The Secret Cove in Croatia

by Julie Caplin

  She paused as she threw her leg over the side of the yacht and glared down at him.

  ‘What? What have I done?’

  Her traitorous bloody hormones did a little jump at the sight of his biceps flexing as he pulled himself up the ladder in no time and suddenly he was there right in front of her face.

  Did the idiot not get the message?

  ‘You keep kissing me,’ she snapped as he far more gracefully than she’d managed swung his leg over the side of the boat and came to stand in front of her.

  He held up his hands in apology. Sorry … I was just being …’

  ‘As if I were your bloody sister.’

  ‘Right,’ said Nick with sudden wariness. About flipping time too. She could see the realisation dawning. Yes, mate, you’ve stepped slap bang into the middle of a minefield.

  Then his eyes sharpened. OK, so perhaps he wasn’t so stupid after all.

  ‘You don’t want me to kiss you?’ There was a definite quirk to one side of his mouth as he asked the question and his head had definitely lowered towards hers.

  She swallowed but held her ground.

  His eyes gleamed and she knew she’d inadvertently issued a challenge. Her heart thudded so hard she could feel it in her throat.

  A slow wicked smile lit Nick’s face and he moved forward and dropped another kiss on her forehead, except this time his lips barely brushed her skin, which somehow was far more intimate.

  She glared at him.

  ‘How do you want me to kiss you?’ he asked, his voice low and husky, that tugged at something low in her belly.

  Maddie glared at him again and stepped forward, putting her hands on his shoulders. Enough was enough.

  ‘Like this.’ She yanked him towards her, gratified to see his eyes suddenly darken, hunger sharpening his gaze and not a single sign of objection.

  Her lips collided with his without finesse. She could feel the coolness of his skin contrasting with their hot breath. Desire hit hard and fast. And yes, hallelujah, his mouth moved under hers with eager responsiveness. Yes. Thank God for that. She’d been worried he might push her away.

  Relieved by his reaction, she pressed forward, her breasts pushing against his chest. With a murmur of approval, Nick responded, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against the length of his damp body. A thrill ran through her when his mouth opened under hers and she felt the first tentative touch of his tongue.

  Yes, yes and yes. At last. This was it. Everything clicking into place. Their bodies locked against each other. Sparks of pleasure darted like silverfish racing over her body as her hands roved over his muscled back, circling the smooth skin, her palms caressing every plane. Bone and muscle, she could feel them moving under her touch as he pulled her closer. Still they kissed. It was delicious and tantalising, as if she might never get enough of him and, rather wonderfully, he responded to every move of her mouth. Her knees wobbled, almost overcome with sheer lust when he wove one hand into her hair, his fingers teasing her scalp as if he couldn’t get enough of her.

  Someone moaned and she wasn’t sure who.

  Nick’s mouth slid away from hers. No, no … The words echoed in her head with dismay. She tugged at his shoulders, only relenting when he began to press kisses along her jawline. She squirmed as he traced a path down her throat to brush along her collarbone. It was definitely her moaning now. This was … ahhh and she squeaked as his hand moved up along the curve of her waist, skirting her bikini top. Yes, yes. His hand palmed her breast as his mouth returned to hers, the rhythm of his kiss matching the fingers rubbing over her nipple. She could hear herself murmuring incoherent words as the ripples of sensation intensified.

  ‘Mmm,’ she whimpered.

  ‘Am I going too fast?’ Nick’s hands stilled.

  ‘God, no. What took you so long? I’ve been waiting for this …’ she gave him a candid look ‘… for days.’ She followed it with a wicked grin as she rubbed her fingers around the waistband of his swimming shorts.

  ‘Days, you say?’ He undid the bow tie back of her bikini with one quick tug, breaking his kiss to pull it over her head and tossing it to the floor. She squirmed against him, the teasing fingers against her nipple almost unbearable. Both of them were gasping, their breaths harsh rasps as still they kissed, breaking every now and then to haul a desperate breath in.

  ‘But you’re making up for lost time rather nicely.’ Gripping his waist, her legs feeling as if they might give way at any moment, she dipped her hand below the ruched elastic to feel the hard, silk-soft skin.

  And then she stopped thinking as his clever fingers tugged harder at her nipple and she almost collapsed against him. She was on fire. With one clumsy tug, she yanked down his shorts, feeling the length of him jump free with a hotter-than-hell eagerness. Her fingers touched, held and slid down, to a guttural moan.

  His mouth moved towards her ear. ‘You’re killing me.’

  ‘Good,’ she whispered back against his cheek, sliding her fingers back again in a slow, slow pull that had him sighing again.

  She began to tug him down onto the deck floor.

  ‘No,’ moaned Nick.

  Insistently, she tugged again.

  ‘Not here,’ he gasped, kissing her neck. He pulled away, his eyes wild and a touch feverish, a hand cupping her face. ‘The first time with you should be in a bed.’

  The words and the gesture made something hot and hard bloom in her chest as he took her hand, his fingers interlacing with hers, and led her towards his cabin. When they reached the door, he lifted it to his mouth and kissed her palm, nipping at her fingers before looking into her eyes.

  ‘Are you sure?’ His whispered question made her frown. Wasn’t he? She gave a silent nod.

  ‘Because …’ he kissed her again, his lips sliding down her neck, making her shiver involuntarily ‘… if I get you on this bed, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.’

  Her mouth lifted in a slow sexy smile at his huskily spoken words.

  ‘I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you.’ Hot breath whispered past her ear.

  ‘Yes,’ she said, never more certain of anything in her life.

  He pushed open the door, easing her towards the bed. With her knees backed against the cool sheets, he led her into a low languorous kiss, before his mouth moved to cover one crested nipple.

  She squeaked in sudden pleasure before succumbing to the mindless pleasure of his tongue swirling and tasting the sensitive skin. When she was about ready to die from the intense sensation, he moved to her other breast and began the sucking, teasing attack all over again. Cries broke from her mouth and she gripped his arms. Any minute now she was going to start begging.

  When he paused, giving her an unholy grin of threat and promise, she sucked in a sharp breath. Oh lord, she was on fire. Then, with another one of those wicked, wicked looks, he leaned down and took one nipple in his mouth again before sliding down to kiss her belly, gripping the sides of her bikini bottoms and inching them down as his mouth stroked the smooth skin around her navel.

  With a whimper, she tried to pull him up, almost overcome by the throbbing insistent ache between her legs.

  He looked up at her. ‘Sure?’ he asked again, those blue eyes burning into hers. With a gulp, unable to say a word, she nodded. He rose slowly to stand in front of her.

  With slow languid ease, she wrapped her arms around him and pressed him back against the mattress. They fell together and then he twisted so that he was lying on top of her, his mouth on hers again. Lifting her hips, she rubbed against him, his chest hair teasing her tender breasts, which were now almost too sensitive for her to bear, that blurred line between pleasure and pain. Every bit of her was burning up and the welcome, heavy weight of him felt so right. She plunged her hands into his hair, trying to pull him closer as their mouths ground together.

  ‘Want you,’ she breathed against his mouth. ‘Now.’

  Still kissing her, he stretched one arm out towards the b
edside cabinet, fumbling with the drawer. And fumbled and fumbled. At last, with a curse, he pulled away from her mouth and she giggled.

  ‘Don’t laugh. I’m trying to be smooth here,’ he grumbled, although amusement danced in his eyes.

  She bit lightly on one of his fingers which had strayed across her face as he reached into the drawer and felt him take a sharp breath.

  At last he’d ripped the packet open and was now balanced above her, his blue eyes almost sapphire as their gazes met. In a wordless exchange he asked again if she was sure and she lifted her hips.

  Nick had never believed in soulmates or the ‘one’. What Nick wanted eventually in life was a marriage as solid, content and affectionate as his parents’. All that had been blown out of the water in the space of an hour.

  He stared up at the ceiling, his body soft and sated, his brain buzzing. Disbelief danced with excitement while Maddie, oblivious to the explosive realisation, slept next to him, her head nestled into his neck, her hand splayed on his chest and her breathing deep and even. Idly, he stroked his fingers across the top of her bare shoulder.

  Shifting carefully so as not to disturb her, he looked down at her profile and smiled at the memory of her first angry kiss. That was the moment he knew. The knowledge so sharp and clear it had knocked all those clichéd thunderbolt, struck by lightning descriptions out of the park. That angry honesty. That was what he liked about her so much. Forthright, frank. An equal partner. Being responsible for what she wanted. With a wry smile he dropped a barely-there whisper of a kiss on her forehead.

  ‘Thought I’d told you about that,’ mumbled Maddie, her eyes opening, already her expression full of mischief and wickedness.

  His smile widened. ‘Just testing the waters.’ Turning on his side, he lowered his mouth to hers to kiss her properly. No second invitation needed, her body stretched against his, eager, warm and generous. All his, he thought, gathering her and hugging her against him, affection rather than sex this time. She wound her arms around his neck, the tip of her nose against his, her smile sleepy and feline.

  ‘Consider the waters well and truly tested,’ she murmured. ‘What time is it?’

  He laughed. Definitely the one. ‘Back to practicalities.’

  She hoisted herself up, propping her head on her arm, her elbow bent, not the least bit worried about the sheet dropping to her waist. ‘I’m all out of rose petals.’

  ‘And …’ he paused and swallowed ‘… I wouldn’t have you any other way.’

  She caught the nuance. ‘You wouldn’t?’

  ‘No.’ He lifted his fingers, tracing her lips with a gentle promise, his eyes never leaving hers.

  He felt her still, as if the word had stopped her.

  ‘Oh.’ She said it so quietly.

  ‘Corny, but I’ve never felt like this, with anyone.’

  ‘Oh,’ she said again, her eyes wide, searching his face.

  ‘It’s as if everything, every girl along the way, has added up to this point. To you.’

  He was so aware of her, the slight hitch of her eyebrow, the wary indrawn breath and the guarded lift of her chin.

  ‘I’m not imagining this?’ she asked and it tugged at his heart to hear the slight vulnerability in her voice, but at the same time his heart leapt, relieved that he wasn’t going out on a limb here.

  ‘I didn’t think you even liked me,’ she added and he could almost see the metaphorical arms folding.

  ‘I didn’t think I did. But –’ he grinned ‘– you had me at the shorts.’

  ‘Shorts!’ Her indignant cry made him laugh. ‘That’s not romantic at all, Nick.’

  ‘I’m sorry but any girl who can pinch her brother’s shorts and not give a damn. Yup, you had me at shorts. Although it took me a while to realise.’

  Maddie laughed and kissed him on the mouth. ‘Good things come to those who wait.’ She waggled her eyebrows and wriggled her body against his. ‘But, unfortunately, all that activity has made me hungry. I’m starving.’ The latter was delivered with real feeling, which made him roll his eyes.

  ‘Better feed you then,’ he said with one last kiss, rolling to the other side of the bed and opening a drawer to pull on some clean pants. ‘It’s ten to six. Lunch seems a long time ago.’

  ‘It feels like another lifetime,’ said Maddie, sitting up, running a hand through her rumpled hair, her words echoing his thoughts exactly. In fact he couldn’t imagine life ever being quite the same again. It was as if he’d crossed some threshold that changed everything.

  His heart hitched at the sudden anxious look that flooded her eyes and the swallow before she spoke again. ‘I’m not very good at this …’ She waved a vague hand, the other pulling the sheet up over her chest. ‘Never sure of the rules.’

  Rounding the bed, he sat on the side, tugging at one of her hands. ‘Just be yourself. Just be honest. Just be you.’

  ‘Just be me? But …’ That worried look framed her hazel-flecked eyes, little lines running from the corner of her mouth.

  He waited, letting her find her way. She leaned over to him, planting her mouth on his with purpose, pressing up against him as if she needed their touch to remind her of their connection. She sighed as she pulled away from the kiss. ‘The problem is you’re just so darned gorgeous.’ She ran her fingers down his spine, curving around to stroke over his ribs.

  ‘And so are you,’ he groaned as her fingers hit a sensitive spot. She withdrew her hand as if she’d touched a live wire.

  ‘No! No, I’m not. That’s just it. I’m big. Clumsy. Not like Tara.’

  ‘No, nothing like Tara,’ he agreed. ‘Better.’

  ‘Don’t talk rubbish,’ she said, turning away from him.

  ‘I’m serious.’ He tugged at her arm, desperate to tell her what he’d just realised. ‘Look at me.’

  Reluctantly she turned to face him, a deep frown creasing her forehead.

  ‘I’d have thought you’d be the first to tell me I’ve been a complete idiot.’

  ‘You are a complete idiot. You’re way too good for her.’

  ‘That’s not quite what I meant. You are so much better. When I woke up the other night, feeling like death and so homesick I could die, I saw you sleeping on the floor.’ He swallowed, remembering the bleakness of the hour. Maddie touched his hand as if sensing his distress. He leaned forward and placed a gentle, reverential kiss of thanks on her lips. ‘It … it made such a difference. Like you were a beacon. A link with what was right. It made me feel so much better.

  ‘You’ve reminded me what’s important. Family, love, loyalty, friendship, honesty. Since the day I met you, you’ve never given me an inch. You’ve challenged me. But, at the same time, around all these people you’ve been totally true to yourself.’

  ‘So what happens now, with … with Tara?’

  He grinned a little too cheerfully. ‘She dumped me yesterday.’

  Maddie grinned back, although she slapped a hand over her mouth. ‘I’m not supposed to look too pleased, am I? That would be catty and not very nice. But you sound pleased too.’

  ‘Let’s say I was coming to the conclusion that we perhaps weren’t meant to be, but it’s a bit difficult to finish things with someone when they’ve brought you on holiday. It would seem a bit ungrateful. So when she issued me a sickbed ultimatum – either go to the Ellinghams’ or it’s over – even if I had been feeling up to it, I wouldn’t have gone.’

  ‘So you’re not going to join them, now you’re feeling better?’

  ‘I’d rather boil my own bollocks in hot fat, quite frankly.’

  ‘That’s a bit extreme,’ Maddie giggled. ‘I’d rather you didn’t.’

  Chapter 25

  ‘Pull the board past the paddle rather than pulling the paddle through the water,’ instructed Nick from the paddleboard beside her, making it look easy.

  ‘You mean I can’t just stand on it?’ She shook her wet hair out of her eyes, laughing at him. It had taken her the last twenty minutes
just to stand upright on the darned thing. A glamorous date this was not, but then she hadn’t laughed quite so much on a date before. She’d fallen in the sea so many times that she’d lost count.

  ‘Well, you could and I could just stand and admire you –’ Nick gave her the sort of look that made her forget the slight chill of the breeze on her wet skin ‘– but the whole point is to move.’

  She grasped the paddle, wary now that she was finally upright, feeling the board wobble slightly as she shifted her weight.

  ‘That’s right; keep the paddle vertical. It will help you go straight.’

  ‘I’ll be telling you how to keep things vertical if you’re not careful,’ she called across to him cheerfully as she gripped the paddle and took a cautious stroke forward.

  ‘Keep your knees slightly bent.’ He moved alongside as she gradually got the hang of it. Before long she was paddling along, although not quite with the same Greek god ease as Nick.

  ‘Want to do a circuit before lunch?’ he asked, pointing to the far side of the bay.

  ‘You go first,’ she said, a naughty grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. Nick shot her a quick suspicious look but she met his gaze with an air of total innocence. It was another perfect day, their third in the secluded bay, and today a slight crosswind ruffled the surface of the sea, making the sun’s rays sparkle and glitter as they bounced off the water. And the view was spectacular, the muscles in Nick’s back working smoothly in tandem as he paddled ahead of her. Watching the smooth coordination of his body reminded her of last night, a symphony of sighs and pleasure that even now had her feeling hot and bothered. Waking up in his bed this morning for the second time had felt the most natural thing in the world and it bemused her to find that being with Nick seemed so easy.

  The previous two evenings they’d cooked together in the galley, eating under the stars on the deck with a bottle of white wine, talking with the ease of friends who’d known each other forever, the sort of conversation where they finished each other’s sentences, which they found hilarious, making them burst into uproarious laughter, or where they kept unearthing unexpected similarities; they both hated mushrooms, they’d never seen a Star Wars film and didn’t intend to, not even the new ones, and neither had been ice-skating or skiing.