Yeah, she'd started to catch the sun, too. Her dark skin had already begun to change color. Highlights at her hairline shone bright caramel and gold. She also looked a little buzzed, which was cute as hell. Max knew that his aunt Fern and Ruby had made sure she'd always had a fresh drink at her side.
"But everyone's out on the float now," he pointed out. "You're all on your own."
"Max, I'm okay. I promise."
He huffed. "Well, will you at least come here while I show you something?" he asked, kicking a foot at one of the lounger legs.
She cocked a suspicious eyebrow. "Something?"
He smirked. "Not that something." He waggled his eyebrows. "Not now, at least."
She laughed and sat forward. "Okay. What do you want to show me?"
"Come here."
Placing her cell on the lounger, she moved closer, standing carefully but unable to completely stop the slight sway in her gait. She giggled. "Those Jell-O shots are naughty."
"I hear ya," Max replied with a chuckle. "Hey," he said frowning. "What's that?" He pointed to her feet.
As she looked down, Max made his move. As though she weighed nothing, he grabbed her around the tops of her thighs and hiked her over his shoulder in a firefighter's lift, grinning as cheers of encouragement erupted from the bastards on the float who'd dared him to do it. He hurried down toward the water, ignoring Grace's squeals of protest, the tone of her voice thick with humor, and until he heard her panic, he wasn't letting go.
"Max! I swear to God! Let me down." She smacked his ass. Hard.
"Oh, you can do that again," he retorted, wading into the water. She shrieked when it touched her toes. It would no doubt feel fucking bitter against her hot skin. "I've got you," he hummed. "Don't you worry."
"Oh my heavens, it's freezing, Max! Stop!"
Max chuckled. Even with liquor in her, she was still careful about cursing.
"Stop?" he asked, and halted his steps immediately, the water lapping at his waist.
"Thank you," she gasped. "Now let me down."
He grinned toward the float. "Okay. I'll let you down. Here's a good spot."
With ease and a piercing scream from Grace as he did, Max lifted her and threw her into the water. The whole of her submerged. He bowed and waved at the float, where everyone was on his or her feet, laughing, whistling, and applauding.
"You bastard!" Grace spluttered as she broke the surface and stood up, hair dripping, white T-shirt clinging deliciously to her body. She flailed her hands, as if the movement would help in her effort to get dry.
Max moved toward her, grinning. "Oh, come on now. Don't be mad." He reached out. "My clothes never looked so fucking good."
She smirked. "Is that right?"
His eyes danced down her body, paying particularly close attention to her hard nipples. "Shit yeah," he breathed, thankful that the water was cold enough to keep his cock at bay.
"Well," she purred. "Come closer and tell me more."
Max should have listened to his gut. He should have listened to the sensible part of his brain and not the part of his brain that resided in his shorts, because as soon as he moved closer she was on him, dunking him headfirst into the lake, over and over again, winding her lithe body around his until he was begging for mercy. She was like a slippery eel. Max simply couldn't get a hold on her, but Jesus, having her body so close, so near nakedness was fucking stupendous. Her thighs gripped him tightly while his cheek pressed into her tit.
Awesome.
She finally let go, pushing away with a laugh that was beautiful. "I have a brother, Maxie," she taunted while swimming backward. "Don't forget. I learned from the best. I dunk boys like you for breakfast."
And with that she took off toward the float, where Josh and Buck helped her climb aboard, leaving Max tongue-tied and bursting with pride.
It was late afternoon when everyone left the float for the shade of the house. With the sun still hot as hell and drinks being thrown back like nobody's business, a siesta was in serious order. With an arm behind his head and a foot on the ground to keep the hammock, tied between two trees, swinging gently, Max watched Grace approach with a soft, tipsy smile across her sun-kissed face. She was still wearing his godforsaken T-shirt, but that was okay. She'd been nothing but an absolute pleasure to be around all day, opening up to him and everyone else, shaking off her natural timidity and quiet.
He smiled when she stopped at his side. "Hi."
"Hi," she answered. "You okay?"
He nodded. "You?"
She lifted her half-empty bottle of water. "Trying to dilute. I may be a little buzzed."