nods. “You rescued me. You’ve always rescued me,” she breathes, her mouth just inches from mine.

She brings her legs around my waist, and her core brushes against my erection, tearing a strangled groan from my throat. Her eyes widen in surprise.

“Don’t move,” I growl.

Ignoring my request, she tightens her legs around me, her center rubbing against my cock with the most exquisitely frustrating friction I can imagine. A feeling of wild, uncontained desire roars through me. She makes a tiny sound of pleasure in the back of her throat.

Just as I lean in toward her, Mia’s eyes fall closed. Our mouths meet in a rush of hungry kisses. She tastes of salt water and her lips are cold, but her tongue is greedy, taking every stroke I give her and matching it with seductive skill.

My hands itch to cup her gorgeous breasts, to tug on her sexy nipples and hear her moan, but I hold onto her, unwilling to let go. One hand grips the ladder to keep us afloat and my mouth stays fused to hers.

She rocks against me, the heat of her pussy owning me beneath the water. She lets out a little cry of pleasure when she feels how hard I am. For her. Only for her.

“Christ, Mia,” I groan, breaking my mouth away from hers. I feel like I’m going to explode.

From the moment I saw her, all I’ve thought about it getting my lips on hers. When she meets my eyes, I can tell we’re both thinking the same thing. Even after all these years, we can both still feel it. The unexplored sexual tension burns hotly between us. The question is, what am I going to do about it?