Had he ever been so intensely, instantly attracted to a woman? Alex couldnt recall and didnt care. After all, the only thing that mattered was this moment and this woman.
Until the moment was over.
Gorgeous, he commented when he was a couple feet away from her. Her features didnt add up to pretty individually, but put together, they were stunning. His fingers ached to trace the line of her throat down to the gentle swell of flesh pressing against the vivid floral cotton of her dress.
The surf? she asked after a brief hesitation. Even her voice was sexy. Low and husky, at odds with her ethereal appearance.
The view, he clarified, sensing that she wouldnt appreciate surfeit flirtation. A man who prided himself on his intuition as much as his brains, he reined in his instinct to hit hard.
She obviously wasnt fooled, though. She arched one brow, then glanced over his shoulder. He followed her gaze, taking in the watercolor beauty of the sunset. As always, the sight centered him. The ever-changing transformations of the sea never failed to fill his soul with peace.
She got that, he realized as his gaze traced the lines of her face. She didnt look like a woman used to peace, but one who did appreciate it when it was there in front of her.
It must feel amazing to be a part of that, she said with a nod of her chin toward the pounding sea. She acted as if she wasnt aware of his attraction, but the stiffness of her shoulders and slight step she took backward told him otherwise.
She didnt leave, though. Which said it all, in his mind.
Do you surf? he asked, already knowing the answer. She had that romantic, wouldnt-it-be-an-adventure look in her eyes. Not that surfing wasnt both romantic and adventurous. But when a surfer looked at the sea, there was always an underlying layer of respect.
I never have surfed before, no, she said, her gaze meeting his again. There was a summing-up, a calculation in her eyes. He recognized the look. Felt the sexual pull of it tugging at him. It was the kind of expression that said she wondered how hed look without his swim trunks and could he keep it up long enough to make her scream with pleasure.
Then, as if realizing hed caught the look, she blinked. Color, soft pale pink, swept over her cheeks. But she didnt drop her gaze. Almost defiantly, she kept those indigo eyes on his.
A slow, challenging grin spread over his face. He would enjoy showing her both the view and his talents.
Surfing is like sex, he told her softly. An intense ride on a lover that knows how to push you to your limits, then bring you back to earth with a gentle kiss and an invitation to ride again.
He waited to see if shed blush a second time.
You dont say. Her sharp cheekbones blush free, she gave him a long, cool look, then shook her head. Somehow I doubt that tempting promise of pleasure is quite the same for a beginner. Id imagine theres a lot more flailing around, falling and inhaling seawater.
Not if you have the right teacher, he assured her, taking a small step closer. The sand shifted under his bare feet. He inhaled deeply. Her perfume filled his senses, even from a foot away. Was it stronger along her throat? If he buried his face in the curve, just where her breasts started to swell, would it overwhelm him?
I might look into surf lessons while Im here, she evaded, not taking the sex-talk bait.
Ill teach you.
She gave a nervous little laugh, the sound saying shed just bet he would. A shutter dropped, her expression chilling almost as much as his body as the evening breeze teased the water still coating his skin.
Its okay, he assured her, figuring she was smart to ice up. He was a stranger, after all. For now. The Surf Shack is a part of the hotels offering. I teach for them.
She didnt appear to be reassured. Not sure why, Alex put on his safest, most trustworthy face. The kind he hoped seemed nonthreatening. Even though he wanted to go in the opposite direction, he took a tiny step back. He instantly missed the scent of her perfume, flowery and rich, over the salty scent of the ocean.
You can check at the hotel. Just ask anyone about Alex and surfing. Theyll vouch for me. He was pretty sure the last time hed come this close to begging a woman to spend time with him occurred when he was sixteen and trying to find a date to his first college formal.
Still, she hesitated. Her gaze slid from his face to the Surf Shack, a tiny frown furrowing the alabaster skin between those deep blue eyes.
He saw the refusal on her lips.
Just say maybe, he suggested before she could say anything.
Humor flashed in those stunning eyes and she raised one brow, then shrugged.
Maybe, she murmured. Then, without another word, not even a yes-I-want-to-do-you-until-we-both-get-sand-burns look, she turned away.
He watched her go, rubbing a hand over the bruised ache in his chest and wondering what the hell had just happened. He felt as if hed been smacked upside the head with his board in a total wipeout disasterexhilarated, confused and wondering if hed done permanent damage.
Crazy, he told himself. Women were many things. Alluring, captivating, desirable. They were fun, felt incredible and made perfect temporary companions. But dangerous?
He shook his head, his damp curls falling over his eyes a reminder that hed better get them cut before he reported in for his real job at the end of the month.
Dangerous, he thought again. Nah.
There was nothing risky about making time with a stunning blonde who had a yen to learn the magic of the ocean. The only thing at stake was a little time and the possibility of some righteously awesome sex.
SITTING AT THE HOTELS dining patio basking in the sunshine the next morning, Dru sipped her coffee. The rich aroma filled her senses. Dark, robust and strong. The perfect accompaniment to her decadent breakfaststuffed French toast, chorizo and spicy fried potatoes.
All favorites, all bad for her. Exactly what she needed to start this vacation right, she thought with a sigh as she set her coffee cup down. Especially after waking from the most incredibly hot, orgasmic dream shed ever experienced.
Vivid pImages** of her and the gorgeous man from the beach doing it in wicked abandon on his surfboard filled her mind. She shifted in her wicker chair and wished the waiter would come over and refill her ice water. She definitely needed to cool off.
She hadnt been able to get the sexy surf god out of her mind, and obviously her subconscious had put his image and all Nikkis talk about vacation flings together and served her up a montage of sensual impressions. Since the dream-induced orgasm had rocked, she wasnt going to knock it.
A chorus of greetings, in both English and Spanish, rang out along the edge of the dining patio. Dru pulled her attention away from the ocean to glance at the commotion.
As if her musings had conjured him, the sexy surf god of her dreams sauntered up the tile steps and greeted both guests and hotel staff.
Drus breath tripped, her pulse racing. He was even better in sunlight. Shed spent half the night telling herself it was the romance of the surf and moonlight that had made him look like a Greek god. That, and the mostly naked expanse of delicious male flesh shed been mesmerized by.
But no, even with that gorgeous chest covered by a pristine white T-shirt, he was still the tastiest-looking thing shed seen all morning. She took a sip of her water, needing to wet her lips and afraid to add any more caffeine to her already racing heart rate.
He seemed familiar with everyone. Obviously hed been telling the truth when hed said he worked for the hotel. She shifted in her chair, trying to ease the building pressure between her suddenly damp thighs.
As if she were sitting at the table, Nikkis voice chimed in Drucillas head: Go for it. Hes hot, hes sexy. Hes perfect vacation-fling material.
Just like the night before, she didnt know if she should listen to the voiceand her bodys urgingsor run like hell.
Then his eyes met hers. He murmured something to the people circling him. Then, a wide, wicked grin on his face, he crossed the patio. A tilt of his chin toward the waiter had him a cup of coffee before he reached her table.
May I join you? he asked,
Nerves, from both sexual awareness and her ever-present shyness, flooded her system. Despite the little voice urging her to run, she waved her hand toward the empty seat across from her in invitation.
I didnt introduce myself last night. Im Alex, he said, sliding into the chair and helping himself to one of the blueberry muffins in the basket on her table.
Drucilla, she said, automatically offering her hand to shake.
Mistake, she realized as he took her fingers in his. Warmth, with its hypnotically sexy pull, poured from his palm into hers. Her body tried to melt, right there into his hand. A puddle of lust over the breakfast table.
No, not going there, she scolded herself as she tugged her hand away. Needing to cool off at the thought, she reached for her ice water.
Did you sleep well, Drucilla?
Had he peeked into her mind to know shed tossed and turned in sweaty homage to the dream orgasm hed given her? She almost choked on her water. Calling herself silly, Dru brushed the thought aside and gave him a little shrug and a smile.
I rarely sleep easily my first night after traveling, she excused.
You should have let me help, he told her, popping the second half of the muffin into his mouth.
Somehow I think your help would have done more to keep me up than make me sleep, she said with a nervous laugh. He was actually flirting with her. Excitement spun through her system, its rapid trajectory hindered by the terror flying along with it.
Oh, no, intense physical exertion is excellent for bringing on deep sleep. Didnt you know that?
His grin was a dare. She knew it. Even though she didnt have a chance in hell of handling the dare, she still couldnt resist.
Id heard the rumor. But from what I understand, she said, leaning forward, both hands clenchedin both nerves and excitementin her lap, the exertion has to actually be good. Mediocre is just a lesson in frustration, isnt it?
Mediocre isnt even worth doing, he agreed. His eyes had dropped, just for a second, to her breasts. Hotter than the overhead sun, they warmed her. Filled her with sexual power like shed never experienced. It feltincredible.
My point exactly, she said.
Well, there you go, he returned with a wicked grin. You should have let me help.
And how do I know youre good? she challenged, unsure where the nerve to flirt was coming from. But since she seemed to be doing it right, she wasnt about to question the gift.
References, of course.
Dru couldnt help it, she burst out laughing. She knew he wanted her to think he was talking about sex. And she figured on one level, they were. What would he do if she called his bluff? Not sure she was ready to find out, she played it safe instead.
Of course, she said as if his response was perfectly reasonable.
You can always take me up on it tonight, he offered. The look on his face was pure sexual challenge. Dru knew damn well he could rise to the challenge, too. In every sense. This was a guy who didnt need the likes of Albert Einstein to get his groove on.
Im not sure yet that Im interested in learning to surf, she told him, ending the double-entendre exchange with an apologetic little shrug.
His quick frown said he hadnt been ready for it to end, though.
Is this a game? he asked, his expression pleasant. But she still heard the hint of irritation in his tone.
I dont play games.
Alex laughed, his amusement lightly tinged with disbelief.
She leaned back in her chair, resting one elbow on the arm, and arched an inquiring brow. The look she gave him demanded an explanation.
After all, he was the one whod plopped himself down at her table and helped himself to her muffin.
His laughter trailed off. He gave her a long stare, his dark eyes narrowed in contemplation. Im sorry. I guess Im a little confused. Im not used to such unclear signals from a woman. Im obviously interested in you. Id like to spend some time together, get to know you better. Much, much better.
Drus heart pounded, a tingling kind of fear moving through her body. So much for beating around the bush. Alex was the most direct, in-her-face man shed ever met.
It only made him sexier.
I thought thats what we were doing. Although clearly not as much as he, or she, for that matter, would like.
You know what I mean, he said, brushing aside her socially correct reply.
Dru bit her lip. Wasnt this proof perfect that she shouldnt try to socialize outside her milieu? Give her a brainiac, a science buff, even an amateur astronomer, shed be fine. But a hunky guy with eyes like melted chocolate and a body worthy of a god? Throw in enough sexual tension to send a nun running for a cold shower, a misguided attempt at flirtation and what did you get? Her, feeling like a turned-on, embarrassed idiot with her pretty, floral wedge sandal stuck right there in her big mouth.
Not sure what to do about the irritation suddenly overshadowing the desire hed sparked in her body, Drucilla tapped her fingers on the table.
So, what? she finally asked, figuring shed blown it anyway so she might as well just be herself. If a woman doesnt drop at your feet the instant she meets you, shes playing a game?
An appreciative look flashed in his dark eyes, but he kept his face straight.
Maybe not at my feet, he teased. But usually theres a definite decision about whether she wants to pursue the possibility of getting better acquainted. As a rule, people know instantly if theyre interested or not. Whether theyll choose to act on that interest is another thing, of course. And thats where the game usually comes in.
Dru frowned. Not over his reference to his easy conquests. That was no surprise. But at his words. They were pretty deep for a surf instructor. Then she mentally smacked herself for making such a snobbish judgment call.
I assure you, my taking my time to decide on what I want isnt a game, she said, guilt over her thoughts making her tone more apologetic than shed intended.
His grin, fast and sexy, told her he was more than willing to take advantage of that opening.
What can I do to help you make up your mind? he offered, leaning forward and putting his hand over hers as it rested on the glass table. Sparks flared. Hot, intense and almost overpowering. Energy, purely sexual, raced through her system. Her nipples beaded in instant response. If he could turn her on this easily, with just a look and a touch, what could he do to her body if she let him? And what the hell was she waiting for to find out?