Ollie strode up to me, grasped my upper arms, and looked me straight in the eye. "I want you, Mara. Only you. But Heidi is a nice girl, and I don't want her to get hurt as part of some scheme Nico's cooked up to make you jealous."
"I'm not jealous."
He leaned in closer, his lips hovering a hair's breadth from mine. "I'm not jealous either, not of Heidi and whoever she goes out to dinner with. The only time I get jealous is when Nico looks at you." One side of his mouth slanted upward. "I didn't like it much when Damian looked at you either, and he's my best friend."
"I get jealous whenever Heidi snuggles up to you. It's awful, and I don't want to feel that way, but I can't help it."
He brushed hair away from my face, his finger grazing my skin. "Heidi never snuggled up to me. She tried to kiss me once, but I told her I'm not into her anymore. She gets it, I think. But even if she doesn't, I have zero interest in her---except as a friend."
"Oh. Good." Having him so close was making me...tingle. I should've moved away, but I couldn't convince my body to do it. "I have zero interest in Nico, in any context."
"Glad to hear it." He slid an arm around my waist, drawing me closer until our bodies met. "Maybe I better show you how I really feel."
I couldn't catch my breath, with his body molded to mine and the heat of him penetrating me. "That's not necessary. I believe you."
"But I've always been better at show than tell."
He thrust his free hand into my hair, cradling my head so he could tip it back, curving my neck. With a soft groan, he dragged his tongue up the column of my throat, leaving a trail of moist heat on my skin. The air cooled the moisture, making goosebumps raise all over my body and my knees go weak. I clutched at his shirt to keep from collapsing at his feet, but every thought fled my brain when he danced his tongue over the sensitive skin just under my ear.
"Oliver," I breathed.
He pulled my lobe, and my diamond stud earring, between his teeth and licked it.
My knees buckled.
Ollie held me up with his strong arms and murmured in my ear, "Do you understand now?"
"Yes. I---" My voice failed me when he sucked on my lobe and tugged on the diamond stud with his teeth. "Oh, Ollie..."
He lifted his head to look at me. "Told you I was better at showing than telling."
"Mm-hm." I laid the back of my hand on my cheek. "You definitely know how to set me on fire from head to toe."
"Because you show me what you like, without saying a word." He pushed a hand between our bodies, cupping my mound. "I love finding every way to drive you crazy."
I tilted my hips forward, pushing his hand more firmly into me. "You make me feel wild and free, like I can do anything and nothing bad will happen."
"How wild are you feeling right now?"
"Like I want you to throw me down on the hood of the nearest car and fuck me."
He glanced over my shoulder and sighed. "Better save that for next time. Your parents are coming this way."
"Oh." For the first time ever, I didn't panic at the idea of someone catching me in an intimate moment with a man. Instead, I turned toward my parents and said, "We'll meet you at the car."
They veered in that direction.
Ollie held my hand while we made our way to the car. He kept holding my hand on the drive back to the resort, and he didn't let go until we walked through the door to my room. Our room. I wanted to make love with him, but he suggested tonight had been emotional and everybody needed a good night's rest. I had to agree. The evening's events had taken a toll, and I was ready to sleep.
Once we got in bed, he kissed my lips tenderly. "Not sure I can control myself. I might wake you up five times overnight to make love to you."
"I wouldn't mind that."
"You need to rest." He kissed me again. "There's always tomorrow."
After another kiss, a long and sexy one that made me tingle again, we curled up under the covers together, naked. I'd always wanted to sleep naked, but it had seemed like an improper thing to do, so I never tried it. I'd slept naked all night with Ollie once before, but going to bed in the nude still seemed wild and sinful.
And I loved it. The feeling reminded me of Ollie.
I woke in the morning in a fantastic mood, well rested and energized for the day ahead. Ollie had left me a note explaining he had to get up early to handle office duties, so I should go ahead and have breakfast in the dining hall with the other guests. He promised to find me later. And he signed the note, "Love, Ollie."
Once I'd done my usual morning routine---face washing, moisturizing, putting on makeup, fixing my hair---I got dressed and headed for the door.
Someone knocked on it.
Was it Ollie? He'd implied I wouldn't see him until after breakfast, but maybe he'd gotten his chores done earlier than expected. The prospect of seeing him again made me almost giddy, so I flung the door open.
Nico leaned against the jamb. "Morning, Mar-Mar."
"I hate that nickname, and you know it." I tried to push past him, but he thrust out an arm to stop me, so I glowered at him. "Out of my way."
"We need to talk."
"No, we don't."
He moved in front of me, forcing me to shuffle backward. "I didn't sleep with Heidi."
"She turned you down? What
