Page 31 of Grand Escape
Leaning back, he said, “Just to clarify, the delicious part was you. The meal was good, but this is much better.”
And then his lips met mine again.
We stood there kissing a while longer as our hands explored. I dropped my hand to his ass, and in the most ridiculously wanton way ever, I squeezed the shit out of it. His palm found purchase on my hip, kneading and gripping, his desire clear from his hold on me.
Just when I thought I couldn’t behave any less like myself, I whispered, “Do you want to come in?”
I’d never done this. Ever. I’d been to a few other people’s places, but my villa was personal. Sacred, almost.
“I do,” he mumbled against my lips, and goose bumps rose on my skin.
As I turned to unlock my door, Adam tugged on my hand, stopping me.
“I do, but I can’t. I get this isn’t your normal MO. Plus, I’m so hot for you, I need to cool down so I don’t rush you. I don’t want you to regret it later.”
Swallowing my regret for coming on too strong, I tried to form a comeback as his gaze remained focused on me. It was unwavering, the electricity still sparking between us.
I nodded, giving him this.
Maybe it was the pragmatic lawyer in Adam that made him stop, or the heartbroken fool, or maybe the decent older brother who was still in mourning. Regardless, though, he was right.
“Thanks for a great night,” I said as cheerfully as I could, and kissed him on the cheek before disappearing behind my door.
With my cheeks flaming and desire pulsing between my legs, I fell on my bed. Still in my date-night clothes, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Eventually, I fell asleep to passionate visions of Adam having his way with me.
Adam
“Morning,” Tony muttered through clenched teeth as the sun peeked over the horizon the next morning.
“Is that how you greet all the guests?” I snapped back. After the night I’d had, I wasn’t in the mood for his bullshit.
Sexual frustration burned in my veins—hot enough my own hand couldn’t quell it—but I wasn’t the kind of guy who pushed. Rylan’s body might have hummed yes, but her mind spinning was loud enough for me to hear. She’d thrown caution signs along the whole path back to her villa, and I would wait for her to be sure.
Maybe it wouldn’t happen before I went home, and that was the risk I was taking. But I was a no-regrets kind of guy, and pushing a woman beyond what she was ready for was a regret I didn’t want to have.
That didn’t mean I was in the mood to deal with her guy friend, who looked like he wanted to shoot daggers at my head.
This morning, oranges and amber hues melted behind Tony, brightening the sky, shouting of hope and promise, and I understood what Rylan loved about this place. Even if you were dead on the inside, there was no denying the feeling of life that the Caymans couldn’t help but evoke. I got why this was her refuge from whatever hell she’d escaped.
Tony smoothed his expression. “Morning, Mr. Stern,” he said evenly, greeting me again.
“Morning, Tony,” I said, perversely waiting for him to ask why I was standing in front of him at dawn.
“Looking for a running partner?” he asked, taking the bait.
“Dressed like this?” I asked sarcastically, glancing down at my white shorts and crisp white polo. “No, I’d like to play golf. The front desk said you may know someone who could snag me a last-minute tee time over at the North South Club.”
Tony nodded as he walked toward the valet stand. “Ry knows Pete too. You could’ve asked her to make the call,” he grumbled while picking up his phone.
I didn’t have time to think about much other than Pete and Ry. Who was he, and why did Rylan know him?
Noticing how I’d tensed up, Tony smirked at me. “Don’t let your mind go into overdrive, pretty boy. Pete may like you more than Rylan.”
Well, that was a relief with the thunderous hormones roiling through my body.
“You certainly have no problem spilling other people’s secrets,” I said to Tony.