The Ultimate Playboy(70)

                For a moment, he thought his hearing was impaired. ‘What did you just say?’

                She shut her eyes and cursed as he’d only heard a true New Yorker curse. ‘I feel as if I’m skidding close to the edge of my control where you’re concerned. After Simon—’

                ‘I am not Simon,’ he grated out.

                She trembled. ‘Believe me, I know. But even though I keep telling myself what a bad idea this is, I can’t stop myself from...wanting you.’

                The blunt delivery made his eyes widen. ‘You realise how much power you’re giving me by telling me?’

                ‘Yes. But I’m hoping you won’t take undue advantage of it.’

                Slowly, he set the bottle down. ‘Come here.’

                ‘Did I not just mention undue advantage?’

                ‘Come here and we’ll see if the advantage is undue or not.’

                * * *

                Ruby stood slowly and stepped towards him, fighting for a clear breath as he loomed large, powerful and excruciatingly addictive before her. Her skin burned where he cradled her hips in his palms.

                ‘What do you want, Ruby?’ he rasped.

                She looked into his face and every self-preservation instinct fled.

                She’d never met a man like Narciso Valentino before. Everything she’d found out about him in the last few days had blown her expectations of him sky-high.

                His name might indicate self-absorption but she was learning he was anything but. He could’ve reported her to Zeus when he’d found out she’d applied to be a Petit Q under false pretences. He could’ve sent her packing after she told him about his company owing her. Stopping himself from seducing her and his generosity with the clothes coupled with his easy companionship this morning as they’d scuba-dived at one of the most beautiful places in the world had shown her that Narciso could be nothing like his name.

                Little by little, the traits she’d discovered had whittled at her defences.

                And now...

                ‘As crazy and stupid as it is, I want to kiss you more than I want to breathe.’

                Dear God, what was wrong with her?

                ‘Dio mio.’ He sounded strained...disarmed, as if she’d knocked his feet from under him.

                She ought to pull back, retreat to the safety of her cabin. Instead, she took his face in her hands, leaned forward and kissed him.

                His grunt of desire slammed into her before he seized her arms. Leaning back against the lounger, he tugged her on top of him. Strong arms imprisoned her as he moulded her body to his.

                The evidence of arousal against her belly was unmistakable, gave her strength she hadn’t known existed. She plunged her tongue into his mouth, felt the stab of pleasure when he jerked beneath her and groaned long and deep.

                Firm hands angled her head for a deeper penetration that made her pulse thud a hundred times faster.

                He made love to her with his mouth, lapping at her lips with long strokes that pulled at the hot, demanding place between her legs.