"Alexis, you are not the darkness." He stuck his hand back in the water and swished it around until it blazed with light. "This is the light I saw in you when we were younger and it's the light I've seen in you every day since you walked back into my life.
Each time I've been here over the years, admiring this miracle, has reminded me of you.
That's why I brought you here tonight."
He pulled her across to him and held her tightly against his chest. Alexis closed her eyes when he began to stroke her hair.
"I don't know how long I'm going to have your attention, Alexis. I don't know what your plans are after you leave here, but I'll tell you one thing, I don't want you to go back into the world without knowing how I feel about you, not because I want to tell you, but because I think you need to hear it. I have been in love with you since we were sixteen years old. Every woman I've been with has paled in comparison and when I dream, I dream of you. Now do you think I'm the kind of man who would waste years of his life loving a soulless, selfish shrew?"
She wanted to believe he was right, that she was a better person than she believed. He was such an amazing man. He deserved a woman who matched his passion for life and love. Could she possibly be that woman?
She became acutely aware of his biceps wrapped around her shoulders and the feel of his rock-hard abs pressed against her. Her body certainly wanted her to be that woman.
"I'm not telling you all this to put pressure on you," he said in a low voice. "I know you have your issues to work through, but…" He didn't get to finish the rest of his sentence as her lips locked onto his. He laced his fingers through her hair as she slipped her hand under his shirt to feel the ripple of his muscles.
"Alexis," he murmured, kissing the curve of her neck.
"What?" she whispered.
"We are probably safer doing this on dry land."
"I thought you were all about taking chances," she teased.
"Not this kind," he said, giving her a quick kiss before picking up the oar. As he rowed them back to shore, Alexis had another chance to admire the glowing seascape. "Thank you, Tyler," she said. "I'll always remember this."
"That was the plan," he said.
Once they were in shallow water, she climbed out of the dinghy and waded back to the sand. Tyler pulled the boat out of the surf and rolled it back to the golf cart. Alexis made her way back to the blanket, relying on moonlight to direct her. She hadn't realized how chilly it had become. She'd been sheltered by Tyler and the boat. She felt his arms wrap around her once more and she turned into him. His finger lifted her chin toward him and she felt his lips once more. He sucked gently at her lower lip and Alexis felt pangs of lust shoot down her legs.