Disclaimer: I do not own Leverage nor am I associated with Dean Devlin, Christian Kane or Beth Riesgraf.
A/N: If I get enough needling, there could possibly by a sequel involving sunburn and aloe…
Empty Beach
Eliot had been sitting there with his cheek on his fist, staring into space, half the morning. His eyes traced Parker's lanky form for the hundredth time as he watched her blond hair lifting off her face in the light breeze. Okay, so maybe not quite into space.
"Eliot. Eliot. Eliot!" He jumped, Nate finally getting his attention. His boss waved a fistful of cards at him. "It's your turn?"
"Has been for a while, dude. Seriously, I know she's really somethin' else, but you have got to stop ogling," Hardison advised.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Eliot glanced over his cards, ignoring the other two as they rolled their eyes.
"Parker's stretched out in a barely-there bikini in the general direction of your open-mouthed stare and you mean to tell us you haven't noticed her?" Nate stated with a wide-eyed and innocent look.
Grumbling, Eliot muttered a 'shut up.' "Woman gives me high blood pressure."
Hardison shook his head. "She gives us all high blood pressure, man, just walk it off."
He slammed his full house down on the table with more force than necessary, standing and throwing his chair back across the porch of Sophie's island house. "That's the best idea you've ever had. If you gentlemen will excuse me." With that, Eliot turned and marched off the deck into the sand. Nate and Hardison watched with wide eyes as he stormed across the beach.
He dropped to his knees over her, startling her awake. She started to sit up but he pushed her back onto her towel, following her down. Parker stiffened at first but quickly relaxed, sliding her arms around his neck.
"Dude," Hardison looked away, the slightest hint of shock and embarrassment evident in his face. Nate scratched his forehead, unable to find words.
"I'm thinking we should go in now," he suggested as he walked towards the screen door, not bothering to gather up the playing cards.
"Mmm, Eliot…" Parker groaned as he dropped down to her chin and then her throat. "I never would have guessed you to be one to sunbathe…"
His kisses strayed lower, across her collarbone, and she felt him smile. "I never understood it; all those people crowded in. But an empty beach… Now this I get."
Parker rolled over on top of him, pulling off his unbuttoned shirt as she teased his bottom lip with her tongue.