‘More dumb than brave. Even I’ve got to admit, she’s not the smartest dog in the universe.’
They watched the dog barking manically at the waves as it tried to retrieve the stick. ‘No, maybe not,’ Iona said.
‘You sleep okay?’
Her chest compressed as she met the fierce blue gaze.
‘Like a baby.’ His gaze dipped to her lips and colour fired into her cheeks. ‘I hope Cookie didn’t wake you up too early,’ she added.
‘Early enough.’ A smile lurked around the corners of his mouth. ‘You hungry?’ he said. ‘I figured we could have waffles for breakfast.’
Her stomach contracted, but it wasn’t hunger for food that gripped her. But how exactly did you go about jumping a guy at ten o’clock in the morning on a beach? Was there an etiquette to this sort of thing? Because if there was she had no idea what it was.
The dog came bounding back, pausing to shake out her wet fur and spraying them both with water. Iona leapt back, but this time neither of them laughed.
Zane wrestled the driftwood out of C.D.’s mouth, gave her a hearty rub and then flung the stick back into the surf. He watched as the dog headed out after it. ‘Breakfast it is,’ he murmured.
But neither of them made a move. She shoved her fists into the pockets of the jean jacket, the breeze making her shiver. She studied Zane’s face in profile and felt the pull of connection and the tingle on her lips where he had devoured her the night before.
He swung round and caught her watching him. Then his gaze narrowed, the blue of his irises even more intense than usual. ‘Unless there’s something you’d rather do?’
The words came out on a gruff murmur, so quiet she almost didn’t hear them over the rushing wind and the crashing surf.
Knuckles rough with sand brushed her cheek and then his open palm settled on the heated skin of her nape.
The shudder of awareness bristled down her spine. ‘Well, actually, there might be something…’
It was all the encouragement he needed before his mouth swooped down, cutting off her protest.
He held her cheeks in cool palms and plundered, holding her still for the sure, hot sweep of his tongue, the hungry possession that promised so much more.
She couldn’t resist, couldn’t control the instinctive response, her body quaking with desire.
He lifted his head first, their ragged breaths mingling in the salty air. His pupils had dilated to black, his voice strained. ‘You’re sure about this?’
‘Yes,’ she said, knowing perfectly well there was no point in denying it.
His hands dropped to her waist, hauled her against him and she felt the solid ridge. Her centre melted, the need a wild thing burning inside her. But then he pulled away from her, his expression tense.
‘You do understand, Iona, this isn’t going to lead to anything else, right?’
She braced her palms against his chest, puzzled by the concern in his voice. Hadn’t they already established this? ‘Yes, of course I do.’
Emotion clutched at her chest, making her feel a lot less bold. Had he tired of her already? Was that why he’d left her in the guest room last night—because he was already bored? It should have annoyed her. The arrogance of the man. But somehow all it did was make her feel desperately insecure.
The dog returned and flopped onto her tummy, exhausted after all her sea-wrestling activities. Zane crouched down to greet her, and picked up the driftwood she’d dropped obediently at his feet. C.D.’s tail wagged like a metronome; the dog clearly oblivious to the tension that crackled in the air between them.
He took his time, rubbing the dog’s head, praising her prowess, but his body language remained stiff and unyielding.
Iona’s heart began to beat in double time when he stood to face her.
‘If you’re not interested any more, Zane, all you have to do is say so.’
She turned to go, but he grasped her arm. ‘Hey, don’t…’ He tugged an impatient hand through his hair. ‘It’s not that at all. I just didn’t want to be putting pressure on you. Giving you the wrong idea about what this is.’
His eyes remained fixed on hers, his hand absently stroking the dog’s neck. He looked more frustrated than contrite, but the admission had her pulse rate slowing.
‘I’m absolutely fine with it, as I’ve already told you, so what’s the problem?’