“Hey.”Rob protested grumpily when she pulled the covers off his delectably nakedbody. Drooling at the sight, she tried to calm her heated thoughts by pickingup a pillow and pummeling him awake.
“Thesun is out. No more rain. Let’s go swim in the ocean.”
Joiningin her obvious delight, he grabbed up his own pillow holding it in front of himlike a shield.
“Theocean is overrated. Let’s stay in bed.” With that, he pulled her beneath him,straddling her thighs with his own.
“Rob,”she whined as he lowered his lips to hers. He kissed her until she forgot allabout the ocean and the sunshine. Hell, she was struggling to recall her ownname.
“Nowthat is a much better way to wake up.”
“Withall our practice, I bet we’d be shoo-ins at the kissing contest.” She struggledto gather her wits about her. His kiss should be registered a lethal weapon.
“Mmm,” he murmured, “but I find that only a few minutes withyour lips and I’m powerless to stop myself from stripping all the clothing fromyour body. How do you feel about public nudity?”
Sheshook her head and swatted at his shoulder. “I suppose we’ll have to limit ourkisses to private places.”
“That’smy girl,” he answered with a charming grin. “I’m incredibly jealous, you know.I want your scrumptious curves all to myself.”
“Scrumptious,huh?” she asked with a laugh. “Well I must say I prefer your description, Mr.Mason. My grandma liked to call me pleasantly plump.”
Shewatched a strange look she couldn’t quite understand cross his face at herwords.
“Well.”He surprised her by pulling away and rising from the bed. “I believe I promisedmy girl a swim in the ocean. Why don’t you put on your swimsuit and we’ll headout?”
Slappingher head, she swallowed back a curse. “My swimsuit is in my luggage, which Idon’t have. Damn it!”
“Actually,my love, your luggage arrived very early this morning. It’s in your bedroom.”
Hisuse of the words ‘my love’ caused her heart to turn over in her chest beforehis other comments sunk in. She squealed with delight at the prospect of havingher own clothing. She dashed across the living room toward her room. “Woo Hoo! I won’t be a minute, I promise.”
Robsmiled at her enthusiasm realizing it was no doubt the truth. He was pleased byhow quickly Meg could get ready for her day. Used to women who took hours toshower, dress, primp, and do God only knew what else, he found her ability toprepare herself in under fifteen minutes amazing.
Pullingon his swim trunks and a T-shirt, he reviewed his plan for the day. He’darranged to have his yacht docked nearby, where he and Meg would have aromantic breakfast. He planned to take her on a cruise around the island,stopping for a swim in the ocean—maybe even some waterskiing—and hopefully,sometime during the day, he would manage to confess the truth about his trueidentity. He knew he was being a coward, but by confining her on a boat, shewouldn’t be able to escape until he’d had a chance to try to win back herfavor. Especially if she became as angry at his deception as he expected herto. Not one of his more brilliant plans, but for now, it was all he had. Timewas running out.
Chapter Ten
Giggling,Meg nearly tripped getting off the elevator and Rob quickly wrapped a steadyingarm around her waist.
“Careful,Teach,” he murmured in her ear.
Asthey reached the door to the penthouse, Rob surprised her by turning her andleaning down to kiss her. She could taste the wine they’d shared on the boat onhis tongue as it swept into her mouth, enticing her to play. She raised herarms to his shoulders, her fingers running through his dark hair. His handstraveled around her waist, rubbing lightly, seductively over her back.
Onlywith Rob had she ever felt so carefree and happy, without a worry in the world.She’d spent her entire life working. In high school she’d held down a part-timejob to help with the bills while studying nonstop to earn good enough gradesto get a scholarship. Unable to afford the cost of living on campus, she’dspent her college years driving the forty-five minutes home every night to carefor her dying grandmother and then her ailing mother. So much of her life spentworking and worrying and caring for others.
Thistime with Rob in a tropical paradise was healing parts of her she didn’t knowwere injured. She laughed and joked with ease. The practical, no-nonsense Megshe was at home would never have consented to spend a weekend with a virtualstranger. She felt as though she’d lived a lifetime in this single weekend andit saddened her to think about her return to the real world.
Robnoticed her quiet, pensiveness. “Hey, why the long face?”
“Iwas just thinking about leaving tomorrow. Rob—if I don’t remember to say it—thepast three days have been the best days of my life and I will never forgeteverything you’ve done to make them so special.”
“Westill have tonight and tomorrow morning, Meg. Let’s not waste that timeworrying about the end.” Her heart stopped at the word ‘end.’ How would sheever be able to walk away from Rob without a backward glance? No doubt, he wasused to short-term relationships, but her heart was bleeding at the thought ofnever seeing him again. Shaking off her unwanted concerns, she beat down thepractical Meg and brought back the new version of herself, the one who livedfor the moment.
Robunlocked the door to the suite and she started to walk in, but he stopped her,tugging at her elbow. “Before we go in, I should warn you that I fully intendto ravish you.”
Shelaughed, despite the effect his words were having on her body. Every moment inhis presence only strengthened her desire for him. Every time he left her bodyshe literally had to stop herself from begging him to come back in. Never hadshe been so wholly consumed by a man’s touch.
Reachingup, she placed her palm on his cheek, his five o’clock shadow tickling herfingers. “Thank God.” She stood on tip-toe to place
