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She surprised him when she brought her hand to cup his face, her touch electrifying as always.
He turned his face into her hand, kissing and nuzzling her palm and feeling the tremble that went through her body. So responsive . . . So in tune with him. So perfect for him in every possible way.
“Will you . . .”
“What, baby? What do you want?”
“Will you kiss me? Just that and nothing more?”
“I’d love to kiss you. It’s my favorite thing to do.”
He felt her smile as his lips came down on hers, finding her in the dark.
Her arms curled around his neck to hold him in place as her mouth opened to his tongue.
Gavin poured all his love and devotion and regret and need into that kiss, hoping it conveyed everything he felt for her.
She kissed him back with enthusiasm that matched his own, and he had to remind himself that she’d asked for a kiss. Only a kiss. Hands that wanted to wander were restrained, held in check flat against her back, burning through the silk nightgown that clung to her alluring curves. Those curves were off limits to him tonight, so he threw himself into the kiss.
He explored every corner of her warm sweetness, sucking on her tongue until she moaned into his mouth. Her body arched into his, seeking relief he wasn’t allowed to provide. He respected her boundaries, even as he pulsated with need and desire.
Ella’s fingers were buried in his hair, her nails scraping against his scalp.
God, he couldn’t get close enough.
By the time she broke the kiss, he was fully on top of her, his arms wrapped tightly around her while her legs intertwined with his.
“That was some kiss,” he said, sliding his lips over hers. He couldn’t get enough of her. He would never get enough.
“Mmm, good kiss.”
“Do you think you can sleep now?”
Her reply came in the form of a deep yawn.
“I’ll take that as my cue to leave you alone.” Though he continued to ache with unspent desire, he settled next to her, his arm looped around her waist, thankful to have her there beside him.
“Gavin?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m really glad you came here, even if you didn’t want to.”
“I want to be wherever you are.”
She turned over and snuggled up to him, her head on his chest, her hand flat against his abdomen, a mere inch above the part of him that throbbed for her.
This was going to be a long, long night.
* * *
Ella woke to Gavin, fully dressed and holding a tray that included a bright orange flower in a vase. “What’s this?” she asked, pushing hair back from her face.
“Breakfast in bed for my love.”
“Oh, wow. Thanks.”
“No problem.” He waited until she sat up to place the tray on her lap. “I got us a beach cabana, too, with one of those shade things. Can’t have that pretty skin of yours burning.”
“Thank you.” She took a sip of coffee and a careful look at him. He seemed tired, restless, unsettled. “What’s wrong?”
His eyebrows lifted. “Wrong? Absolutely nothing is wrong. For once.”
“Why do you seem tired?”
“Because I didn’t sleep that great. Jet lag or something.”
“We’re in the same time zone as home.”
He shrugged it off. “I don’t know. I just couldn’t sleep.”
The phone rang, and Gavin handed the extension to Ella. “Hello?”
“Hi, Ella, it’s Jack. Hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No, we’re up.”
“I’m looking for Gavin, and I heard he might be with you.”
“Sure, hang on.” She held out the phone to him. “For you. It’s Jack.”
Gavin took the phone from her. “Hey, what’s up?” After listening to whatever Jack had to say, Gavin replied, “Nah, I can’t today. I’m hanging with Ella. But you guys have fun.” He paused again, listened and glanced at her. “I gotta be honest—I can’t do that stuff anymore. I’m an actual adult these days and have too many people counting on me to take crazy chances.” He listened again, chuckled. “Say what you will, my friend, but I’m not changing my mind.” Another pause. “Sure, I’d love to meet for drinks when you get back. I’ll see you then.”
“What’re they up to?” Ella asked when he’d returned the portable phone to the cradle.
“Some sort of shark diving thing without the cage.”
“That sounds fun.”
“You think so?”
“Not really,” she said with a laugh.
“I’d much rather spend the day with you than with a bunch of sharks.”
“I’m strangely complimented by that.”
He leaned over to kiss her forehead. “As well you should be.”
“Hey, Gav?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m proud of you for telling him the truth. I know that wasn’t easy for you.”
“It was easier than it would’ve been before I talked to you about it yesterday. And for what it’s worth, apparently your brothers and brother-in-law are pussies these days, too.”
Ella laughed. “It’ll happen to the rest of them someday.”
“I can only hope it happens soon. I’ll leave you to eat in peace.”
“Don’t go. Help me out here. There’s enough to feed an army.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” She lifted a forkful of omelet and held it out to him. Holding her gaze, he took the bite.
After breakfast, they changed into swimsuits and headed for the beach, where he continued tending to her every need, begi
As relaxed as she was, however, Gavin seemed wound up, agitated, unable to sit still. “What’s wrong?” she asked as they returned to their room late that afternoon to shower for di
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“You’re tense. You have been all day.”
“Did you have a nice day?”
“I had a great day.”
“That’s all that matters. I want you happy.”
“That’s not all that matters.”
“It is for now.”
He used the keycard to open the door, gesturing for her to go in ahead of him. The moment the door clicked shut behind them, she turned to him, resting her hand on his chest. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing is wrong, Ella. Nothing a cold shower won’t take care of.”
“Oh.” She let her gaze travel down the front of him, stopping just below his waist where the evidence of his arousal left no room for interpretation as to what had him so wound up.
“It’s your fault,” he said in a teasing tone. “You and that itty-bitty bikini you pranced around in all day.”
“My bikini is neither itty nor bitty,” she said. “And I don’t prance.”
“It’s both itty and bitty, and I’m only human, babe. And P.S., you most certainly do prance.”
She raised her hands to his shoulders and went up on tiptoes to kiss him.
He reacted instantly, cupping her bottom and lifting her into his arms as he devoured her with his lips, teeth and tongue. With his erection pressed against her, Ella wanted to forget all about the many reasons she’d pla
Then she was falling, landing on the bed with him on top of her as the kiss took a turn toward the wild and frantic. The only thing standing between what they both wanted were her bikini bottoms and his bathing suit. He kept his hands on her bottom, squeezing as his tongue thrust into her mouth.
Ella arched into him, needing the relief only he could provide.
He broke the kiss, panting and staring down at her, seeming as dazed as she felt. “We have to stop or we won’t be able to.”
“Don’t stop yet.”
“Ella . . .”
“Please don’t stop yet.”
A muscle in his cheek pulsed from the tension that gripped them both. “Untie your top.”
With trembling hands, Ella did as he asked, baring her breasts to him.