Page 33 of The CEO
That’s exactly how she felt, standing on the edge of a very steep cliff, torn between wanting to jump into the warm, welcoming ocean below and experience the thrill of a lifetime, or let her feet fly for the predictable safety of the car.
With Zac tugging gently on her hand she had no option but to follow into the unknown with a man who had the power to unnerve her, while every self-preservation instinct insisted she should dig her heels in the sand.
ChapterEight
“Welcome to paradise,” Zac said, as they stopped beneath a coconut tree, the air fragrant with frangipani, the view picture perfect.
“How did you find this place?” Lana murmured, reluctant to disturb the tranquillity.
“Raj brought me here with his family.We had a picnic, swam in the lagoon, lazed around. It’s great being able to relax away from the tourists swarming the island.” He breathed in deeply and exhaled, a small smile playing about his mouth. “I come back every chance I get, though I’m usually alone.”
“So you haven’t brought a horde of women here before me?”
Though she kept her tone light, she knew some of her enjoyment would dissipate if he confirmed he’d brought countless others here.
“You’re the first.” He squeezed her hand. “I wouldn’t share this place with just anyone.”
Uh-oh, more of that defence-shattering charm bombarding her.
With a nervous smile, she slipped her hand from his. “You can’t resist the flattery. Aren’t I the lucky one?”
He laughed. “Come on, let’s go for a swim.” He pointed to a row of palm trees. “Let’s dump our stuff over there. I’ll test the water while you get changed.”
A great suggestion, as getting undressed in front of him would’ve made her beyond uncomfortable. Crazy, as he’d already seen her in bathers, but disrobing in front of someone implied intimacy. Besides, she’d taken another step down the confidence road today and worn the new bikini she’d bought in Noumea, and if the way he’d been staring at her over lunch was any indication, she’d be blushing from head to foot the first time he saw her in it.
She dropped her bag on the sand, whipped her dress over her head, kicked off her sandals, and rummaged in her bag for sunscreen. Just as she started to rub the lotion on her arm, he touched her hand.
“I can do that for you.”
She squeezed the tube so tight lotion spurted out the end in a noisy raspberry. “I’m fine. You go ahead, I’ll meet you out there shortly.”
He didn’t budge and held out his hand for the tube. “Unless you’re a contortionist I doubt you’ll be able to reach your back. This sun can burn you in less than ten minutes so let me help.”
He was right but the thought of him rubbing any part of her body made the skin behind her ears prickle in that annoying way only he and strawberries could elicit.
“I’m fine, really—”
“Damn, you’re a stubborn woman.” He snatched the lotion out of her hand and squeezed a healthy blob into his palm, raising an eyebrow when she frowned. “Now why don’t you play nice and lie face down on your towel?”
With an exaggerated huff she plopped on the towel, rested her forehead on her hands, and braced for the first cold dollop of lotion.
“I suppose you want me to thank you?”
He snickered. “You will.”
He thoughtfully warmed the lotion between his hands, though his first touch was as shocking, as electrifying, as if he’d squeezed the entire tube onto her back.
She gritted her teeth and tried to relax under his hands while her skin tingled everywhere he touched. She’d never been touched by a man like this before. Jax hadn’t been touchy-feely and his version of foreplay extended to a kiss and a fiddle down below.
She’d never experienced the luxury of a man’s warm hands gliding over her skin in languorous firm strokes, and as platonic as this was, she couldn’t help but enjoy it.
“You’re very tense,” he said, his voice gravelly.
“Must be the extra aerobic classes.” As if.
He didn’t ease the pressure, his hands stroking her back in long sweeps designed to be impersonal yet driving her mad with the sheer pleasure of it.
“Try to relax.”