Page 77 of The Movie Star and the Spy

Masochistically, she hoped so. With him still wearing so much, she didn’t have a chance. Which is why she released a breath of relief when minutes later he revealed four aces.

He misinterpreted her relief. “You have a better hand?”

“No, two pair.” She showed him her cards.

His eyes darkened. His biceps flexed. A muscle ticked in his jaw.

And suddenly she wasn’t in such a rush anymore.

She stood up. So did he.

“Well,” he said.

“Well,” she said.

“Are you ready?”

Not even a little bit. It was like that first day, when she stood before him as he prepared to expose her. She didn’t want to perform a strip tease, and yet she could barely move. She slipped her fingers inside the elastic of her panties, tracing their soft edges. She pulled slowly, slowly, slowly, avoiding his gaze as she brought them to her ankles and finally stepped free. She looked back up.

It was a mistake.

His eyes smoldered fire. It paralyzed her, excited her, made her long for more. But she couldn’t give in – she had to escape. “Time for my swim.” Her voice emerged hoarse and raspy. She pushed herself to move, and suddenly adrenaline usurped control.

She took a swift step, but he shot out his hand, gripping her, branding her,possessingher. “Not so fast.” He towered above her, fully dressed while she stood naked and exposed. The passion in his eyes intensified as he took in every single inch. “You can’t leave without protection.”

Her heart stumbled. “We don’t need…” She stopped when she saw the oblong tube.Sunscreen.

“You don’t want to get burned, do you?” He touched her shoulder, brushing by her breast. “Especially with so much exposed.”

Now she shivered, as if a true snowstorm thundered around them. It brought pinprick goosebumps along her entire body. “We won’t be out long.”

“The sun is strong this time of year, and you have sensitive skin.” He ran his hand along her arm, then down to her bare stomach. “I would know.”

Yes, he did.They had been staying under trees and in the shade, but the sun cast unfiltered rays on the sparkling water. Just a few minutes in the scorching heat would redden her skin, and an hour would create a bona fide burn. She reached for the tube.

“No.” He pulled it away. “Let me.”

She should demand to do it herself, but he opened the lid with a soft pop, pouring the creamy white liquid onto his hand. He smoothed it onto her, using both hands to rub skin that already burned for his touch. He worked his way up along her arms, then down her shoulders and along the sides of her body. Perspiration engulfed her as he massaged her stomach, stopping just above her auburn curls. Then he started from her feet and traveled ever-so-slowly up her legs. She didn’t resist when he gently parted her legs so he could access her inner thighs.

He moved up and traced her breasts. Now she moaned, as he circled the two globes, caressed them, weighed them, brushed his lips against them. The world went from hot to scorching to unbearable. “Are you all right?” he whispered.

“You know I’m not,” she breathed the shuddering truth. “What are you doing to me?”

“Nothing. This is beyond our power.” He stood up, matching her naked body inch by inch. “Can you feel it?”

Yes.She fought for control, strove for discipline, yet it wasn’t enough. No matter what the cost, she had to have him. She pulled at the bottom of his shirt. He growled a purely male sound of satisfaction, but stopped her. “Not yet. Not before you say it.”

“Please, Julian,” she whispered. “We both want this. Let it happen, just like before. No expectations, no strings.”

He threaded her fingers, preventing her from lifting his shirt. “It’s already beyond a casual fling, and you know it. You just have to admit it.”

“I can’t,” she hissed. Darkening eyes demanded the truth, yet what she wanted didn’t matter. The attraction, the desire, thefeelingscouldn’t matter. “It can never be anything more.”

“You still haven’t explained why, although I suspect it has something to do with your secret. Right,Destiny?” He folded his arms. “Since you don’t want to talk about feelings, how about we discuss your secrets instead? Like who you really are.” He stepped forward, brushing against her. “Your past makes no sense because Destiny Dane doesn’t exist. Can you explain that?”

No, she could not. She had to find an escape. Her gaze trailed to the cool blue waters. Perhaps there was a way to stop the questioning and get what she really wanted. “I admit it.”

That stopped him… for five seconds. “Admit what?” he asked cautiously.

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