Fuck, these three weeks were going to be excruciating.
“Come in,” Liam said. “I think you’ll enjoy the villa.”
As they stepped in the door, the driver returned. “Anything else, sir?” he asked.
“No, that’ll be fine.”
As the driver headed out the door, Abi glanced at Del then back to Liam.
“Del probably wants to get settled in, so shouldn’t he go with the driver? Or is he staying nearby?” Abi asked.
“Yes, very nearby. Instead of staying at the main resort, I decided Del should stay here with us. There’s plenty of room.”
“Really?” Abi asked. “I thought you wanted me all to yourself.”
“Our suite is huge if we want to spend time alone. You said you wanted Del here for support, so I assumed you’d be happy having him stay here in the villa so you can talk to him anytime. If it makes either of you uncomfortable, I can get him a room at the resort.”
“Here will be fine,” Del said. Whatever benefit Liam thought this gave him—and he was sure Liam believed there was one—Del would deal with it.
“Good. Then I suggest you both settle in and we all meet for dinner in an hour. I thought we’d eat on the terrace and watch the sunset.”
“That sounds lovely,” Abi said. “I’d really like to change.”
Del didn’t like the smile playing on Liam’s lips at Abi’s words.
Liam turned to Del.
“You have the room at the end of the hallway there. It overlooks the pool and the ocean.” Liam rested his hand on the small of Abi’s back and guided her to the open spiral stairway. “Abi, the master bedroom is upstairs.”
* * *
The feel of Liam’s hand on her back sent ripples of awareness through Abi. As soon as he’d kissed her at the front door, even though it was only a brief brush of lips, Abi had felt her hormones sparking.
She walked up the stairs, watching Del walk down the hallway, Liam’s hand still on her back as he walked right behind her. Abi knew this must be really difficult for Del.
They reached the top of the stairs and Liam guided her down a short hallway to a set of double doors. The doors were open and as they walked into the room, she saw her suitcase set on a stand by the closet.
“I should unpack,” she said as she started toward the suitcase, but Liam caught her arm and pulled her back, then drew her against him.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, his deep, silky voice gliding through her in a sweet caress.
She gazed into his chocolate-brown eyes, sparks flaring in the depths as his face moved closer, and she found herself leaning into the kiss. His lips brushed hers, but instead of stopping there, like he had downstairs at the door, he deepened the kiss, gliding his tongue inside her mouth.
She murmured softly. She was stressed and confused and hormonal and … His tongue pulsed inside her.
Oh, God, horny as hell.
She cupped his face, loving the feel of his rough stubble against her hands, and pulled him tighter, driving her tongue into his mouth. His hand glided down her back and he pulled her tight to his body. He arched his hips forward and she felt his cock, iron hard, against her belly.
Need careened through her but … Oh, God, Del was downstairs. And in an hour she’d have to face him.
She jerked her mouth from Liam’s, sucking in a breath. She’d only been in this house for five minutes and she was already throwing herself at him.
Having Del here was good. It was helping her make better decisions already. Helping her from falling completely under Liam’s spell.
“I really should unpack.”
Liam released her, a smile quirking up his lips.
“I think you said something about changing.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Abi drew in a breath, trying to ignore the glitter in his eyes. Trying to ignore her own desire to strip down in front of him right now.
“I think I’ll take a shower first.”
His smile broadened. “Great idea. Let me show you where it is.”
He took her hand and led her to a door beside the floor-to-ceiling window revealing a stunning view of the ocean. He guided her outside to the huge balcony, which had a private hot tub sunk into the smooth wooden floor.
“Why are you bringing me out here?” she asked.
“This is where the shower is.”
He pointed and she realized there was an open shower stall with three walls: part of the bedroom window forming one wall, a glossy marble wall housing an array of spray nozzles, and another clear glass wall facing the ocean.
Which meant that if she was in that shower, she would be visible to anyone on the deck, or in the bedroom. Possibly even from the ocean.
“I can’t shower in there.”
“Don’t worry,” Liam assured. “This stretch of beach is totally private, so no one will see you. And no one can see the shower from the patio downstairs.”
“I mean, I’m not going to shower in front of you.”
“Why not? I’m your husband.”
And she had agreed to live as husband and wife while they were here.
“Please, Liam. I need a little time to settle in.”
He smiled and took her hand, then pressed it to his lips. The contact sent a spiral of delight quivering through her.
“Of course, kitten. I’ll go down and see how dinner’s doing.” He nuzzled the back of her hand again. “But I’ll be back in thirty minutes, so don’t take too long.”
He walked into the house and she hurried along behind him. He opened a cupboard and pulled out a large white towel and dropped it on the bed. Then he went to the closet and pulled out a fluffy terry robe and handed it to her.
“Maybe you’ll be more comfortable with this near at hand.”
“Thank you. Where’s the bathroom?”
“That door in the corner.”
She watched him walk to the double doors and open one. He winked as he closed the door behind him.
She hurried to the open bathroom door. As soon as she
