"Oh, Melo. You're going to regret that."
With a yelp, she tried to get away. Her legs bounced on the bottom of the pool, and she dived sideways, in a frantic bid to out swim him. As she upended, a strong hand grasped her ankle, pulling her closer into his body's orbit. She spluttered out of the water again, and he splashed water into her face. As he had millions of times when they were kids. It had been a favorite game, but she could tell that Cade this time, wasn't kidding.
His eyes darkened to deep emerald as he snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her up against his body in a potent shock that sent shivers of awareness through her.
"Payment time."
Cool, wet lips claimed hers; fireworks exploded in her core. All thoughts of playing it safe evaporated. Melo's hands slid up his chest, around the back of his neck and into his hair. Her breathing was ragged. The fact they were in full view of anyone who cared to look instantly forgotten.
Her heartbeat was thundering.
His fingers played with the clasp of her bikini top, and she forced her breasts against him, loving the feel of the light dusting of hair against her flesh. His pelvis was tight against hers under the water, and his length pressed against hers in a potent seduction.
"We should take this somewhere else. Somewhere more private," he muttered against her lips.
It was too soon, too sudden. But in one way, it had been too long coming.
"The cabana," she breathed.
****
Cade followed the sway of Melo's hips like a lamb to the slaughter. Her father was in the house. And the doctor, and the housekeeper. They could be discovered any moment. Yet nothing stopped his determined pursuit. Melo's kiss left him in no doubt that she wanted him, and he was on fire for her. Like he'd never been on fire for any woman before.
Ever since she'd appeared like a vision at the poolside while he was changing, he'd been in a state of semi-arousal. The white bikini revealed a lot more than it covered. It was a hugely seductive outfit, one he couldn't wait to peel off her.
She pushed the door open, and turned to him.
"What are we doing?" she asked.
Her words stopped Cade in his tracks. Melo wasn't just a hot woman, she was his friend. Possibly the only female friend he'd ever had. Did he really want to risk that, just for an afternoon of hot sex?
His body shouted yes, but his brain urged caution. They were stuck here for the next few days, and with her the bridesmaid and him the best man, things could get awkward once they'd muddied the water by sleeping together.
Melo smiled the smile of a woman confident in her allure. "I think you know what we're doing. We're following our instincts." Her hands undid the clasp that held the two scraps of fabric over her breasts.
Cade groaned, and slipped the straps from her shoulders, tossing the bikini top onto the bench. "God, you're beautiful." Her breasts were spectacular. He cupped them in his hands, trailing his lips down the curve of her jaw, then downward, over the smooth expanse of neck, and across her shoulders.
She sighed, and thrust her breasts forward, pushing her head back to give him ease of access.
Her body was drying in the summer heat, and her skin tasted of the cool water of the pool. He breathed in the subtle scent he'd always associate with Melo from this moment on. Some perfume. His fried synapses tried to remember to ask what it was-whatever it was it must contain musk, he was unbearably aroused. She tasted honey sweet. Her nipple was pert and erect, surrounded by a perfect, rosy areola. He licked.
She groaned.
A surge of arousal almost brought him to his knees.
This was crazy. Madness. He wanted more, had to have more of her. He swirled his tongue around her nipple and pulled it into his mouth, sucking hard.
Her knees buckled, and she gripped his shoulders for support.
Cade pulled away.
Melo's eyes were closed, and her breath was coming in little pants.
He grabbed a towel from the hook and laid it carefully on the floor, then pulled her down to the ground with him.
She didn't protest. Her leg slid over his and his mouth returned to her breasts, kissing them, sucking and nipping until she was squirming under him.
"Cade." Her hand slid down his chest, and into the waistband of the trunks. She stroked his length with bold fingers, shredding his control.
"Easy." If she kept that up everything would be over in an instant. Her hand curled around him and fireworks went off behind his eyes. "Seriously, Melo … " It was difficult to get the words out. He reached for her hand and pulled it away from him. "It's too much."
"You can say that again." Her eyes opened, and she grinned. "It's way too much. I'm burning up here."
"Me too."
Talking while lovemaking was something new. They'd been so close in the past; it was as if somehow their relationship had already gone through the teething phase. As though there was nothing to stop them getting seriously involved. The thought was like a bucket of cold water thrown over fighting dogs. His fingers stilled and a frown pleated his brow.
He pulled himself off her. Sat back on the towel, and readjusted the uncomfortable trunks. "Maybe we should slow things down."
Melo sat up, making no attempt to hide herself from his gaze. "What's wrong?" She reached a hand out, and trailed it down his thigh. "I thought … "
"I just thought it's all going a bit fast." Cade bit the inside of his lip. When had he got to be such a wuss? There was a gorgeous woman, lying in front of him with just a smooth scrap of white covering her, and he was telling her he needed more time? It had never happened to him before. He wanted her with a passion that burned and blazed inside. But his head was shouting caution. If he stayed here, let this continue, he'd be inside her in a matter of minutes. His manhood swelled at the thought.
He had no protection with him. An unwanted pregnancy would be a disaster for both of them. And anyway, Melo deserved more than a quick bedding on the floor of a pool cabana, for God's sake. Surely he had a bit more finesse. He reached for her bikini top.
Indecision flickered in her eyes, she wasn't as confident as she seemed, and he guessed from where she sat, or rather lay, this could be seen as a rejection. Determination flooded him. She was gorgeous. Totally beddable. He wasn't going to leave her with the impression he didn't want her. He curled his hands around her shoulders, and slipped the bikini top on, reaching around to fasten it.
"Melo." He had always been useless at this talking crap, but this was important, damn it. More important that anything. He had to say it right. "Melo."
She tossed back her long swathe of hair, and gazed at him with a trace of hurt evident in the sapphire eyes which had held him spellbound since he'd seen her at the hotel.
"I understand, Cade. No biggie." She stood up and walked to the door. "I'd better go and change." The cabana door slammed shut behind her.
Cade pushed his hands through his hair.
He'd failed.
Chapter Five
Melo's legs shook as she walked into the villa. The touch of Cade's fingers on her skin still tingled as she stumbled up the stairs. Thank God there was no one around. She couldn't have faced meeting anyone. Not with her mouth swollen from Cade's kisses, her hair tangled from his fingers' ruthless exploration, and her stomach churning from his rejection.
She pushed open the door to her bedroom, and stripped off the bikini, tossing it into the corner. She needed a shower to cool her heated skin. And wash Cade off her. She caught a glimpse of her naked body in the full-length mirror.
He'd said she was beautiful. He wanted her; he couldn't hide his body's response. So why, why had he pulled back? She grabbed her robe from the end of the bed and wrapped it around her, tying the sash tightly. Then lay on the bed and pulled her knees up. Everything had been going so well up until the moment they started to talk. Was that it? Her tired eyes ached with the beginning of a headache. He'd wanted to explain. Had even tried, but she'd seen the way he was struggling to express his feelings and hadn't been able to stand to hear whatever excuse he was searching for.
He wanted her. She wanted him. What else was there to say?
A stray thought niggled. If they'd made love, things would be different between them. He'd only been on the island a couple of days. They hadn't seen each other for twelve years, and both of them were very different people than they'd been then. She massaged her temples with her fingers, and closed her eyes.