At his silence, her expression shifted. She wriggled forward. Her hands rose to cup his cheeks. If were in that much danger
At his silence, her expression shifted. She wriggled forward. Her hands rose to cup his cheeks. If were in that much danger
He sucked in a sharp breath as her lips touched his.
Reaction ricocheted through him. He tangled his fingers in her hair, gripping convulsively at its softness. His free arm snaked around to press against the small of her back. He came to his feet, pulling her with him, bringing their bodies flush together while he deepened the kiss and reveled in passion that consumed his body.
A tidal wave of emotion washed through him. He closed his eyes and let every millimeter of her body imprint itself on his brain. He lowered his hand to her buttocks, pressing her meaningfully into him, letting her know he was aroused-as if there was any question.
His mouth opened wider. His tongue probed deeper. His breathing grew labored. And his hands squeezed her intimately.
He moved his lips to the crook of her neck, and she groaned as he tested the tender skin. Her hands wound around his neck, clinging tight, pressing her breasts against his body, her hardened nipples spurring his desire.
He slipped a hand between them and covered one breast with his palm, reveling in the soft weight and the delicate texture. Her mouth found his again, kissing hard and deep, leaving no question of her acceptance.
Then she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.
He shrugged out of it, and she pressed her hot lips against his chest. He held still for a moment, palms swirling in her hair, eyes closed, teeth gritted.
Then he pulled off the tunic, flipped the clasp of her bra and gazed at her creamy breasts, topped with perfect, pink nipples. For a second, he couldnt move. He couldnt breathe.
He reached for her breast, watching in fascination as his broad, tanned hand covered the pale mound. Her eyes fluttered closed, and her head tipped back.
He kissed her exposed neck, drawing the skin into the hot cavern of his mouth. She gripped his upper arms to brace herself, fingertips digging into him in a way that ratcheted up his desire. He kissed his way down to one nipple, then the next, drawing the taut pebble into his mouth, laving it with his tongue, trying desperately to hang on to some semblance of control, even as he fought the urge to rip off the rest of her clothes.
Her breaths came in pants.
He pulled at the waistband of her skirt, dragging it over her hips, past her buttocks, down her thighs, until it pooled on the floor.
Then he drew back to gaze at her.
She was drop-dead gorgeous. Hed never seen a more beautiful, more desirable woman. He put his palm flat against her chest. She watched as he eased his way down, over her breast, her flat belly, her hip bone, her downy curls.
She tipped her head up, and met his eyes.
They stared at each other, frozen in time.
Then his free hand went to the button on his slacks.
She didnt blink as he flipped it open. He drew down the zipper. Their last chance to stop, and they both knew it.
Neither of them took it.
He kicked out of his pants, and drew her down on the bed, stretching full length beside her, legs entangling, hands caressing.
He slowed his kisses, touching her face, smoothing her hair, whispering in her ear, using French to tell her she was beautiful and desirable, and hed never been with a woman who moved him more.
His hands wandered, while hers did the same, discovering secrets and hollows, speeding up their breathing, then slowing it down again.
In French, he told her everything he was doing, everything he was feeling, everything he wanted.
She kissed him deeply, her hands on a journey that forced him to grit his teeth, sweat popping out on his brow.
He needed her. Now. Right now.
His fingertips skimmed their way up her long, smooth legs, and her thighs twitched apart, inviting him. He swiftly extracted a condom from his wallet, positioning his body, feeling the hot, enticing entrance to hers.
He kissed her one more time, entwined their fingers, murmured words of passion and want and desire.
Jaussi, she whispered breathlessly, flexing her hips.
Before his brain registered her French response, he was inside her, and his world contracted to a single primal urge. He thrust and withdrew, over and over.
A freight train roared and throbbed to life inside his brain, growing faster and louder and harder, in sync with his body. But he held the urgency at bay.
He kissed her deeper. He clasped her to him, feeling the twitches of her body, hearing the gasps of her breath, tasting the pure nectar of her swollen mouth.
She whispered his name.
Then she said it again.
He wanted her to stop, but he wanted her to go. His name on her lips was pulsing incredible sensations through his bloodstream.
Her hands tightened in his. Her hips twitched and her thighs tightened. He could sense her shimmering.
He smiled and whispered her name, urging her over the edge. Then he felt her slide, and he gave in himself, and pure, pristine pleasure cascaded like a waterfall around them.
When it finally stopped, the world filtered through.
The fan whooshed above them, puffing tepid air.
The colorful room came into focus.
Julias breathing sounded long and deep, her bare breasts rising and falling against his slick chest.
He shifted to remove his weight from her.
Did I hurt you? he asked, smoothing stray wisps of hair from her cheek, impulsively kissing the space afterward.
You suppose it was the adrenaline? she ventured, gazing straight up at the rotating fan.
He didnt know how to answer that.
He didnt think they could blame the adrenaline.
Because, she continued, still obviously searching for an explanation, we dont really like each other all that much.
We seem to connect on some level, he pointed out.
I suppose.
Okay, maybe it was ego, but he had to know if hed been alone in that.
He raised his head on his elbow, gazing down at her. I mean, have you ever
She looked at him. Had sex?
He shook his head. Had sex like that.
You mean in French?
He cringed. I didnt realize you spoke French.
She grinned at his discomfort. No kidding.
He couldnt even remember all hed said.
Youre not going to tell me you just had the most incredibly mind-blowing experience of your life, are you?
Are you the kind of guy who needs to hear that?
Her words were tough, but her expression was guarded. He realized that even if they had both felt it, he needed to let the subject drop. Sex alone was complication enough. Sex that might mean something in these circumstances couldnt even be contemplated.
It must have been the adrenaline, he agreed.
Then they stared at each other for a moment of pure, unadulterated understanding. Adrenaline had had nothing to do with it.
Chapter Ten
Brittany stared in shock at the dozens, no, hundreds, of children and families shrieking, eating or simply running their way around the Wild Wadi Water Park.
I dont understand, she said to Alex, clutching his arm for support as two ten-year-old boys whipped past her, dripping wet.
Were hiding in the crowd.
Why this crowd?
I thought you were a preschool teacher?
Its a private preschool. I have eight students, and they wear uniforms.
Alex grinned. You dont take them to the park or the zoo?
Alex grinned. You dont take them to the park or the zoo?
Theres a garden in the courtyard of the school.
Let me guess, where they all play dignified little games in their dignified little uniforms.
Brittany compressed her lips. There was no point in engaging in that particular argument. If Alex thought children could only have fun by racing around like hooligans, that was his problem.
Do you actually believe the police are following us? she asked.
Im hoping theyre following Harrisons money trail. He extracted a credit card from his pocket and waved it in front of her face.
A family came by, two parents, three young children and a baby in arms, screaming its head off.
Is there any particular reason we cant spend his money somewhere else?
Alex tugged her in the direction of a shop. Were here already. Lets pick up some suits and try to have a good time.
I can assure you, that is not going to happen.
Not if you dont yank that big ol stick out of your butt.
Brittany refrained from stating the obvious.
Its a metaphor, Alex offered helpfully.
I know its a metaphor. And a rather crude one at that.
Dont get all prissy on me.
I am not- She stopped herself. Arguing with Alex was an exercise in futility. Shed already learned that, and she didnt know why she let herself get drawn in time after time.
Bathing suits, said Alex, pointing to the display window. Ill buy you anything you want.
You mean Harrison will buy me anything I want.
Alex shrugged as he held open the door. Im not a very literal guy. So shoot me.
Brittany twitched a grin as she passed him.
Made-you-laugh time.
I wasnt laughing at your joke. I was wishing I could take shooting you literally.
He followed her into the brightly lit store. You were not.
You dont know what Im thinking, she said.
He nabbed a bathing suit from the first rack they came to, turning to hold up a bright-green bikini with a halter tie and flirty, little, white bows at the hips. Want me to tell you what youre thinking?
She stared at his mocking expression, then she took in the little bikini. It was about her size. Did she dare? It would serve him bloody well right.
He opened his mouth, but she scooped it from his hands. Perfect. Ill take it.
She was rewarded with a drop of his jaw.
But he recovered quickly. Youre bluffing.
She spotted a matching cover-up and headed for the dressing room. Knew what she was thinking? Ha.
Well, in fact, hed probably made a pretty decent guess at what she was thinking, which was not with a gun to my head. But sometimes a girl had to do the unexpected.
She stripped out of the simple, linen dress shed purchased at the hotel this morning, removed her underwear, and slipped into the bright-green number. The hours spent at the spas tanning salon had turned her skin a light butternut. And the green and white went well with her blond hair, if she did say so herself.