His grin was lethal. “I thought you wanted to get clean.”
“You’re a dirty old man.”
“Not old,” he deadpanned.
She gave him her back reluctantly, hyperaware that she was at his sexual mercy. The first touch of the washcloth made her jump. But it was Luc’s chuckle that made her blush.
As he washed from her neck down her spine, she braced her hands on the wall and hung her head. Luc had turned the spray so that it cascaded between them. The water was cool on Hattie’s hot skin.
Luc moved the rag slowly, more of a massage than a simple exercise in cleanliness. He reached her bottom and squeezed. “Turn around.”
She obeyed instinctively, their gazes colliding amidst the steamy air. “I can do the rest,” she said.
He shook his head. “Why bother? I’m off to a hell of a good start.” He took her hands and tucked them behind her butt. “Don’t move.”
The hot water was enervating, draining Hattie of any will to challenge Luc’s control. This time he made no pretense of using the washcloth. He took the bar of soap and ran it in circles around her breasts. Then he pressed gently over her nipples, decorating them with tiny bubbles.
When he was satisfied, he paused to kiss her…slow and deep. With one hand, he manacled her wrists behind her back with a firm grip. Now their bodies were touching chest to chest. She felt his erection throbbing between them.
He nuzzled her nose with his and ground his hips into hers. “More work to do,” he muttered.
His hand holding the soap found its way south to the middle of her thighs. Her legs parted instinctively to give him access.
When the soap glided over a certain sensitive spot, Hattie cried out and struggled. But Luc kept his tight hold on her wrists as he moved the soap between her legs.
Hattie rested her forehead on his chest, panting. “Enough,” she whispered. “I’m clean.” She was close to the edge, but she didn’t want to make the journey alone. She wanted Luc inside her, filling her, making her his.
Without warning, he dropped the soap and released her wrists. The shower boasted a roomy stone seat. Luc reached for the condom he’d tucked on a ledge, sheathed himself, and then pulled Hattie down to sit astride his lap.
Their bodies were slick and wet, and the moment when they joined was seamless…easy. Hattie threw back her head, the water still streaming over them. Her eyes were closed, intensifying the sensation of having Luc inside her.
He was strong. He lifted her up and down in a gentle rhythm, teasing them both.
Longing crescendoed, hunger peaked. Luc’s hands bruised her bare butt as he gave a muffled shout and found his release. Hattie still lingered on the knife edge of pleasure. She could stay there forever.
Luc bit her neck, ran his tongue over her tightly furled nipples. It was enough. It was too much. She arched her back and gave a choked sob as everything inside her splintered and fanned out through her veins in cascading ripples of pure joy.
Afterward, she was weak as a baby. Luc dried her tenderly and scooped her up in his arms to carry her to their bed. Hattie had lost all sense of time. And didn’t really care.
Luc muttered an apology as he slid beneath the covers and moved over her and into her. She had nothing left, but this coupling was warm and lazy. He rode her forever, it seemed, pausing each time he came close to the end and making himself wait, stretching out the incredible connection, the deep, undulating eroticism.
He enveloped her, overwhelmed her. His scent, his touch, his powerful domination.
Somewhere in the deep recesses of her consciousness lingered the knowledge that she would have to pay for this day. That down the line her heart would face pain equal to the present elation.
But she refused to let such maudlin considerations ruin the present.
She put a hand to his cheek, loving him with her eyes. “You’re amazing,” she whispered. “I haven’t felt like this in a very long time.”
His cheeks were ruddy, his eyes hooded, his chin shadowed with late-day stubble. Everything about him reeked of uncivilized, ravenous male. Little was left of the suave businessman, the wealthy CEO.
And Hattie loved it…loved him. God help her, she did. This was a man she could live with…share a life with.
But the other Luc still existed outside this room. And that was the problem. Just as it had always been.
He groaned and his whole body shook as his mighty control finally snapped. “Hattie…” He climaxed in a series of long, rapid thrusts.
Despite her exhaustion, echoes of pleasure teased her once again.
In the aftermath, they slept. And as the tropical sun sank low in the sky, coaxing the stars out to play in the gathering dusk, Mr. and Mrs. Luc Cavallo were in perfect accord for one fleeting moment.
Thirteen
Luc rolled over and looked at the clock sometime around 9:00 p.m. His stomach was growling, and no wonder. Their late brunch was the last meal he had eaten.
He slung an arm above his head and yawned, his somber gaze noting that Hattie slept peacefully. Too bad he wasn’t as relaxed. The sex had been nothing short of spectacular, but now that his head was in control and not his libido, he was able to think clearly. And the conclusions he drew were unsettling.
He was in danger of falling in love with Hattie all over again. Perhaps in some ways he had never fallen out of love…which might explain why the many women he had dated in the last ten years never quite seemed to measure up to some unknown standard. His grandfather had accused him of being too picky…of expecting a paragon of a woman to fill his bed and his life.
Turned out…his grandfather was right.
And that woman was Hattie Parker.
He watched her sleep for a long time, mulling over his options. Right now she needed him because of the baby. Which gave him an advantage for the moment. But what happened when the kid’s father was no longer a threat? What then?
Would Hattie try to bid Luc a pleasant goodbye and walk away? The possibility made his chest tight. He was no longer a naive and vulnerable kid. He’d learned his lesson well. Loving someone too much only opened the way for hurt.
Losing both of his parents at the same time had sent him and Leo into a tailspin. Only their grandfather’s gruff, tough affection had rescued them. Perhaps way back in college Luc had fallen hard for Hattie because he needed so badly to fill a void in his life.
He was more self-sufficient now, able to enjoy a physical relationship without involving messy emotions. And besides, the barrier between Hattie and him remained the same: his need for control. He had let her too close once upon a time and suffered the consequences. And if his money gave him power, did she expect him to give it all away and live in a shack?
Perhaps since his embarrassment of riches was currently saving her niece, she might decide that being with a wealthy man wasn’t exactly a ticket to purgatory.
He touched her arm…he couldn’t help himself. The need to keep her close was all-consuming. She had come to him for help…for protection. He would keep Hattie and Deedee safe at all costs. It was the honorable thing to do. And he’d given his word.
Hattie was grateful to him…and she was attracted to him. But that wasn’t enough. He wanted her to need him, to depend on him, to beg him to let her stay. How or why she initially came to him didn’t really matter in the end. She was vulnerable now. And God help him, he liked it. His course was clear: enjoy the physical side of their marriage as long as it lasted, maintain his emotional distance…and then…
He refused to contemplate the future. Not now when life was close to perfect. He would keep her as long as it suited him.
The next time he awoke, it was morning; dawn to be exact. Clear, liquid light filtered into the bedroom. He stroked his wife’s shoulder. She was sleeping on her stomach, her face turned away from him. “Wake up, sleepyhead. I’m starving.”
She blinked her eyes and struggled up onto her elbows. One brief glance at her warm, pink breasts was al
l he got before she rolled onto her back and clutched the sheet to her chest.
Her eyes were wide, her honey-blond hair tousled. “What time is it?”
“Early. We slept through the night. But missing dinner was definitely worth it.”
A deep blush painted her face crimson.
He took pity on her. “I’ll use the other bathroom to get ready.”
“Ready?”
“I thought we’d go snorkeling this morning. Out to the reef. Are you game?”
She frowned. “I’ve never done it. Is it difficult?”
He patted her leg. “Not really. You’ll love it, I promise.” Her expression was unconvinced, so he grinned at her. “Or…we could stay in bed all day.”
Hattie stumbled to her feet, almost tripping over her bed-sheet toga. “Snorkeling sounds great,” she said, the words breathless as she struggled to maintain her modesty. “If you’ll order breakfast, I’ll be dressed in a jiff.” She disappeared into the bathroom.
He chuckled aloud at her discomfiture. Teasing Hattie had always been fun. Too bad she agreed to the snorkeling. He could have been persuaded to follow option two.
Just thinking about the night before made him hard. With an inward groan, he picked up the phone and called for sustenance. It was going to be a long day, and he needed some serious calories.
Hattie dressed in a modest coral one-piece and covered it with a crisp, white poplin top and khaki walking shorts. A new pair of taupe leather sandals completed the outfit.
When she looked in the mirror, she winced. Going to bed with damp hair meant that she looked like a wild woman. It took a hairbrush and patient determination to tame the mess. Finally, she tucked it up into a ponytail, donned an Atlanta Braves cap and smoothed sheer sunscreen onto her face, neck and arms.
In addition to her new wardrobe, Luc had gifted her with an array of expensive cosmetics. Though most of it was products she would only use for fancy occasions, she had already come to appreciate the many wonderful skin-care creams and lotions.
Breakfast was just arriving when she stepped out of the bathroom. Luc, freshly shaven, his hair damp, tipped the young woman who brought up the largesse.
He spread a hand. “Let’s eat.”
They consumed an embarrassingly large amount of food in record time. Hattie hadn’t realized how hungry she was.
Luc watched her bite into a huge strawberry. “You’ve got juice all over your chin. Let me…” He dabbed her sticky skin with a cloth napkin, his face close to hers. His expression was shuttered, and she wanted badly to know what he was thinking.
Her head was filled with memories of last night…experiences that were life-changing.
But men were far more cavalier about sex and intimacy. When it was over it was over. Luc might want to be with her again, but that didn’t mean he’d be doodling a heart with both their names on scrap paper.
Sex was only physical as far as Luc was concerned. She’d do well to keep that fact firmly planted in the front of her brain. And that meant staying out of this suite as much as possible.
She scooted back from the table. “Let’s go. I’m excited about this.”
Luc had not chartered a private boat. And for that Hattie was glad. Having other people around diffused the natural awkwardness she was experiencing. She couldn’t even look at Luc without remembering how his powerful body had joined with hers, how their skin had been damp with exertion, their muscles lax with pleasure.
If she let herself, she could imagine that they were like any normal newlyweds. Deeply in love, and ravenous for each other.
Luc didn’t help her resolve to be sensible. He was in turns tender, affectionate and teasing. More and more she saw glimpses of the young man she had fallen in love with. Away from the pressure of business and responsibilities, Luc laughed often, was more relaxed and carefree.
He handed her a pair of flippers. “Put these on, and I’ll help you with your mask.” All around them, fellow passengers were doing the same thing. The large catamaran had cut its engines and was bobbing in clear blue-green water over the reef below.
Hattie and Luc had already shed their outer clothing and tucked all of it into a big raffia tote bag. She tried not to drool over her new husband. His black swim trunks were plain, but it was his sculpted torso and powerful arms that drew attention. Hattie didn’t miss the fact that she wasn’t the only one eyeing Luc’s masculine beauty.
He wore expensive, reflective sunglasses that made him look like a movie star. It didn’t seem fair for one man to have everything—looks, character and money to burn.
She sighed inwardly as he handed her a mask and snorkel tube. “What happens if I swallow water?”
“You’ll be fine. I’ll be right beside you.”
The boat captain gave some basic instructions, including a warning to listen for the whistle that signaled time to return to the boat. Hattie was very glad she had a reliable partner.
She had assumed they would jump over the side like in the movies, but the catamaran had a ladder that could be lowered into the water between the two large hulls. Backing down the steps was a little claustrophobic, but Luc went first and was waiting for her as she descended. He took her arm, his face almost unrecognizable behind his mask. “Come on, little mermaid. We don’t want to waste any time.”
Hattie was not a superconfident swimmer. And learning to breathe through the tube was challenging. But Luc’s patience and support, along with a life vest, erased much of her fear, and soon she was moving through the water, head down, discovering the wonders of the reef.
The colors were muted and not as dramatic as Discovery Channel specials she had seen about the Great Barrier Reef, but the experience was enchanting nevertheless. Corals bobbed and swayed in eerie dances. Multicolored fish, large and small, moved with unconcern in and around the landlubber visitors.
Much of the necessary communication involved pointing and arm touches. But when Hattie spotted a familiar shape, she gasped, swallowed water, and had to come up to catch her breath. “It was a shark,” she cried, coughing as she cleared her throat.
Luc shoved his mask on top of his head and laughed. “I’ve never seen anyone’s eyes get that big. I thought you were going to faint dead in the water.”
She shuddered. “Don’t say dead. I wanted to take some pictures, but he was too fast.” The snorkeling package included disposable waterproof cameras. “He wasn’t very big though.”
Luc tugged her ponytail. “You were hoping for Jaws?”
She giggled, feeling happier than she had been in a long time. “Well, not really, but it would have made a great Facebook post.”
He glanced at his diver’s watch. “We’d better get back to it. Time’s almost up.”
By the time the whistle sounded, Hattie was ready to quit. The experience was amazing, but the unaccustomed exercise, combined with learning how to manipulate the equipment, had exhausted her.
Back onboard everyone dried off and deposited their gear in large barrels for cleaning. Young crew members passed out lemonade and cookies. Luc and Hattie sat side by side, the wind in their faces as the boat cut rapidly through the waves on the home journey. Their swimsuits dried rapidly in the heat.
Luc put his arm around her back. “Was it what you expected?”
She glanced up at him, controlling a shiver at the delicious feel of his warm skin on hers. “Even better,” she said. The sun was making her drowsy. Her head lolled against his shoulder, and she let herself lean into his body.
As they docked in Key West, she roused. It was the work of minutes to slip back into shorts, shoes and top. Luc followed suit, and soon they disembarked with the other passengers.
They lingered at the dock for a few minutes watching parasail enthusiasts go airborne. Hattie shaded her eyes with a hand. “That looks fun, too.”
Luc took her arm. “Maybe tomorrow. Let’s find a restaurant.”
She punched him softly. “Is that all you ever want to do?”
That shut her up. What would Luc say if she demanded to go back to the guesthouse and spend the afternoon and evening as they had the day before?
Sadly, she didn’t have the guts to propose what she really wanted to do. Instead, she pretended interest in the fried plantains at the Cuban restaurant they found near the harbor. She ate mechanically. Every moment that passed brought them closer to the evening hours. When they would go to bed…together?
The uncertainty made her crazy. Was last night a one-time faux pas on their parts, or was Luc assuming they would continue to have sex for the duration of the marriage?
Hattie hated the idea of divorce, but what choice did they have? They had allowed sexual hunger and curiosity to lead them down a dangerous path, and she knew what happened to that proverbial cat.
Luc nudged her elbow. “I thought you’d be hungry. Swimming always gives me an appetite.”
She shrugged. “I think it’s the heat getting to me. Do you mind if we go back to our place? I’d love to take a shower and wash the seawater off my skin.”
His fork stilled in midair, and his cheekbones went dark. He cleared his throat. “Of course. Whatever you want.”
Hattie cursed her own artless stupidity. Did that sound like an open invitation for sex? She hadn’t meant it that way.
Or had she?
Luc finished his meal and summoned the waiter for their check. Shortly after, they made their way through the crowded streets. Apparently, many tourists had arrived early to celebrate the Memorial Day holiday. Hattie barely noticed the commotion. All she could think about was how to handle the return to their luxurious bridal quarters.
The leather seats in the car were hot…no shade trees this time. She wriggled uncomfortably, and rolled down her window to let the steamy air escape. Luc was silent, his face impossible to read.
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