thought wryly.
A vision came to him, of Mallory wearing the matching top, nothing below. Jack broke into a sweat. He shook his head. No way would she have the nerve. Then he remembered she’d already gone skinny-dipping. She had also revealed her deepest emotions. Her nerve was greater than he’d realized.
The next couple of hours loomed long in front of him, but no doubt that was her intent. To leave him with the flimsy bottoms and lots of time on his hands to think.
And fantasize.
By the time eight o’clock rolled around, Jack was in a heated state of need. And by the time he arrived at the cottage door, his hands were shaking.
The woman knew how to drive him mad with suggestion and innuendo. If he believed in relationships, he’d think he’d found a woman who could engage and entice him, keep him interested for a lot longer than one night.
Good thing he didn’t believe or he’d be in deep trouble. Jack raised his fist and knocked on the door.
CHAPTER NINE
MALLORY ANSWERED the door quickly, greeting him with an easy smile. “Hi, there.”
“Hi, yourself.” She’d left him hanging this afternoon with a skimpy piece of her bathing suit and a provocative invitation for tonight.
It hadn’t been enough. He’d been a man deprived and he drank in the sight of her now.
She’d prepared for the beach.
He’d like to think she’d prepared for him.
Her top, if he could call it that, was the match for the bikini bottoms in his pocket. Two triangles, aqua in color and rimmed with white piping didn’t quite cover her breasts and exposed more than a hint of soft flesh and cleavage. Whatever he’d envisioned, reality was sweeter. His mouth watered at the luscious view and his gaze traveled downward.
A matching scarf, knotted at one hip, tied around her waist, and ended midthigh. He had no clue what she wore beneath the blue sarong and the thought of her wearing no panties, no bottoms, nothing at all, made him crazy with curiosity and insane with longing. No doubt that had been her intent. As if she could read his thoughts, a provocative smile lifted the corner of her mouth.
She was making him pay for his caveman routine and he loved every minute.
She leaned against the doorframe, one arm propped against the wooden molding, her head tipped so that black curls fell over one shoulder. “You’re prompt. I like that in a man.”
Deliberately seductive and playful at the same time, she made him want to pull her into his arms and kiss her until neither one of them could think or breathe. “What else do you like?”
“Come on in and find out.” She turned and sashayed inside, leaving him to follow. At this moment he’d go anywhere she led him and wasn’t ashamed to admit it.
His gaze surveyed her barefooted retreat and the sultry sway of her hips beneath the blue skirt. She passed through the living room area they’d dined in before and continued into a short hallway. He wondered at her final destination and decided he enjoyed this kind of mystery and suspense.
“We’re here.” She paused at the entrance to the last door at the end.
He stopped inches away. Her skin glowed from time in the sun, and a light flush on her cheeks told him she was just as affected by this scenario as he was.
“You need to take off your shoes,” she said.
He met her amused stare. “Because…?”
“Because we’re going to the beach and you don’t want to get sand in your shoes. Come on, Jack.” She drawled out his name in a husky purr. “Use your imagination.”
He reached out and fingered the hem on her makeshift skirt. “Trust me, sweetheart, my imagination’s working just fine.”
So were other strategic body parts. Wondering what the hell she had on beneath the short skirt would keep him erect all evening. He wondered how far she’d take this invitation and knew he couldn’t wait to find out.
Her flush turned into a full-fledged blush. The blush intrigued him most of all. Although she toyed with him deliberately, he knew now the seductive charm and come-hither games didn’t come easily to her. He sensed, too, that she didn’t play like this often. Instead of sending him running, the possibility drew him deeper.
Jack had never been into too-innocent women, if only because they tended to expect too much in the end. But Mallory was different. She was provocative in a sultry, sexy way that turned him on and made him want to explore those uncharted waters. But she was also an independent, gutsy woman who wouldn’t demand all from a man and give nothing in return.
She understood business, and he sensed she understood him, too. His heart pounded harder in his chest.
He slipped off his sneakers. “Lead the way.”
She pushed open the door and he stepped inside. The scent of coconut hit him first, a warm fragrant aroma that reminded him of summers at the beach. He noticed the temperature next, a concentrated rise in heat from neon lights set up in the corner. Blow-up palm trees nestled around all four corners of the bed. And the sliding glass door leading to the beach had been opened, allowing a soft, humid breeze to drift inside.
“You like?” The hesitancy in her voice was clear. She’d obviously gone to a lot of thought and effort to set up this fantasy. Jack knew this had ceased being about teaching him a lesson and had become more about giving pleasure.
No woman other than Mallory had ever gone out of her way to do something for him. That she cared enough, was interested enough to bring illusion to life would tie him up in knots if he let it.
He’d rather just enjoy.
He reached out and grabbed for her hand. “I like.”
Her soft fingers wrapped around his. “That’s a good start. We could have sat outside but I thought we’d want a little more privacy, so I created our own beach.” Husky undertones infused her voice with warmth and desire. “I figured we could hang out in here.” She paused deliberately. “At least until dark.”
She pulled him toward the bed and when she settled herself on the mattress and curled both knees to one side, Jack nearly died wondering if she’d reveal anything he so longed to see.
She followed the direction of his gaze and laughed. “You’re naughty, you know that? Did you bring my bottoms?”
“Right here.” He patted the front pocket of his swimsuit, which had grown increasingly tight.
Her gaze widened as she took in the obvious bulge in his shorts. The soft skin on her neck rose and fell as she swallowed hard. “If you behave maybe I’ll let you see them on me.”
A wicked gleam flickered in Jack’s heated stare. “I’d rather see them off.”
“What makes you think you aren’t? Seeing them off me I mean?” She stood and made a provocative show of wiggling her behind. Used to frilly panties, the sensation of bare skin against cooler material felt wickedly decadent and erotic. She settled herself back on the bed.
He eased himself beside her. “You aren’t daring me to check, are you?” His fingers inched towards her.
“And ruin the element of mystery and surprise? Not a chance.” She playfully slapped his hand. “But you can get us ready for our swim.” She grabbed the bottle of massage oil from the nightstand and handed it to him. “Do my back.”
“It’s nighttime.”
She grinned. “And I thought we were using our imaginations. I wouldn’t mind a little help getting the hard to reach spots.” She stretched her legs out in front of her and wiggled her toes.
His eyes darkened as he accepted the bottle. “Do I get to call the spots?”
His hands on his choice of her body parts. A tremor of awareness shot through her veins. “If you think you can handle it.”
He reached down and pulled at the hem of his T-shirt, lifting it up and over his head. “I assure you I can.” His
