And when he finally opened his eyes, that dark, wild gaze softened just enough to steal what was left of my breath.

Chapter 4

Dom

The fine white sheets were a tangled mess around us, a testament to what had unfolded moments ago. Lying beside Ella, I still felt the echo of her touch against my skin, that lingering warmth fueling an insatiable desire.

This woman was dangerous. Addictive.

Her head rested on my chest, and her chocolate brown hair spilled in waves over my arm. Deep rhythmic breaths fell over my scant chest hair like she was close to falling asleep. But I wanted those hazel green eyes open again. They’d been so wary and wide when she spilled her drink on me like she thought she was in trouble.

I could have taken pity on the girl, but I wasn’t ready for sleep. My mind raced, already plotting the next step in this unexpected game we found ourselves playing. I wanted her in every way possible.

Normally, I dated within my social set. It would be unseemly for me to be with a woman like Ella. But women my age weren’t usually this carefree with themselves. They had more obligations and things to consider than a girl in her twenties. Back home?—

But I’m not home. I don’t have to worry here. No one knows me on the island.

Maybe that was the magic of vacation sex. Nothing to consider, no responsibilities. Just fun. Ella The Chef was the perfect vacation hookup.

And I wanted more.

Waves crashed outside, the sound filtering through the open balcony door. I should have smelled the ocean. Instead, I smelled her all around me. Vanilla and sugar and something undeniably female. I wanted her here, in this moment with me, indefinitely. Her presence was intoxicating.

"Ella," I began, my voice low as I traced my fingers along her arm to outline the small whisk tattoo there. Her skin was like silk. I wanted to know her. Not only her body, but the woman she was. "Tell me something about you that no one else knows."

She chuckled at my request and yawned. “I hate underwear.”

I barked a laugh. “Something tells me I’m not the only person who knows that.”

She shifted slightly, propping herself up on one elbow to look at me. The moonlight cast her face in a soft glow, highlighting the curiosity in her eyes. “Something no one knows? That’s a big ask from a stranger.”

“I don’t see the point in making small talk. Life’s too short for that.”

Her lips curled into a thoughtful smile. “That’s true.” She laid back down on my shoulder. “When I was a girl, I used to write poetry. Silly stuff, really. About dreams or boys I liked, the kind of things you think will never really happen."

I smiled, tightening my hold on her. "Why wouldn’t the boys happen?”

“I was a late bloomer. Didn’t have my first boyfriend until I turned twenty.”

“So, this was two, three years ago?”

She laughed. “Ten.”

“You’re thirty?”

She nodded, then took a bite of my pec.

I swatted her ass for that infraction, and she giggled and released me. “What was that bite for, young lady?”

“You’re not supposed to ask a woman’s age, and thus, you had to be punished.”

“Oh, I’ll show you punishment, if you like.”

Her breath hitched at that. “Maybe later.”

I liked that she had an adventurous streak in her, even if only for the night. It was my nature to push for more—to know more, feel more, own more. With Ella, every piece of information felt like a piece of her soul she was handing over, and I was eager to collect as much as she was willing to give.

“Promise me I’ll get to punish you again.”