Damon wanted to swim, but Emily protested.
"It's cold," she insisted, smacking Damon's hand as he gently tugged on one of the thin straps on her black bikini. Then she crossed her arms and pouted at him.
"Mustang, it's like eighty five degrees out."
Emily shook her head. "The water, I mean. It's too cold. I like the sun." She fell back onto her towel, closing her eyes and stretching her arms above her head to take in the warm sun.
"You're not winning this one, you know," Payson told Damon, lounging contentedly on her own towel reading a book next to Emily and not even looking in his direction.
"Hmm." Damon just watched Emily for a moment, a smiling unwillingly crossing his lips. "Well, how about a compromise?"
Emily held her hand up to block the sun and opened one eye she left her sunglasses in the car, looking at him skeptically. "Go on."
"What if we both go out to the water? Wait, hear me out," he continued as Emily shook her head sharply. "We both go out, but I'll carry you, so you don't get cold. Then we're both happy."
"I wouldn't trust him if I we're you," Payson chimed in.
"Don't help," Damon said sternly, which only made Emily laugh.
She propped herself up on her elbows. "She has a point. How do I know you're not going to throw me in when we get out there?"
"I guess there's only one way to find out," Damon said, an innocent tone to his voice.
But Emily anticipated his next move. Before he had reached his arms out to grab her, she was on her feet and running. Payson sat up to watch as Damon took off after Emily. Sand flew around both of them as they laughed and ran. But soon enough, he caught up to her.
When he grabbed Emily around the waist, the sudden change in momentum caused both of them to fall forward. They were sprawled on the sand, Emily desperately trying to escape, but Damon holding on to her tightly. He finally managed to get to his feet and scooped her into his arms.
"You're coming with me," he whispered into her ear, his voice deeper than usual.
Emily froze in his arms. She turned her face to his and his nose brushed lightly across her own. His gaze had changed. It was no longer playful, but intense and passionate.
"You win this one," she whispered before placing the lightest of kisses to his lips.