He shook his head. ‘That’s not the same.’
‘I trust you enough to go diving with you. And to want you to stay tonight.’
‘And what don’t you trust about me?’ He tipped her chin with one finger, kissing her lips lightly.
‘My work’s always...something separate. I have to go wherever it leads me.’
He nodded, dropping kisses onto her neck. ‘I understand that. We’re very different people and I’m not sure that we’ll ever be able to reconcile our lifestyles.’
That was a nice way of saying that she was a workaholic. Right now, none of their differences seemed to matter. Caro kissed him, and his response told her that it didn’t matter to him either.
‘I want to make love to you, Caro. For the rest of the afternoon and...then again this evening. And tonight...’
‘That’s enough, isn’t it?’ It would always have to be enough. Caro didn’t know how to trust that a lover might truly become a part of her life any more.
‘Right now, it feels more than enough.’
When he kissed her again, the ache for him went into overdrive, blinding Caro to everything else. He was slowly picking her apart, owning everything. It was so much more than just blinding physical pleasure this time because she knew that they understood each other.
‘Can we go to the bedroom now?’ She wanted the luxury of stretching out on the large bed, knowing that Drew wouldn’t be struggling to balance.
He nodded. ‘Then you can tell me exactly what’s on your mind. And I’ll tell you what’s on mine.’
* * *
Drew couldn’t believe this was happening. He’d wanted Caro from the first time he’d seen her. Had told himself that he couldn’t have her. Known for sure that he couldn’t have her, and then... She’d told him that she wanted him. And then they’d found a way to be together that didn’t compromise either of them.
Her bedroom was all creams and neutral colours. The kind of room that took its only life from the people who were in it, and the colour of the sea and sky outside the large windows. The only piece of her was the stone he’d given her from the seabed, displayed proudly on the bedside table.
She didn’t rush him. He was still a little uncomfortable about the scars on his leg, and she didn’t make a thing about him showing them before he was ready. She stripped off his coat and sweater, hurling them at a large wicker chair that stood in the corner. Then her own sweater, which missed the chair and landed on the floor. Caro took a little more time over his shirt, undoing one button at a time. They lay on the bed together, exploring all the subtly different ways that a woman could kiss a man and a man could kiss her back.
‘Would you like to take a shower?’ She ran her finger across his chest, and he felt a wake of sensation follow its path.
‘And wash off the sea...?’
‘No. I love the taste of salt on your skin. And your scent.’ She trailed her tongue along the path that her finger had just taken, and Drew felt his whole body begin to stiffen. ‘I’m giving a gentle hint that I want to see a little more of you. Maybe you want to see a littl
e more of me?’
‘I want to do more than just see a little more of you.’
She laughed, wriggling away from him off the bed, and disappearing into the en suite bathroom. The sound of running water, and then she appeared in the doorway again. Naked.
‘Come here...’ He choked the words out.
‘No. You come here.’
He was on his feet, pulling off his jeans and undershorts before he’d even thought about it. Her gaze dropped, but she clearly wasn’t interested in his leg. That was okay, he wasn’t embarrassed at showing her just how much he wanted her.
She let him watch as she soaped her body. It felt as if he should be on his knees before her, but it was Caro who bent to wash his legs, her fingers skimming over the scars as if they were of no consequence to her. He towelled her dry, kissing her at every opportunity, before he followed her back into the bedroom.
His knee twisted and he stumbled. Almost fell, before he grabbed at the footboard of the bed to steady himself. Suddenly he felt weak again, as if it had just been a fantasy that he could take back everything he’d once had.
Caro didn’t make a move to help him. In fact, she moved back, swinging her legs up onto the bed and shifting to lean against the pillows.
‘Hurry up, Drew...’
She didn’t see him as weak or in need of any pity. Forgetting all about his leg, Drew slid onto the bed, pulling her towards him.