Page 18 of Beautifully Wild

“I have no idea what you’re talking about?” Keeping a safe space between them, he slides onto his side, so he’s facing her.

“It’s Rio, for God’s sake and not one kiss.”

“You want someone to kiss you?” His voice cracks on the words.

Eden nods. “It doesn’t have to mean anything.”

Only it will, and knowing so, Samuel ignores the warning in his head of the commitment he has made. He wants to reach out and touch her cheek and tell her what he truly feels. She’s a beautiful woman, and yet the pull between them is beyond physical attraction. The short time he has spent with her has given him time to see the colors of her aura. The kindness and passion of her heart emanate from her soul. How he sees and senses it is beyond explanation, and it’s getting harder for him to resist the burning attraction between them. He leans in until his lips are inches away and hesitates. Her eyes hold him captive, pools of blue capable of drowning him. He stops fighting what he wanted to do the moment he saw her on the beach.

He starts slowly—a gentle kiss. Soft, moist lips reciprocate. She sighs into his mouth. It triggers a reaction, and he presses his lips harder to hers. Her tongue finds his, and he loses all coherent thought.How long has it been since he has kissed a woman like her?If he is being truthful, he’s never met anyone like her.

His body presses against hers as he gives into lust. His hands move over the swell of her hips and higher to find her soft breasts. He pulls back and stares into her eyes.

“Don’t stop.”

He doesn’t want to. Only he remembers how much she has had to drink, and if anything happens between them, it will be under the influence of alcohol. Reeling in emotion, he rasps, “Not tonight when you’ve been drinking.”

She flips up, throws a leg over, and lands on his hips in one smooth action. She settles where he feels it most. Eden smiles down at him. “You do like me.”

“More than you’ll remember tomorrow.” He grabs her hips to keep her from moving deciding to speak honestly—there is a high chance she won’t recall anything he says when she wakes. “You’re right. I did see you on the beach, and I wanted you then. I’ve been fighting it the entire time. Right now, I want nothing more than to be between your legs.” Her eyes widen. “But it won’t happen. I’m not taking advantage of you. You’re killing me right now, so please…” he grabs her hips tighter, “… don’t move, or we both might do something we regret.”

Eden hasn’t taken her eyes off of him. She frowns as if her thoughts have caught up. “I wouldn’t regret it. I should be angry with you. You were an ass.”

He wishes she were. He could handle her anger better than her advances. “You have every right to be.”

“You’ve liked me all along?”

He nods while assisting her in lying beside him. He strokes her face, runs his hand along her neck and shoulder. “You’re truly a beautiful woman.”

She smiles, and he likes how it reaches her eyes. “So not tonight,” she whispers. She closes her eyes. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it. Are you heading to the Samba parade tomorrow night?”

She makes a purring sound. “Uh-huh, then onto Ilhéus. I’m looking forward to staying at the resort on the beach.” Samuel continues to stroke her face until her breathing slows, and she sounds like she’s asleep. He kisses the tip of her nose, knowing he won’t be resting anytime soon.

12

Eden

“Desculpe.”Excuse me.

“What?” I moan and roll over in bed.

My eyes open, and I gasp. A maid is standing by the door. I jerk up and realize I’m not in my room, and snippets of last night flash in my mind. I’m staring at the maid.

“I’m sorry. Did Samuel order breakfast?” I straighten the t-shirt over my chest and stroke my hair, wishing it would behave.

We exchange confused glances. “Mr. McMahon checked out,” she manages in broken English.

“Pardon.” My stomach tightens, trying to comprehend what she’s telling me.

She bows her head and takes a step backward to retreat.

“No, no.” I scan the room for my clothes. “If you give me a minute, I’ll be out of here.” I hold up one finger. “One moment.”

She nods. We stare at each other for a brief moment before she leaves—long enough for pity to settle in her eyes.

I clench both fists and want to scream. “Fuck you, Samuel McMahon.” I take a deep breath. Who does that? Who bloody checks out while I—whatever I am to him— am still in the room? I pull off his t-shirt and slip into my white satin gown.

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