Until only his lazy kicks kept them afloat.
Until Zak suspected nothing would douse the flames leaping within him save for the ultimate act. The thought staggered him, made him wonder if he was willing to take things that far.
Si, his charged libido insisted. She’d accepted his challenge.
Perhaps he needed to prove his own point, deliver a message to the Barringhalls and every grasping leech out there that the Montegovas weren’t to be trifled with.
They were both consenting adults. Even if one of them exuded innocence that hinted she might be unschooled in some aspects of sex.
Again the thought sent a pulse of primitive possession smashing through him, even though he refused to believe it. Made his caresses bolder, hungrier as he cupped her breast and toyed mercilessly with the stiff peak. Her unfettered shiver and sharp cry drove him even further into insanity. Drowned him in the urge to devour her.
He growled in protest when her fingers slid out of his hair. About to command her to return them, to pull tighter...harder, he stopped when she dropped her hands to his shoulders. Anticipating more, Zak trailed his lips down her throat, tongued that leaping pulse he’d been thirsting for all evening. Gratified when she gave another delicious shudder.
Right before she altered her touch. The hands on his shoulders weren’t caressing. They were insistently pushing him away. A little stunned, he watched her kick away from him. ‘Is that enough for you? Are you convinced now?’ she asked, her voice passion-husky but determined.
‘No, I’m not. Because that wasn’t enough, mia bella,’ he growled, lunging forward to recapture her. Drag her close once more. ‘Not nearly enough.’
Electrifying sensation threatened to douse the warning signs flashing through Violet’s brain as Zak lowered his head. The thought of experiencing his explosive kiss once more, of feeling his tongue and teeth and lips saturate her senses made her whole body grow weak, wantonly needy.
It was a good thing he still held onto her or Violet was sure she’d be a useless lump at the bottom of the pool right now.
He drew closer still, his sensual lips a tempting whisper away.
Dear God, what was she doing?
Proving a point. But one that she’d already proven, surely?
Not nearly enough.
His words echoed in her head, louder, more insistent, eroding her common sense. Because he was right. That taste hadn’t been nearly enough. All it’d done was rake over every dampener she’d put over her emotions and reawakened them so rudely, so effortlessly it’d set her whole body on fire.
Now the very thought of walking, or swimming away, felt like an insurmountable task. One that would be made easier by giving in one more time?
She ignored the voice mocking her logic, made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a whimper when he held himself that last scant inch away. Ruthlessly teasing? Or perhaps as unsure as she was?
She ventured a glance into his eyes. And was met with blazing arousal that left her in no doubt that Zak was as into this as she was. Still, his lips brushed furtively over hers. Sizzling but way too brief.
With a helpless groan she sealed her lips to his once more, ignoring his grunt of pure male satisfaction.
Just once more. One more minute and she’d end this insanity.
They strained against one another, determined to best each other in this battle of wills and kisses that required a victor. When the hot steel rod of his arousal imprinted itself against her belly, she whimpered some more, a driven urge to touch him, stroke him driving her hand beneath the water.
At her first touch, he tore his lips from hers. Eyes dark and mysterious in the failing light raked over her face. At first, Violet thought the thundering in her ears would surely deafen her. Until she realised they’d swum right up to the waterfall.
She blinked against the drops pelting her face, gasped softly when Zak’s large hand framed her jaw, tilted her head upward to meet her gaze. Without releasing her, the arm banding her waist lifted her onto one flat boulder.
He moved between her legs, ferocious intent in his eyes.
She wanted to compare this moment to those in her mother’s garden six years ago, but Violet knew she couldn’t.
For one thing, the cool reserve lurking in his eyes then was nowhere in sight now. The hands trailing up her knees to frame her hips were possessive, purposeful enough to convince her that he wasn’t about to stop any time soon. That unless she stopped it this time, Zak was fully intent on accepting whatever she gave.
His gaze dropped from hers to trail a fiery path down her throat to the agitated rise and fall of her breasts. One hand moved from her hip, up her ribcage to rest beneath one breast. Momentarily freed from his gaze, she glanced around her.
He’d set her down on a flat boulder large enough to recline on, solid enough to take both their weight. And with the thundering waterfall now shielding them from the outside world, it seemed like the perfect place for a seduction.
Was this what he’d intended all along?