Bedding The Billionaire(25)

"This isn't a game, Abbey." He sighed. He'd already apologized. What more did she want? "I really am sorry for what I called you. It was rude and I was out of line. It's just that I didn't know...I thought you were..." He sighed. "Okay, I jumped to the wrong conclusion, despite all the evidence pointing to that conclusion. But I have to admit, your weird explanation isn't helping me to figure you out."

Abbey stiffened. "Figure what out?" she asked crisply.

From her body language it appeared his second attempt at an apology hadn't worked either. He couldn't think why not-he may not be very experienced when it came to apologizing but he'd said 'Sorry'. What more did she expect?

Nick threw his hands in the air. "Figure out who you are! What you want from me! Why you came up to my room!"

"And why I had sex with you?"

Nick nodded. Good, she was beginning to understand his predicament.

Abbey looked down at the water swirling around her rib cage. She skimmed her hands along the surface, studying the rippling pattern as if it fascinated her.

"Abbey?"

She looked up. Her jaw was set firm.

"I'm a masseur. I work for the hotel. That's who I am."

"Damn it, Abbey, this isn't fair. I'm trying to get to know you-"

"Why?"

The question caught Nick off guard. He shrugged. "Because I like you." It was true, he realized. There was something about her that he was attracted to. It wasn't just physical either.

Abbey made a noise in the back of her throat that sounded like a growl. 

"It's just sex," she said quietly. She looked up at him. He wished she'd take off the sunglasses so he could see her eyes. He would know her true feelings then. He'd know if she really meant that.

"Is that what you think?" he asked quietly.

She shrugged casually. A strap of her dress fell from her shoulder. He hooked a finger under it and gently pushed it back up, skimming his fingers along her skin as he did so. She was hot to touch. Hot and smooth and he wanted to feel more of her. His hand moved from her shoulder to her throat, then down across one breast, caressing languidly. He squeezed gently and received a gasp in response.

"Don't," she whispered, glancing around.

"Why not? I want you, Abbey."

She peered up at him, and he thought he could see her eyelids fluttering behind the dark glasses.

"Why not?" he asked again.

"Because of last night."

"I said I was sorry. What more do you want?"

"Do you still think I'm a hooker?"

"No." Nick didn't really know whether that was a lie or not. He still wasn't one hundred percent sure.

She nodded, apparently satisfied that he spoke the truth.

He bent his head and kissed her lightly on the lips. Her mouth was moist and tasted of salt. He licked and she leaned into him. He was glad the water came to his waist because he was already stiffening.

But Abbey pulled away. "This is getting out of control."

Nick knitted his brows. "It is? I thought we were just two consenting adults, enjoying each other's company. No strings attached, like you said. Am I wrong?"

His heart thudded in his rib cage. He wanted to be wrong. He wanted her to tell him he couldn't be more wrong.

"No." Her voice was firm, direct. "You're not wrong. Two consenting adults," she agreed.

He nodded, smiled tentatively. So it was just sex to Abbey. He was a fool to think the last two nights had meant anything more to her. He was a fool to let himself think it meant more to him. Because it didn't. She was right, this was just sex.

So why did his chest hurt so much? Why did he have an overwhelming urge to make her realize it was something more?

Nick leaned forward to kiss her again. The moment their lips touched, an electric shock shot through his system. He wanted her. He wanted to feel her wrapped around him.

"Not here," she whispered.

"Okay." Nick's voice was hoarse, even to his own ears.

He took her hand and waded through the water, further away from the beach, Abbey trailing behind him. She didn't resist.

"Where are we going?"

He turned to look at her over his shoulder and smiled reassuringly. "Far enough out for privacy. Total privacy."

Her big blue eyes stared at him. "Why?"

"You know why," he murmured.

"Tell me," she said thickly.

"Because I'm going to make love to you in the water, in front of a beach full of people."

CHAPTER 6

Abbey's pulse quickened. He wouldn't. Would he?

The further away from the beach they got and the higher the water rose, the more she thought he actually meant what he said.

By the time the water covered her br**sts, they were almost alone, although it still wasn't overly private. Damien kept wading, holding her hand beneath the water.