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‘For a walk. And some privacy.’ His eyes were amused. ‘Why are you embarrassed? This is a social gathering, not work. We’re engaged. We’re supposed to want to be alone together.’
Alone together. Her insides
suddenly squirmed in a strange fashion. She’d been alone with Mark on countless occasions, but suddenly when he said it like that it seemed intimate and personal. Being alone with Mark as her ‘lover’ didn’t seem the same as being alone with Mark as her friend.
They walked to the first cave and peered inside, avoiding the drips that fell from the roof at regular intervals.
‘How far back do you think it goes?’ Holly murmured, peering into the darkness towards the back of the cave.
‘Goodness knows, and I don’t intend to find out.’ Mark reached up and touched the damp, jagged rocks. ‘The tide’s on the way in and these caves fill up at high tide.’
Holly gazed at the sea and shuddered. ‘Awful to be trapped. Just imagine...’
‘I’d rather not if you don’t mind. Oops.’ His voice was soft, his handsome face shadowed by the cave. ‘We’re under observation. Caroline’s followed us. Time for some serious canoodling, I think.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous! We can’t!’ Holly’s heart stumbled in her chest. Serious canoodling? What exactly did he have in mind?
His eyes dropped to her mouth and for endless seconds he studied her, his breathing steady and even. Holly stood frozen to the spot, her brain refusing to function, her thought processes jammed by the sudden tension between them.
And then he lowered his head slowly, almost hesitantly, as if he wasn’t totally committed to what he was doing, wasn’t totally convinced that it was right, despite his carefree attitude. When their mouths were separated by only a breath he paused and she felt a sharp current shoot through her lower body, leaving her limbs trembling and weak. Dear God, what was the matter with her? He hadn’t even touched her yet. It was just the anticipation...
And then he did touch her. Softly at first, his mouth tasted hers. Gently. So gently. Teasing and coaxing a response from her. He held her firmly and his kiss was a carefully controlled, purposeful seduction designed to make her knees tremble and her insides spark. His mouth moved on hers with the sure, confident touch of a man who knew exactly how to kiss a woman, and it was nothing like any kiss Holly had ever had before. It was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Until it stopped.
He lifted his head suddenly and stared down at her, an odd expression in his dark eyes as they locked with hers.
Her heart thumping, Holly found her voice. ‘Has she gone?’
‘Gone?’ For a moment he looked blank and then his eyes flicked up briefly and he glanced over her shoulder.
‘Mark?’
Why wasn’t he saying anything? ‘Is she still watching?’
He seemed to hesitate for a brief second and then, without giving her an answer, his head came down and he kissed her again.
Only this time it was different.
This time, instead of a carefully orchestrated seduction, it was as if he couldn’t help himself. He kissed her as if she was a temptation that he couldn’t resist, his kiss rough and dominating, possessively male, arousing a storm of sensation which made her gasp against his mouth and curl her slim fingers into the front of his shirt for support.
How could a kiss feel like this? Like an explosion of fireworks inside her body, like an electric shock that shook every one of her senses?
As if acknowledging her need, his arm tightened protectively and his free hand slid into her hair and tilted her face, giving him better access to her mouth. This close, she was aware of every inch of him, aware of his hard thighs pressed against her softer ones, aware of his strength as he held her, aware of her thudding heart and her trembling limbs.
Oblivious to everything except the way he made her feel, she gave a tiny moan and wound her arms round his strong neck, feeling his hair brushing her fingertips. Lost in a swirling mist of desire, Holly gave in to the demands of his mouth, totally unable to do anything but respond. For the first time in her life she knew what it was like to be thoroughly kissed, and the experience left her weak and shaking.
When he finally lifted his head, she clutched at him dizzily, her breathing uneven.
‘I gather she was still watching.’ Her voice was husky and decidedly unsteady and she blushed furiously, hoping he wouldn’t notice just how much his touch had affected her.
‘Watching...?’ He took a deep breath and glanced over her shoulder, his expression unreadable. ‘Oh...yes.’
She swallowed, wondering when he was going to let her go. His strong arms still held her firmly against the solid muscle of his chest as if he was reluctant to release her. Which could only mean that Caroline was still there.
‘Has she gone?’ Standing in the protective circle of his arms felt so good—too good—but she knew it couldn’t last. That it wasn’t real. ‘Mark?’
‘What?’ He stared down at her and his eyes locked with hers for endless seconds. Then he released her. ‘Yes, she’s gone. Greg dragged her away. She looked pretty upset.’
Mark’s voice sounded oddly strained and he strode to the edge of the cave, his back towards her, his broad shoulders tense.
