But he didn’t say love. Love. She whirled away from him. Robert truly loved her, and she had betrayed him in the most horrible way. Robert would do anything for her, but she’d given her virginity to a man who would never have any deep feelings for her.
She choked back a half-crazed laugh. Could she have done any worse in screwing up her life? Oh, hell, what was she thinking? They were never going to get off this island. Alex would be hers for life, as much as if he were chained to her.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Would you rather I lie to you?” he asked in a clipped voice. “Pretend that when we’re rescued I’d want to get married, love?”
She bristled at those stabbing words. “I’m not your ‘love,’ remember?”
However, she wasn’t surprised at her own secret longing he’d want her for more. She’d bet he had women declaring their love for him all the time. Besides, he’d make a terrible husband.
Her shoulders stiffened. “I wouldn’t want to marry you either. We would be incompatible. Our lifestyles would clash.” Inside, she knew she lied to both of them.
“Exactly. My life is not conducive to a normal marriage. I’m gone for months at a time.”
She didn’t really care. If they truly loved each other, they could make their relationship work, but she could tell he needed an out, a way to avoid any commitment to her.
He strode to the fire, and threw a piece of wood onto the embers. He gave her a brief look, then knelt, took a stick, and stoked the blaze. A shower of sparks flew in the night air.
He stared into the burning flames. “If my film, The Spy, isn’t a success, my career will probably be over. Vanessa will make sure of that. She’s a master at manipulating the paparazzi, which is one of the reasons for her fame. I expect losing what I want to do most in the world might be the price for my freedom. After the hell I’ve been through, can you understand why I won’t get married again?”
“You want to remain single forever? Never have children?”
He limped to her and reached out and stroked her arm. “Kelly, I made a mistake once. I’m not about to repeat it. But I was attracted to you from the beginning.”
“I know what effect I had on you,” she replied tartly.
“With the unusual way we met, I’ve been unable to take my eyes off you. Honestly, I can say I’ve never felt this way before, but if we’re rescued, I couldn’t offer you any commitment.”
“Then let’s forget this ever happened.”
“That’s impossible. How can we? I would have to move to the other side of the island.” He pulled her into his arms and gazed down at her. “Do you really want me to? I could not live this close and not touch you. But if you tell me to leave, I will.”
They had already made love twice. She was being ridiculous and couldn’t turn back the clock on what had happened today. “I want you to stay,” she whispered.
He lowered his forehead against hers. No humor reflected in his husky voice when he said, “Good.”
He cupped her chin and tilted her face up to his. Lacing her arms around his neck, she pressed her lips to his and relaxed in his arms. She would surrender herself to him—and on his terms. No turning back. For now, this primitive world was their home.
She broke away from his kiss.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“If we’re going to do this, then I think we need an agreement.”
He chuckled and put his arms around her. “Now you sound like a business woman.”
“I do,” she said wistfully. What she really wanted was a love agreement, but a business one might help protect her heart from expecting more than he could give. “I want everything up front so there won’t be any misunderstandings later.”
Smiling, he flicked her nose. “What do you suggest?”
She gazed into his eyes. “Stop grinning. I’m serious.” At his sobered look, she continued, “Until we go home, we may remain . . .” She almost said ‘lovers,’ but that wasn’t the correct term for their relationship. “I know you don’t want anything permanent, so when we’re rescued, our relationship ends as if it never existed.”
“Is that all, love?”
“No. If at any time, either of us wants to end this affair, for whatever reason, the other person will not judge or condemn the other. We’ll have a clean break.”
He leaned toward her. “I guess I can live with your agreement. Let’s seal our pact with a kiss.”
She placed her fingers on his lips. “No.”
“What? There’s to be no kissing in this arrangement?”
“No. Yes.” She offered him a crooked smile. “I mean there is one more thing I must ask of you. As far as anyone else is concerned, this never happened. Do you promise never to speak of it?” The real possibility crossed her mind that she could get pregnant, and then what?
“What happens on the island stays on the island. Where do I sign?” he asked, trying unsuccessfully to keep a straight face.
She poked her finger into his chest. “I’m serious. You can’t tell anybody. There is to be complete and utter silence on this matter.” This way, if and when they ever returned, she’d break up with Robert quietly, but the whole world wouldn’t have to know she’d been Alex Drake’s temporary lover. That news would humiliate Robert—or for that matter, her.
“Yes, I’ll agree to whatever you say, but I think I’m under—what’s that legal term—duress.” He pulled her closer. She melted into his embrace and his slow, drugging kiss. Placing his hands on her buttocks, he lifted her and pressed his hard, aroused body against hers, enticing her. She wrapped her legs around him.
After an urgent kiss, he set her down on her feet, his breathing heavy as he gazed down at her. “This is not good, Kelly,” he said in a husky voice. “I want to carry you inside the hut—now. But we haven’t even discussed birth control.”
Besides ending up with a broken heart, she’d already thought of the consequences to what they did. “What do you suggest?”
Still embracing her, he shrugged. “I do know we’re past abstaining. I’m shaking just holding you now,” he admitted with a sigh. “There are ways to avoid pregnancy. I admit, not always reliable, but better than doing nothing.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
When he leaned forward to kiss her, her eyes blurred with tears as all the emotions of the day came rushing back.
He cupped her chin. “Now what’s wrong, baby? Have my kisses made you cry?”
She gave him a watery smile. “That’s not it. Just thinking about today—you could have been killed. I am so relived you’re here with me.”
He rested his cheek against her hair. “I’ll do my best to make you not regret this.” He brazenly flattened his palm on her breast. She drew in a sharp breath. “Do you know how long I’ve ached to touch you this way?”
She nodded, still a little shaky, uncertain if their agreement would set her free to be his temporary lover and still protect her from hurt later.
Returning his lips to her mouth, he gave her a thorough kiss. Desire pooled in her. Beyond words and speech, she’d known what she wanted since the first day she’d met him.
He rubbed his thumb where her engagement ring used to be. “I’m sorry you lost your ring, but not sorry to see it off your finger.” He kissed her palm. “On this island, you’re mine.”
She glanced at his left hand, now ringless, too. When had he removed his wedding band?
With that thought, she tilted her head, prompting him to bend to kiss her. She ran her fingers through his hair.
She was going to let this gorgeous actor, who didn’t profess dying devotion to her, and didn’t want a permanent relationship with her, make love to her.
This was a dangerous game she played, one in which she would probably get hurt, but she wanted nothing more than to savor every moment with him, come what may.
She was probably out of her mind.
He swung her up in his arms, and n
uzzled his face to her ear. “Let’s go to bed.” As he carried her into the hut, Kelly’s blood thudded through her veins in expectation.
* * *
The next morning, Alex hummed as he ripped out the partition in the hut that had separated them. Perhaps, because their relationship wasn’t permanent, he found himself content to play the lover in every way. He’d even collected a bouquet of wild flowers for her this morning. If he could, he would have sent her dozens of red roses.
He wouldn’t dwell on the fact he’d taken her virginity, or why he was ecstatic she’d never slept with Hillyard. He swore to take the utmost care not to get her pregnant, not only because he didn’t want the entanglement of children, but because childbirth without medical care on this remote island could be life-threatening. Hadn’t one of his aunts died when something went terribly wrong?
Over the next two weeks, he couldn’t get enough of Kelly. Having sex became their main recreation. He stopped working on the raft and spent his days and nights teaching her about her body and his. He loved being creative in their lovemaking. Sometimes, to avoid pregnancy, they only did a lot of touching and exploring. He reveled in using his hands and mouth to make her shiver with delight. She learned, all too quickly, how to equally drive him wild. He was always careful to pull out, and not to make her sorry they’d made love.
Every night, they slept exhausted in each other’s arms from the best sex he’d ever had.
Did she know how involved one’s emotions could become in their psychological state of being lost from the world, in a life and death situation? Because of that, he feared she might become attached to him and think she was in love.
* * *
Kelly frowned when she saw a little, old church standing in the mist. She entered through the doors and approached the minister at the altar.
“Kelly Cochran, do you take Robert Hillyard to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
Her beautiful white wedding gown swirled as she turned to face her groom. On seeing it was Robert, she gasped.
He grinned. “Make this the happiest day of my life, Kelly.”
Bolting upright, she clasped her hands to her pounding heart. Her frantic gaze swept around and she searched to orientate herself in the blackness of the night. Her eyes adjusted to the moonlight that shimmered through the window, illuminating Alex’s tousled hair and his back as he slept unclothed beside her on their bed in the hut.
Alex—Not Robert.
Swiping her hand across her perspiring forehead, she reclined and stared into the darkness. She couldn’t picture herself with Robert in this intimate way, but only seven weeks ago, she’d been about to marry him.
Alex rolled and faced her. He stretched lazily. With a possessive groan, he hauled her against his naked body. “You’re awake, love?” he asked sleepily. “Why?” He pressed a warm kiss to her temple.
“Bad dream. It’s nothing,” she lied.
He ran his hand along her stomach and then stroked her inner thigh. “Would you rather go back to sleep?” he asked in a puzzled tone.
Unable to resist him, she sighed. “No.”
Shutting her eyes, she cuddled closer to him, determined to savor every moment of their time together. Her unease over the dream subsided. She pressed her mouth to his lips, but couldn’t lie to herself. Even in the face of being on a deserted island forever, she was ecstatic to be with him.
Alex entered her and began that deep thrusting she had come to crave. Was she addicted to his love? She wrapped her legs around him and trembled at the tingles his hands and body created within her. When she could take no more, she gasped and writhed beneath him, while he kept on with his rhythmic movement. Yearning to give him as much pleasure as he gave her, she slipped her hand between them and caressed him intimately. He thrust a few more times and groaned as he collapsed on top of her.
The warmth pooling inside her shot a wave of panic through her. She struggled to get out from under him, but his weight pinned her down. He was still inside her.
Panic swept her. Except for the first day they’d made love, he’d always been careful to withdraw. “Alex, get off me.”
Panting, he rolled onto his back. “Oh, sweetheart. The way you touched me. I’m not made of stone.”
“What are we doing, Alex? We don’t want to have a baby on this island.” Though she would love to carry Alex’s baby if circumstances were different, she jerked from his embrace and dragged her pallet to the other side of the hut. Lying down, she pillowed her face in her arms and clamped her eyes shut.
In the next moment, he lay down beside her, stroking her hair. “I promise I’ll be more careful the next time, love. We can’t be that unlucky.”
“We’re marooned on a deserted island, Alex,” she said dryly. “We are unlucky.” She pillowed her face in her arms. “Please, go away. I can’t believe we’re doing this. We’re crazy to take these risks.”
“Kelly, if we were so unlucky we would be like everyone else on the dive boat—dead.” After a moment of silence, she heard the soft swing of the door as he left the hut.
Pressing her fist to her mouth, she trembled. She was the one who risked everything by sleeping with him, all for a roll in the hay, and in her case, that was pretty literal.
Finally, after worrying about where he’d gone for the next hour, she slept.
She dreamed she lay on her pallet. Alex knelt between her spread thighs, having delivered their baby. He leaned over and placed the child in her arms.
“This time we have a little red-haired girl as beautiful as you,” he said, with a satisfied grin.
She frowned. “This time?”
Then he called over four, adorable, blond boys, all in his image, from ages two to ten. She gasped in horror as he introduced each one by name.
He took a drag from a cigar and flicked the ashes. “Kelly, enjoy the children, I’m off to London.” He winked. “And if you’re ever in England, do give me a ring.”
He headed out the hut’s door. The boys ran in a circle around her yelling, “Mummy, mummy, mummy.”
The baby wailed. Kelly gaped in horror. She knew nothing about babies.
* * *
When he heard muffled sounds outside, Alex raised his head from the pallet. Must be an animal.
Already sunlight poured through the cracks and warmed the thatched hut. Perspiration coated his arms and chest. The heat too stifling to go back to sleep. He stretched and glanced to where Kelly slept on the other side of the hut. Her auburn hair spilled around her in a burst of color. Although she had begun sleeping in her clothing again, one bare shoulder peeped out of her ripped black t-shirt, enticing him.
His groin tightened and he stifled a groan. How out of control he had become in his desire for her. Even now, knowing the risks, he ached to hold her in his arms, but how could they—putting aside their token attempts at birth control—expect her not to get pregnant with all the time they spent making love?
With a pang of regret, he realized he missed the intimacy of sleeping with her. He’d agonized about the worry he had caused her. Whenever he tried to apologize, she reminded him of the bloody ‘cancellation clause’ in their damned agreement.
Would they be having a child together?
Primitive male satisfaction surged through him. Then he was appalled. They’d been out here far too long, living like Adam and Eve, if his thoughts took that course.
He rolled to his back. The entire idea of making love to Kelly proved he’d taken leave of his senses. He’d hoped their lovemaking would quench his desire . . . instead, he found he wanted her even more.
At the sound of voices, he sat up.
Kelly yawned and stretched. “Did you hear something?”
He threw on his shorts. “Someone’s here.”
Chapter Ten
A few minutes later, Alex stepped outside the hut to find six dark-skinned natives gawking at him. One man was of sumo-wrestler proportions and towered over his companions. The other three men were of av
erage build.
Of the two women in the group, a small, rotund woman grinned up at Alex, showing more gaps in her smile than teeth. The other female of the group would be beautiful anywhere with her lovely cocoa complexion. She wore western-style clothing and colored beads in her short, dark hair. When she smiled at him, the gigantic man grunted unhappily.
Kelly emerged from the hut to stand behind Alex.
“I assume they’re the ones who built the camp,” Alex said to her over his shoulder.
Holding out his hand in welcome, he stepped forward. “Do you speak English?” Their lack of response gave him the answer. He tried French. Kelly spoke in Spanish. At both their attempts, the natives shook their heads.
How could they communicate their need for help to return home?
Standing on her toes, the small woman giggled. She placed her palms on Alex’s chest and raked chubby fingers through his hair, which now brushed his shoulders. Not wanting to offend their only hope of rescue, he gently eased her hands away from her bold exploration of his body.
“I think she likes you,” Kelly quipped, flicking him a cool gaze to him. “There you go, Alex. My replacement.”
“Not my type, love,” he said dryly. “However, they might be able to help us and they seem friendly enough.”
The gigantic native stomped up to Kelly. His black eyes ogled her as if she were some kind of treat.
Alex clenched his jaw. “Perhaps I spoke too soon.”
Kelly’s hand rose to cover the swell of her breasts over her bikini top. “This one might be dangerous.”
“Probably not, but I’m sure he’s never seen anything like you before.”
The huge man uttered a few words at his group. As abruptly as they had arrived, they turned and strode toward the beach.
“Wait a minute,” Alex called out, but his English was useless. “Kelly, we have to make them understand we need their help.”
“Do you think we can trust them?” she asked, staring after them.
“You want to go home, don’t you?”
“Of course. I’ll grab our things.”
At the shore, the large native gripped an old fiberglass motorboat beached in the sand.
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