Page 11 of Booked for Summer

He let out a bark of laughter and holy crap, if brooding Liam was irresistible, laughing Liam wasI need to jump his bones now.

His hot gaze pinned hers, and his hand travelled up from her back and along her arm until it cupped her face. ‘You are… unexpected.’

Her heart bumped against her ribs. She was used to being told the opposite. That she was obvious. ‘Unexpected, as in I’ve found a slug in my lettuce or as in that sprout flavoured ice cream didn’t taste as bad as I thought?’

His mouth was tantalisingly close to hers, those impossibly soft-looking lips curved in a smile. ‘Yet again, you provide only terrible options.’

No words were said as they walked the final few yards to the boat, yet it seemed as if their bodies were saying plenty.Touch me, her breasts demanded. His hand tightened on hers.Soon, it seemed to say.

She wasn’t sure how far she wanted to go, but she needed something to take away the ache.

When they reached the yacht, he halted and turned to face her. ‘The wobble you had a few minutes ago. It’s over?’

Wow, he was perceptive. ‘Seeing the boat again made me take a breath. I’m more used to getting in a guy’s Ford Fiesta.’ She cringed. ‘Not to have sex, I mean there’s not much room in the back of those things…’ She let out a strangled laugh. ‘I really need to stop talking so much.’

His eyes travelled to her mouth. ‘I know a way to achieve that.’ Then he grimaced and glanced back at her. ‘Was that too corny?’

‘Er, no.’ She swallowed, heart fluttering. ‘Actually, it sounded like something you should definitely follow up on.’

The wordpleasealmost left her mouth but she swallowed it as his lips finally, finally found hers.

And holy crap. It was like she’d been zapped with a live wire. Every nerve end tingled, her skin felt hot, her brain started to melt as his mouth teased hers, his tongue brushing her lips before slipping inside, his breath warm with a hint of whisky. Gentler than she’d thought he’d be, he seemed content to take his time, tasting her from every angle like he wassavouringher. Just as her knees were about to buckle, he drew back, eyes a smoky grey as they stared into hers. ‘I was right.’

‘Sorry?’ She could barely get the word out she felt so unsteady. Like he’d taken her world and, in one smooth, sensual glide, turned it upside down.

‘You taste even better.’

With the fluid grace of a man at ease with himself, and with the boat, he climbed on board. She stumbled after him, only the hold he had on her hand preventing her from ending up flat on her arse. ‘Think I need to find my sea legs.’

The look he gave her made her blood thicken. ‘I know a way we can solve that.’

Her belly swooped. She knew what he was implying, and part of her was desperate to take him up on the promise in his eyes. The easy way he carried himself, the confidence he wore like an expensively tailored suit, the heat he elicited in her from just his gaze… Instinctively, she knew sex with him would be explosive.

‘Relax.’ He gave her a small smile, one that perfectly communicated he’d read her indecision, then held out his hand. ‘Come, let me show you those stars I promised.’

I’ll fuck you again under the stars.

His words from earlier flooded back to her, yet alongside the sharp tug of arousal, was the flutter of unwanted nerves. She was way out of her depth.

But then his warm hand enveloped hers and the nerves settled, leaving only the tug in her belly.

* * *

Liam handed Jade a glass of champagne and as he settled next to her on the sun pad, he felt the earlier tension start to leave her. People called him a cold bastard, and maybe at times he could be, but not where women were concerned. No, there he’d been too trusting. ‘Nothing will happen tonight that you don’t want to.’

She gave him a soft smile and his heart performed an odd skip. ‘You clocked my hesitancy, huh?’

‘I’m a stranger to you.’ He shrugged. ‘I’d be more surprised if you weren’t wary.’

Her eyes searched his, and she smiled again. ‘Yeah, I’m not wary of you. You don’t look like an axe murderer.’

‘How can you tell?’

She grinned. ‘You’re not carrying an axe?’ Her eyes skimmed the deck. ‘All I can see is an ice bucket and a bottle of champagne. I’m no detective but I figure that’s more death by seduction, which is a far better way to go.’

‘I’ll bear that in mind next time I reach for my axe.’

She laughed, and it felt strangely satisfying to know he’d caused it.

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