Priceless Treasure(45)

She was his. She just didn’t know it yet.





Chapter Twenty-One


Would she ever have any sense of balance around this man? She was feeling a bit seasick, and the sea had nothing to do with.

Ashton was chatting away companionably about captaining the boat, and telling her how one of his crew members had almost fallen into the water when they cast off from the dock, among other topics from the past two days. Who cared? She certainly didn’t. What she cared about was this brand-new attitude of Ashton’s. Who was he now?

He had gone from brutal Mr. Hyde back to civilized Dr. Jekyll, and he was being far friendlier than he’d ever been. And she was feeling herself give in to him. It seemed impossible to fight both him and herself. And now there wasn’t a fiancée standing between them.

Even if Savvy knew that she’d be nothing more than a conquest for him, would it be so wrong for her to enjoy the fruits of his labor? After all, she was a twenty-four-year-old virgin. Wasn’t it high time she experienced what everyone else seemed to think was so damn grand? Maybe the earth would really move … except that they were on the ocean. Details, details.

When Ashton had been trailing his kisses down her body, she’d certainly felt something she’d never felt before. And even when she was angry with the man, her body didn’t seem to get the message.

“I think I’ve probably had a bit too much wine,” Savvy finally said as she set down her glass and tried to focus in on whatever Ashton was saying.

It had to be the wine that was sending all these thoughts through her head. It couldn’t be that she wanted to be just another of his one-night stands.

“You’ve only had a couple of glasses, Savvy,” he pointed out.

Damn! He was keeping track. She was so nervous right now that her fingers were shaking. She could do her darnedest to blame it on the wine, but she knew the real reason all too well — it was simply being in his presence. And her awareness that he was now available was a heady rush that was shutting down her system.#p#分页标题#e#

Was she going to continue to live with regret? Did she really want to be that girl who always played by the rules? A girl, or even a woman, ruled by her fears? How fun a life was that? Not much fun at all, according to her sister, who was younger but sometimes wiser.

As she and Ashton chatted about nothing in particular and certainly nothing deep or supercharged, Savvy couldn’t help but let the protective walls that she’d erected around herself come down a little bit more and then a little bit more beyond that. She stopped gulping the wine, and instead took small sips.

If she decided to share a bed with this man, she refused to make alcohol the villain. She wouldn’t tell herself in the morning that she’d done it because she’d been inebriated. She wanted to own her decision — whatever that decision was going to be.

Their meal was now finished and Ashton stood up. Maybe she didn’t have to make any decisions, she thought with something bordering on disappointment. Their night appeared to be over.

But Ash didn’t lead her to the door. He ushered her into another room, a small sitting area with a couch, a recliner, a television, and even a gas fireplace, which was already burning.

The lighting was turned down low, and Savvy didn’t protest when he grasped her hand gently and led her to the couch. He sat down and tugged her onto his lap. Oh, it felt far too good.

He said nothing as he leaned her head back so he could look into her eyes. There was a question in his, and she knew what he was asking. This was the big moment. She had to decide whether she was going to do what she wanted — or do what she knew would be smart.

When she felt his hardness pressing against her backside, a sigh escaped her throat, and she enjoyed the thrill of watching his eyes ignite. Testing this new power, this emerging sexuality surging through her, she wiggled her hips against his arousal, and he responded with a low groan.

“If you’re going to play with me, Savvy, you should be aware that I always win,” he growled. His hand came up and he clasped her hair, pulling her head back before he bent and kissed her throat — just a light trace of his lips and tongue against her skin.

She only wiggled her hips again in reply as her core heated and her heart pounded. Yes. She wanted this. But she wasn’t sure how to say that to him. She didn’t want to tell him she’d changed her mind. She just wanted him to kiss her, and for the next step to follow naturally. Spontaneously? She wasn’t sure, but she didn’t care anymore.

“I’m going to pick you up now and carry you into my room,” Ashton warned her. “If you want this to stop, Savvy, you will have to say so explicitly.”