“I don’t know if that would work,” he murmured, slipping a hand into her thick wet hair, and drawing her head back so he could see her face.
“Why not?”
Desire burned in his eyes, formed lines at his mouth. A rich dusky color warmed his cheekbones. “I don’t know if I could leave you alone long enough to go surf. I don’t think I’d want to surf, not if I had you in my bed.”
She just stared up into his eyes, lost in him.
He stretched out over her, bracing his weight on his elbows and lowered his head to touch his lips to the tender skin beneath her pale jaw. “I want you.”
He’d only brushed his lips against her jaw in the most fleeting of touches and yet the place he’d kissed burned, her skin too hot and sensitive.
“But you know that, don’t you?” he added, kissing yet another spot, making her nerves dance. “You know I can’t stay away from you even when I should.”
She shivered helplessly as his mouth melted her defenses, turning her inside out. She couldn’t even focus on what he was saying, not when his lips were making her body ache for him.
“And yet I should,” he added, voice pitched seductively low. “At least until we both know what we want.”
Hannah quivered as his voice rumbled through her, making her squirm. She knew what she wanted. She wanted him. Zale. Wanted to wrap herself around him and never let go.
He pressed another kiss to the base of her throat before turning her over, pulling her on top of him. Gritty sand slipped between them. The sun shone hotly, but nothing was as hot as Hannah’s hunger as he put his hands on her waist, sliding one hand down across her bottom while the other slid up to cup her breast.
His hands were so warm and they made her feel as if she were on fire. She ached and tingled and burned, shivering against him.
“I think I know what I want,” she breathed, as his thumb found her taut, aching nipple and strummed it. “But maybe that’s not what you’re talking about.”
“And what do you want?”
She could hardly think straight, wasn’t even sure where she was or what was happening, only that she wanted more—more him, more skin, more sensation. “You.”
“But for how long?” he asked, kissing the side of her neck and then brushing his lips over hers.
She kissed him back, lifting an arm and clasping the back of his neck. He was so tall, so hard, so strong. She was safe with him. He’d never let anyone hurt her. “For ever,” she whispered against his mouth, not caring if he heard her, not caring about anything anymore but him.
When would she ever meet someone like Zale Patek again? When would she ever feel so alive and beautiful again?
He lifted his head to look into her eyes. His eyes were dark, his cheekbones jutted, his expression intense. He looked wild. Fierce. Primal.
“Be careful what you say,” he murmured, molding her nearly naked body even closer to his. She could feel his warm skin against hers and his hard shaft press against her belly.
He cupped her backside in his hands, holding her hips firmly against him, making her gasp as he rubbed her over the head of his shaft once and again.
She could feel the thickness and length of his erection through his board shorts. Felt the corded muscles of his thighs and the thick muscles in his back. He was gorgeous, so very, very gorgeous. “I do want you,” she said, her voice breaking. “Even if it’s wrong.”
His head dipped, his lips taking hers in a slow, deep, bone-melting kiss. “I can’t make love to you now,” he said, his voice hoarse in her ear. “But if you still feel this way tonight, Emmeline, you won’t be able to keep me out of your bed.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“WHY won’t you make love now?” Hannah asked dizzily, hands pressed to Zale’s warm bare chest. The sun beat down on her back and Zale felt so good, his skin smooth and firm, the scent of him addictive, almost as addictive as his kiss.
His hands rested on her backside, his touch sending rivulets of pleasure through her.
“I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
Beneath her palms she felt the steady beating of his heart. “You think I’ll regret it?”
“Possibly. And I’d hate it if that happened.”
“Smart,” she answered, voice husky. She sat up, disappointed. But she knew he was right. She probably would have regretted it. Obviously he had more control than she did.
He sat up, caught the back of her head and kissed her head. “Don’t look so hurt.” His voice was pitched so deep it rumbled through her. “I’m trying to protect you, Emmeline. But it’s not easy doing the right thing.”