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There was a silence before he answered.‘We let it rest.Then do it again.’He let go of her and she sensed him step back.
For a split second she felt relief and then she just felt cold.It took every ounce of inner strength not to turn around and fling herself in his arms like some desperate, clinging female.
Instead she inhaled deeply and turned, trying once more for cool confidence.But then she saw he’d only stepped a little bit away.Now he blocked her path and his eyes were burning.She didn’t know what to do or say, but the intense look was slowly killing her.
‘Let’s go back to the deck,’ he muttered, but not moving.
‘Are you going to let me past?’
‘Maybe.For a price.’The reply dragged from him was so low she had to step closer to hear.
‘How much?’She was willing to pay an awful lot.
‘A kiss.’
‘Just one?’Not brave enough to admit to what she wanted the answer to be.
‘For now.’
The intensity didn’t lighten at all and there was no smile as he stepped forward.She almost stepped back but his hands went to her shoulders, stopping her flight.
Finally.
Seven long days since they’d touched and it was all she’d been able to think about in that time.At last she was going to get it again—and more.She lifted her face, lips parted, eyelids lowered to half-mast.He slid his hands down her arms, pinning them to her sides, not letting her put them round his neck the way she ached to.Encapsulating her fists in his own, he lowered his head, slowly, staring into her eyes, dropping his attention to lips that she knew would look red—every cell and nerve ending in them was begging for him.
There was no sweet exploration this time.It was straight into plunder territory, with her demanding as much from him.
She felt his grip tighten, felt him take that small step closer.She ached to press right against him.But just as she was about to sway forward he lifted his head with a groan.She blinked, opened her eyes and saw the slight uncertainty in his.
She leaned forward for more, but he gently pushed her back from him.‘Just one, remember?’
He didn’t quite meet her eye, didn’t smile, just moved her to the side, and stepped forward to the bench.He picked up the ball of dough and placed it back into the bowl, brushed it with oil, covering it carefully with a clean cloth with all the focus and deliberation of a neurosurgeon performing the most complex procedure.
Ridiculously, she felt jealous of the time he took over it.She wanted all that care and attention for herself.He could still think about a loaf of bread after a kiss like that?Something had stopped him.What?And why?
Hell, maybe she could add premature menopause to her list of women’s problems.All this hot and cold business was sending her crazy.
Six
Cally stoodalong the edge of the pool and stared longingly at the water.
‘Want to swim?’
‘I don’t have a swimsuit with me.’
‘And that’s a problem because?’Blake was back, in control and wicked with it.‘It’s a very private pool.I don’t often bother with shorts myself.’
The flush blanketed her body from tip to toe—as if a hot red sheet had slowly been drawn over her.He watched and the wicked look widened to a smile.
‘You sure you don’t want to cool down?’
She turned, anger flaring.‘You’re the one who needs to cool down.’She pushed, totally catching him by surprise, and he tumbled straight in.
The satisfaction at seeing the splash was sublime.The giggles burst out.She delighted at seeing him toppled for once, watching as he stretched out under the water, turning around and heading back to the edge at which she stood.
She made sure she stepped back just far enough out of arm’s reach.She underestimated.In a move that totally surprised her he leapt from the water, easily hooking his arm around her knees and heaving her over his shoulder so she went head first into the pool.It was not a graceful entry—her arms and legs were in all directions and she knew the splash was spectacular.She sank deep and took her time about coming up.When she surfaced he was standing, chest-deep and looking fiery.
‘You deserve a real dunking for that, my sweet,’ he warned, peeling his tee shirt off his head.
