Maid for a Magnate(15)

Will placed a hand over his heart. "You wound me, Cat. I'm at least  going to get this boat on course before I rip your clothes off."

Catalina's breath caught in her throat.

Will turned and mounted the steps to go above deck, and then froze and  threw a sexy grin over his shoulder. "Relax, Cat. I won't do anything  you don't want."

The playful banter had just taken a turn, a sharp turn that sent  shivers racing through her entire body. Was she prepared for sex with  this man? That's what everything leading up to this moment boiled down  to.

Cat would be lying to herself if she tried to say she didn't want Will  physically. That had been proven each time he'd kissed her recently.

I won't do anything you don't want, he'd said.

And that was precisely what scared her the most.

* * *

With the ocean breeze sliding across his face, Will welcomed the  spittle of spray, the taste of salt on his lips. He needed to get a damn  grip. He hadn't meant to be so teasing with Cat.

Okay, he had, but he hadn't meant for her to get that panicked look on  her face. He knew full well she was battling with herself where he was  concerned. There wasn't a doubt in his mind she wanted him physically  and that was easy to obtain. But there was part of Will that wanted her  to see that he wasn't at all the same man he used to be.

She would get to see that side of him today. He intended to do  everything for her, to prove to her just how appreciated she was and how  valued. Will had fully stocked the yacht when he'd had this idea a  couple days ago. He'd known he would take her out at some point, but it  wasn't until he saw her working the crowd, with circles under her eyes  and a smile on her face at the dinner last night, that he decided to  invite her right away.

With all of the recent upheaval in Alma-the Montoro monarchy drama and  Isabella's passing, not to mention Will's taking the reins of Rowling  Energy-there was just too much life getting in the way of what he  wanted. Too many distractions interfering with his main goal...and his  goal was to have Cat.

He may be the good son, the twin who was raised to follow the rules and  not question authority. But Will wasn't about to make the same mistake  with Cat as he had in the past. The moment he'd let her walk away years  ago, he'd already started plotting to get her back. Then the whole  debacle with Bella had happened and Will knew more than ever that it was  time to make his move with Rowling Energy and Cat.

Spending the day together on his yacht, however, was something totally  unrelated to everything else that had happened in their past. Today was  all about them and nothing or nobody else. Everything that happened with  Cat from here on out was going to be her call...he may just silently  nudge and steer her in the right direction. Those initial kisses had  reignited the spark they'd left burning long ago and he knew without a  doubt that she felt just as passionate as he did.

He didn't blame her one bit for being leery. He'd done some major  damage before and she wouldn't let him forget it anytime soon. Not that  he could. He'd never forget that look on her face when he'd told her  they'd been a mistake and then walked away. That moment had played over  and over in his mind for the past several years. Knowing he'd purposely  hurt Cat wasn't something he was likely to ever forget.

Still, if she ever discovered the truth, would she see that he'd done  it for her? He'd best keep that secret to himself and just stay on  course with his plan now. At least she was here, she was talking and she  was coming around. The last thing Will wanted to do was rehash the past  when they could be spending their time concentrating on the here and  now.

Will steered the yacht toward the private island not too far from Alma.  In just under an hour he'd have Cat on a beach with a picnic. He  wondered when the last time was that she'd had someone do something like  that for her, but quickly dismissed the thought. If another man had  pampered her, Will sure as hell didn't want to know.                       
       
           



       

Of course, there was no man in her life now. Will was the one kissing  her, touching her. She was his for at least today so he needed to make  the most of every moment they were alone. He truly hoped the tiny island  was deserted. He'd come here a few times to think, to get away from all  the pressure and stress. Only once had he run into other people.

Cat stayed below for the duration of the trip. Perhaps she was trying  to gather her own thoughts as well. Maybe she was avoiding him because  she thought that taking her out to a private island for sex was so  cliché, so easy to read into.

But for reasons Will didn't want to admit or even think about, this day  was so much more than sex. Cat was more than sex. Yes, he wanted her in  the fiercest way imaginable, but he also wanted more from her...he just  didn't know what.

No, that was wrong. The first thing he wanted was for her to see him in  a different light. He wanted her to see the good in him she'd seen when  they'd grown up together, when they'd laughed and shared secrets with  each other. He wanted her to see that he wasn't the monster who had  ripped her heart out and diminished their relationship into ashes with  just a few damning words.

Perhaps this outing wasn't just about him proving to her what a changed  man he was, but for him to try to figure out what the hell to do next  and how far he wanted to take things with her once they got back to  reality.

When he finally pulled up to the dock and secured the yacht, he went  below deck. He hoped the last forty-five minutes had given Cat enough  time to see that he wasn't going to literally jump her. The playful  banter had taken a sexual turn, but he wasn't sorry. He was only sorry  Cat hadn't come up once to see him. This initial space was probably for  the best. After all, today was the first time they'd been fully alone  and not sneaking into the bathroom or laundry area of his father's home  for a make-out session.

Yeah, his seduction techniques needed a bit of work to say the least.  But he'd had four years to get control over just how he wanted to  approach things once he finally got his Cat alone. And now he was ready.

As he stepped below, Will braced his hands on the trim overhead and  froze on the last step. Cat lay sideways, curled into a ball on his bed.  The innocent pose shouldn't have his body responding, but...well, he  was a guy and this woman had had him tied in knots for years.

Will had wanted Cat in his bed for too long. All his fantasies involved  the bed in his house, but the yacht would do. At this point he sure as  hell wasn't going to be picky. He'd waited too damn long for this and he  was going to take each moment he could get, no matter the surroundings.

And the fact that she was comfortable enough to rest here spoke volumes  for how far they'd come. Just a few weeks ago he'd kissed her as if she  was his next breath and she'd run away angry. Though Will was smart  enough to know her anger stemmed from arousal.

Passion and hate...there was such a fine line between the two.

Slowly, Will crossed the open area and pulled a small throw from the  narrow linen closet. Gently placing the thin blanket over her bare legs  and settling it around her waist, Will watched the calm rise and fall of  her chest. She was so peaceful, so relaxed and not on her guard. For  the first time in a long time, Will was finally seeing the woman he knew  years ago, the woman who was more trusting, less cautious.

Of course, he'd helped shape her into the vigilant person she was  today. Had he not made such bad choices when they'd been together the  first time, perhaps she wouldn't have to feel so guarded all the time.  Perhaps she'd smile more and laugh the way she used to.

Cat shifted, let out a throaty moan and blinked up at Will. Then her eyes widened as she sat straight up.

"Oh my. Was I asleep?"

Will laughed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Or you were playing dead."

Cat smoothed her short hair away from her face and glanced toward the  wall of windows. "I was watching the water. I was so tired, so I thought  I'd just lie here and enjoy the scenery."

"That was the whole point in having my bed right there. It's a breathtaking view."

When she turned her attention back to him, she gasped. That's right, he  hadn't been discussing the water. The view of the woman was much more  enticing.

"Why don't you use the restroom to freshen up and change into your suit?" he suggested. "I'll get our lunch set up."

The bright smile spreading across her face had something unfamiliar  tugging on his heart. He may not be able to label what was going on  between them, but he couldn't afford to be emotional about it.