My, my,” she said, as he hauled her up against him, feet…

““My, my,” she said, as he hauled her up against him, feet dangling off the floor, and held her there as he walked her into the room, using his elbow to hit the button to close the screens and turn them opaque. “The invitation didn’t say clothing optional,” she said, running her sandaled feet up the back of his bare legs. Which matched the rest of him. She let out a little laugh as he tossed her gently on the bed. “That’s because I wanted to peel your clothes off you,” he said, following her down. “Well,” she said, stretching her arms up over her head, “if you must.” She reveled in the way the two of them sank into the thick down mattress pad and even thicker down comforter that was layered on top. The word sumptuous came to mind. Even better, the bed didn’t pitch and roll with each ocean swell, though that slow roll had provided a few key moments of its own, she recalled. “Such a wicked smile you’re wearing,” he said approvingly, flipping her sandals off. “I think it should be the only thing you have on.” He unsnapped her shorts, then slid everything off the lower half of her body in one smooth slide. “You’ve been practicing,” she said, though it was hard to keep the casual banter going now, seeing as he was slowly kissing his way past her ankle and on up along the curve of her calf.””

— Donna Kauffman