But he didn’t love her. He refused to love anyone. His heart was a cordoned off with razor wire.
His frown loosened, but didn’t entirely disappear. He seemed to be mulling over something in that quiet, reflective manner of his. ‘Promise me you won’t settle for second best in your future relationships,’ he said. ‘Your pleasure is equally important and should never be sacrificed simply to feed a man’s ego.’
‘I know, but sometimes it’s been hard to be totally comfortable with my partners,’ Ruby said. ‘I guess that can improve over time, but no one I’ve met so far has been worth the effort.’
His hands moved up to give her shoulders a gentle squeeze. ‘Let’s hope you do meet someone who’s worth the effort. I hate to think of you being unhappy, Ruby.’ He sighed and added, ‘What’s worse is the thought of me being the one to make you unhappy.’
‘I understand this isn’t for ever. You really don’t have to keep reminding me.’
He gave an enigmatic smile. ‘Perhaps it’s not you I’m reminding.’
His tone had a husky edge, and he leaned down to press a lingering kiss to her mouth. Ruby’s lips clung to his, her senses on high alert, her heart beating hard and heavy as his mouth moved with mastery against hers. He gave a deep sigh of pleasure and drew her closer to his body, igniting her desire like a match to kindling.
Was he rethinking the timeline on their arrangement? A week was such a short period of time. Dared she ask him to extend it? Or should she leave things as they were, hoping he would come to see the sense of enjoying the chemistry they had for a little longer?
CHAPTER EIGHT
FOURDAYSLATER, Ruby sat by the pool watching Lucas swim lengths. By counting his strokes he was able to judge when to do a flip-turn at each end.
She would never tire of watching his lean, athletic body slicing through the water with breathtaking efficiency. His skin had developed an even deeper olive-toned tan, but due to her fairer complexion and limited swimming ability she stayed in the shade, and only jumped into the shallow end of the pool to cool off.
The week was rushing past, and he hadn’t mentioned anything more about the timeline on their relationship.
Once she had meticulously gone through the builder’s checklist with Lucas they had slipped into a holiday mode routine that was intensely relaxing, and a refreshing and much-needed change for her, given how hard she had been working over the last few months.
Lucas, too, looked more relaxed and at ease than he had at Rothwell Park, although there were times when she caught him staring into space with a frown on his face. She knew he was worried about his eyesight and how it would impact on his career if it didn’t return. But whenever she encouraged him to talk about it he quickly changed the subject.
He was in contact with his staff via phone each day, but he kept it to a minimum and spent the rest of the time with her. They went on long walks around the island and Ruby would make a picnic to carry in a backpack, so they could lunch in the little bay on the other side of the island. She couldn’t remember a time when she had felt so at ease with someone. Lucas even asked questions about her work, showing an interest in all the things she planned to do to build her business with her friends.
Lucas stopped swimming and came over to lean his forearms on the edge of the pool, close to where she was sitting. He scraped his wet hair off his face, his eyes narrowed against the bright sunlight.
‘Jump in with me and cool off.’
Ruby gave a playful laugh. ‘If I jump in with you I will definitelynotbe cooling off.’
His smile was broad, his teeth shining white against his tan. ‘Come here.’
His tone had an arrogant note of command about it, but instead of annoying her, it excited her. A frisson of delight coursed through her and her pulse picked up its pace.
‘You can’t make me.’
‘Can’t I...?’
His silky tone sent a shockwave of lust through her core. Then he launched himself out of the pool in one supremely athletic movement, droplets of water landing on her from his glistening body.
‘Hey!’ She tried to shift out of the way by rolling onto one hip. ‘You’re making me wet.’
Lucas placed his hands on each arm of her sun lounger, effectively caging her in. ‘That’s the plan.’ His mouth was just above hers, and his voice was deep and rough around the edges. ‘I love it when you’re wet for me.’
Ruby shivered, and couldn’t take her eyes off his mouth. The smiling contours of his sculpted lips sent hot pulses of need through her. Those lips had been on the most intimate parts of her body, sending her to paradise and beyond so many times she had lost count.
She linked her arms around his neck, bumping her lips against his once, twice, three times. ‘I want you.’
He smiled against her lips. ‘I want you more.’
She reached down and stroked the thickened ridge of his erection, smiling a sultry smile. ‘Mmm, what’s got you all excited?’
‘You.’