Page 56 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8
He shrugged. ‘I’ll think about it.’
That stung, as he’d probably intended. Still, pride kept her chin up as she returned to the deck with him, where a long table was immaculately laid with tall and short lit candles, silver tableware and crystal glassware.
He went to the top of the table, pulled out the seat at his right hand. Willow couldn’t stop the disarming warmth that bloomed anew in her chest, even as she berated herself for not heeding the danger in swimming in these weighty feelings.
But it’ll be only for a little while, because this thing we’re doing isn’t going to last much longer. Right?
‘Oh...hey, I thought I was over there...’
The loud voice distracted her from her unsettling thoughts. Nick was frowning at his place setting halfway down the table, his slight swaying announcing that he’d imbibed a fair amount.
An annoyed rumble from Jario startled her but when she glanced at him, his expression had settled into suave neutrality.
Easy conversation flowed among the guests, the mouthwatering Balinese dishes, superb wine and the flickers of stars above their heads aiding easy conversation, regrettably interspersed with lewd jokes from Nick mostly aimed at the unfortunate woman next to him.
Jario’s fingers drummed on the table just loud enough to get Nick’s attention as the man leaned obnoxiously closer to the woman. ‘Is there something wrong with your seat, Mr Matthews? You seem to be having problems staying in it. I can have it removed if you wish?’ he drawled with steel in his voice.
The table fell silent, aware that Jario hadn’t suggestedreplacingsaid chair.
Nick flushed tomato red, straightened, grabbed his wineglass and gulped down another mouthful. ‘No, you’re all right,’ he mumbled.
‘Muy bien.’
Conversation resumed a fraction stiltedly, but Jario appeared entirely unconcerned. His glance swung to her, catching the mouth twitch she tried to hide. He slanted her a droll glance as he refilled her wineglass.
‘You were talking to him earlier. Do you find him amusing?’ he murmured.
Bolstered by several sips of wine, she returned his stare. ‘Not particularly. I prefer men with a little more...substance.’
‘Glad to hear it.’
She raised a brow. ‘Is this you metaphorically thumping your chest and pissing on your territory? A little primitive for me but by all means, you do you.’
His nostrils flared but her heart fluttered to see a different heat filling his eyes. She knew she was fooling herself by believing the episode in her cabin had been forgotten. ‘I always do,pequeña.’
She hated that his response left her on a knife’s edge for the rest of the evening. Hated that even though the atmosphere between them remained charged, his hand on her waist, her hip, in the small of her back, smoothing a strand of hair behind her ear before his fingers drifted briefly over the pulse racing at her throat, also kept her breathless and yearning.
That mood prevailed as he called an end to the dinner at midnight. The last guest was barely off the deck when he wrapped his hand around her wrist and tugged her firmly towards the steps.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Taking your advice. What was it you said—you do you?’
Heat arrowed between her legs, but she resisted his pull and disentangled herself from his hold, immediately missing his heat when he stepped back. ‘You know what I meant. You’re deliberately twisting it to suit your purposes.’
He shrugged. ‘I’m still taking you to bed. Now.’
She glanced at his outreached hand. The resolution etched on his face. ‘We need to talk about what you heard. And a hell of a lot more. You can’t use sex to shut me up every time you don’t like something I say.’
His hand remained extended, one eyebrow rising to join the sheer challenge brimming from him. ‘Can’t I?’
As she kicked herself for the deep yearning that racked her body, for the traitorous gasp that left her lips when he swung her into his arms, she vowed to wean herself off the insanity.
Please, God.Soon.
But, she amended as her arms curved around his neck and her fingers spiked into his hair,not tonight.
Three soul-shaking hours later, their bodies slicked with sweat, she gazed into his fierce blue eyes. He’d taken her with an edge that’d left her breathless, but she’d felt his bewilderment, as if he was stunned by what was unfolding between them. Perhaps his inability to resist it?