"That is not true. We had several meals on the veranda."
He brushed a kiss across her lips. "That's not all we did on that veranda."
Her smile arrived slowly. "True. You have always been quite devilish when we travel."
"And you are always quite willing to dance with the devil."
"Evidently I cannot resist your charms."
He pushed her hair away from her shoulder. "Would you be willing to dance with me later tonight?"
Without giving him a verbal response, Nasira wrapped her hand around his nape and pulled his mouth to hers, taking Sebastian by surprise. As the ride began to move again, picking up speed, they continued to kiss as if they were youngsters in the throes of first love. But they weren't youngsters. They were husband and wife in the midst of a troubled marriage, yet he felt as if this could be the path to healing.
When the ride bumped to a stop, they finally ended the kiss only to be met by applause, whistles and catcalls. Sebastian helped Nasira out of the car and they rushed away, then paused and shared in a few laughs.
Nasira wrapped her arms around his waist. "I do believe you have ruined my reputation."
He pressed a kiss on her forehead. "If you agree to return to the ranch now, I will endeavor to ruin it more."
She studied his eyes for a few moments, as if searching for something unknown there. "Sebastian, I...."
"What, sweetheart?"
"I think that is a marvelous idea."
* * *
Saying what she had wanted to say would have been a horrible idea.
Still, Nasira had come very close to voicing an emotion she had never admitted to him, or to herself, during their decade together. She loved him, and most likely had for many years. Love had not been a goal in their marriage. A marriage based on convenience and mutual need. Yet somehow she had introduced the emotion into the union when she had allowed Sebastian into her life, and into her heart.
That did not change the fact that her husband might not feel more than fondness for her. That did not negate that they wanted to journey down different paths and if he had his way, their future would not include having a child.
Yet as she rode back to the ranch, her hand resting lightly in Sebastian's, she did not care about compromise or doubts. She only wanted to enjoy this night with her husband in the event these memorable moments might be their last.
She leaned back against the headrest and sighed. "I realized something tonight that I have never considered before."
"You are not so afraid of heights?"
"No. I enjoy country living."
"That's why we have the country home in Bath to escape the hectic pace in London proper."
"I know, yet I feel a certain freedom here. It does sound odd, I suppose."
He pulled beneath the portico and shut off the ignition. "This place does afford quite a bit of privacy, which reminds me." He reached into the back of the car, retrieved a silver bag full of pink tissue and handed it to her.
"What is this?"
"Open it and you'll see."
She rummaged around and withdrew a bathing suit that was little more than a labyrinth of turquoise strings. "I have never flown a kite in the dark."
"Very amusing. We both need to relax, and what better way to do that than to swim."
"Isn't it too cool to swim?"
"The spa and pool are both heated."
She could imagine they would generate their own heat, yet she worried about the privacy issue. "I would still have to get out of the spa or pool." She shook the swimsuit at him. "This barely covers anything at all. What if someone happens upon us?"
"You have a robe, do you not?"
"Yes."
"Besides, you have a remarkable body. Why not show it off?"
"I do not think it is wise to show off my body this much when two other people reside on the property."
"Two people who've been instructed to give us complete solitude."
He had supported his arguments much too well, drat him. "All right. I will join you in a swim." She pointed at him. "But only for a swim. Heaven knows I wouldn't want to be caught doing anything else."
He gave her a winning grin, the one that had always won her over. Patently sensual, and slightly wicked. "Yes, dear. Only a swim."
As much as she would like to trust him, Nasira was not sure she should. Trouble was, could she trust herself?
Seven
The moment Nasira stepped onto the deck and slipped off the robe, swimming was the last thing on Sebastian's mind. The suit fit her to perfection, from the low cut of the bodice to the bottoms secured by two ribbons at her rounded hips that accentuated her long torso. Her hair flowed freely, straight and sleek, begging for his touch. When he honed in on the diamond hoop at her navel, her attempt at rebellion during her brief university days, he had fond memories of playing with the bauble with his tongue...as well as other more intimate places now covered by a small fabric triangle. That alone caused him to move down one stair to conceal the result of his sinful thoughts.
He had to remember to take it slowly, let the evening progress with no expectations in terms of lovemaking. He needed to concentrate on making his wife feel appreciated and respected, even if it meant using his tongue solely to talk for the time being.
Unfortunately his randy libido seemed to be speaking much louder than his honor. He would simply have to quiet the urges and not appear as impatient as a lustful schoolboy.
Down, Henry.
When Nasira stuck her toe in the deep end of the pool to test the water, even that seemed overtly sexy to Sebastian. And when she executed a perfect dive, surfaced not far from him and slicked her hair back from her gorgeous face, he gritted his teeth to keep from going after her like a lion and a gazelle.
"Bravo," he said as she waded toward him. "You're a regular little mermaid."
She lifted her hair to secure the tie at her neck. "I almost had equipment failure when I dove in. Could you have not found something a bit more modest?"
At the moment he realized that might have worked better in light of his burgeoning erection. But then again, probably not. She could be wearing a heavy trench coat and he would still want her, especially if she were nude beneath it. He would like very much for her to be nude beneath him. Or perhaps on top of him. Standing up against the deck would also work to his satisfaction...
"Have you been rendered mute, Sebastian?"
For the most part, yes. "I'm sorry. Did you ask me something?"
"Never mind." She joined him on the step, keeping a relatively safe distance between them. "The housekeeper turned down my bed. Did you notice if she is still here?"
No, but he did notice that if the bikini were a bit lower, he could possibly see her nipples. "I'm almost certain she performed those tasks while we were away."
Sira leaned forward, causing the top to gape and allowing him the view again. "It would probably behoove us to check."
"That might be breast." Dammit. "I mean best."
She sent him a mock scolding look. "I have barely been in here five minutes and you are already misbehaving."
Guilty. "It was only a verbal faux pas, Sira."
"Then take care to mind your mouth."
And he did...by planting it on her mouth, disregarding his earlier cautions about going slowly. He expected she might shove him away, or perhaps push him into the water, yet she joined in as if she needed this as badly as he did.
After they parted, she tipped her head against his forehead. "I hate that I am so helpless around you."
He lifted her chin and forced her to look at him. "You are not helpless in the least, and you are not an innocent. You are as drawn to the devil in me as I am the vixen in you."
"So you think."
"So I know."
He loosened the ties at her neck but paused before he went further. "Tell me you do not want me and I'll stop."
"I... cannot."
Which was all the encouragement Sebastian needed to continue. He removed her top, tossed it aside and then toyed with the band riding low on her hips. "Stop now?"
She released a ragged sigh. "No."
After he slid her bottoms away and draped them on the chrome railing, he led her into waist-deep water and kissed her, his hands roving over her breasts. She soon pulled away, moved back and smiled. "The vixen says take off your bathing suit."
"Far be it for me to argue with her," he said as he shoved down his trunks, stepped out of them with effort, and hurled them onto the deck.