* * *
He came for her at midnight.
He strolled across the sand, his shirt open at the neck, his feet bare. He looked dangerously handsome and more temptation than a woman should have to resist.
And she had no intention of resisting him.
‘We can play this two ways, Riggs,’ he said conversationally, coming to a halt just inches away from her. ‘We can leave right away and hope we make it back to the house, or I can just throw you down in the sand and have my wicked way with you here. Your choice.’
She caught the glitter in his blue eyes and her breath caught in her throat. ‘I’ve never been particularly into public displays,’ she murmured softly and he inclined his head and removed the plastic cup from her hand.
‘In that case, we’d better go now. While we still can.’ He tossed the cup into the nearest convenient bin and they strolled back along the beach towards the house.
Within minutes the music and laughter had faded into the darkness behind them and all they could hear was the hiss of the sea as it touched the sand.
They walked side by side, both barefoot, the atmosphere chok
ed with the heavy throb of anticipation. Neither of them spoke.
When they finally reached the foot of the steps, Sam paused to let her go first.
She hesitated, suddenly filled with a nervousness that she couldn’t explain. ‘Sam…’
His gaze locked on hers, his eyes burning. ‘I want you. Let’s go to bed.’
For a moment she faltered.
Whatever they shared wouldn’t last. She knew it couldn’t last. They clashed too violently, they both wanted their own way too badly. They were both too strong to be a good match.
But for now…
She swallowed and then turned and sprinted up the stairs, the knowledge that he was right behind her sending her pulse skyward.
They let themselves into the house and locked the door, and she was just going to suggest that they have a drink first when he took control.
His mouth was firm, possessive and she closed her eyes and gave a whimper of pleasure, acknowledging how much of the evening she’d spent longing for his kiss.
‘Much as I love the hot pink dress…’ his strong hands slid the straps down her arms ‘…it’s going to have to come off, Riggs.’
The feel of his fingers on her bare flesh made her shiver. ‘Maybe we should go upstairs.’ Her head tilted back and her eyes closed as he kissed his way down her neck.
‘Never make it that far.’
She felt the zip go on her dress and hot pink silk pooled at her feet. ‘Sam…’
He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the glass-fronted living room, refusing to let her finish her sentence. ‘Let yourself go, Anna.’
And she did.
She felt herself heat and melt under the touch of his hands, for once in her life relishing the fact that someone else was taking charge.
He laid her on the thick rug, his powerful body over hers, his hands peeling away her skimpy underwear with an impatience that made her gasp.
Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt but her hands were shaking too much to complete the task and she muttered something incoherent and yanked at the fabric, sending buttons flying.
His mouth was greedy on hers and he moved his shoulders and freed himself of his shirt, his breathing ragged as his hair-roughened chest made contact with the soft mounds of her breasts. The rest of his clothes followed and their bodies tangled and locked as they moved with an erotic desperation driven by a torment of need.
And then he drove himself into her. Hard and fast, he gave them what they both needed, any notion of control abandoned from the moment they’d entered the house. Dazed and desperate, she wrapped her legs around his slick skin and moved with him, wild excitement consuming every inch of her as he hurled her to the outer reaches of pleasure. She cried out and curled her nails into his back, held on and closed her eyes as she hurtled skyward in an orgasm so intense that for a moment she lost all grip on reality.