Page 38 of Dante
“Because I don’t know why I said that,” she lied, knowing it was, but she couldn’t keep her mind up with what her body was telling her.
“Want me to give you a clue?”
A thrill rushed up her spine when his fingers went to the top button of the shirt she was wearing. At the movement, his knuckles grazed her nipple behind the swim top underneath. Sucking in a deep breath, she waited breathlessly for him to give her another clue.
Cool air from the vent above raised goose bumps on her skin, or was it Dante’s touch? With her heart racing, Nadia curled her fingers under the opening of his shirt. The firmness of his flesh sparked an arousal, which would normally mortify her that she was being so handsy with a man she had just met the day before.
Of course, Nadia was no virgin. At thirty years old, she had even experienced a one-night stand or two when the need had hit, but this felt like anything but. This felt like the start of a beautiful beginning or a disastrous ending. Which one it was, she wouldn’t be sure until she was on the other side of it.
She had never felt anything like this with someone. The people whom she had dated or slept with, she couldn’t say she had felt much for them. It was like all her emotions and feelings were reserved for the children at Moonbeam. But now, here on this yacht, with him, it was like they were all directed and focused on this man. Was it because she was far away from Kansas City and couldn’t focus on the kids right now? Most importantly, was she brave enough to find out?
His masculine scent enticed her to sayyes, as there was nothing soft or boyish about Dante. The musk he was putting off was pure, unadulterated, viral man that was as heady as three rum runners.
About to give in to temptation … her hands slipped away, and she took a step back, pulling the plug on the attraction that was getting out of hand. “My water is getting cold.”
Dante took a step back as well. “I’ll lay out a clean shirt on the bed for you to wear. When you’re ready to go back down, I’ll be waiting in the lounge.” He then left.
Removing her clothes, Nadia didn’t bother to make him close the door. If Dante said he would stay in the lounge, then that was where he would be. Dante Caruso didn’t need to stoop to being a Peeping Tom.
Sinking into the tub, she luxuriated in the silky feel. Letting her toes peek out of the water as she stretched out full-length in the clawfoot tub, Nadia felt the tension and arousal seep out into the calming water.
You almost made the worst decision of your life … yay.She didn’t know if her inner voice was congratulating herself or not.A little taste wouldn’t have hurt.
“Who are you lying to?” she grumbled out softly, only for the world to hear. “You would let that man chew you up and spit you out … and then thank him.”
Goddamn, that sounds nice,she let her mind wonder at the thought of not having her head screwed on so tightly for one second. Then she remembered his face, how unbothered he was when she had turned him down after winding him up. It had been gentlemanly and respectful, of course, but oh, how she wished it were at least a little difficult for him to walk away from her. Like it had been for her to walk away from him.
The water had turned cold. She was about to stand up when something had her eyes going to the side to peer out of the huge window first.
“Oh, my fucking God!”
Dante had sat in the lounge, staring up at the ceiling, trying to calm himself down. He had counted down from ten several times, only to start over because none of the pressure he felt building in his pants had eased.
Thank God she stopped us …
He adjusted himself, taking another breath.Yeah, right.
Dante had to start over again.
Ten …
Nine …
Eig—
What the fuck!
Her screaming had Dante barging into the bathroom.
“What’s wrong?”
“That is what’s wrong!” she screamed, pointing at a cruise liner starting to pass by with several cameras flashing.
She sunk lower into the water to cover her face. Her fucking ass would have already been back in Kansas if she didn’t have to show the state of Florida her birthday suit in order to get the towel.
“Shit.” Dante ran to grab the towel out of the warmer then stood in front of the window, giving it his back as he spread it out to block anyone from seeing her.
“Who’s going to see you?” She didn’t give it a thought that Dante’s cold gaze had been on her when she had escaped from the chilly water to the warmth of the towel now wrapped around her. “Just a thousand people!”
