She leaned forward, her lips brushing against the edge of his cheek. ‘One more race, then. First back to the beach.’
He froze, still in place in the water; between the feel of her lips on his cheek and the press of her breasts against his chest as she did that, he’d pretty much lost the ability to concentrate at all.
She let go quickly, turning in the water and heading back to shore. He took a few moments, watching her go. When was the last time this had happened to him?
He’d dated plenty of women—he hadn’t picked up the title of Playboy Prince for nothing—but he’d never dated anyone that clean took his breath away. He’d just never thought that was possible. More like an old wives’ tale that people liked to mention to pretend just ‘how in love’ they were with their spouse or current partner.
He’d never really believed those sensations actually existed. But here, right in the middle of the cold South China Sea, he’d just had an awakening. He’d learned something new.
And he didn’t know quite what to do with it.
She was slicing through the waves like a mermaid and it brought him to his senses. He crawled lazily along behind, no chance of catching up, while his brain churned with a whole host of new emotions.
Philippe Aronaz wasn’t used to being wrong-footed. He was always in control.
He watched as Arissa waded out of the water and turned to watch him, shaking her head with her hands on her hips. She picked up the red dress and held it in front of her as he waded out behind her and walked across the sand.
He was conscious of every bead of water dripping from his skin—just as he was conscious of the rivulets of water running down the length of her. ‘Come on.’ She nodded back towards the bungalow. ‘I’ll get you a towel.’
She turned and started walking towards the pale yellow house. He was slow to pick up his shirt and jeans as he watched her retreating form dressed only in her underwear.
His mind could go so many places right now. And to be honest, he wanted it to. But deep down, his internal voice was screaming at him. Don’t take things for granted. Don’t move too soon.
Arissa Cotter was special. He didn’t want to assume anything. Just because she’d let her guard down a little tonight, and just because she’d moved next to him—touched him—didn’t mean anything.
Somehow he wanted to do everything right around her.
He walked slowly back to her house. She met him at the door with a big blue fluffy towel that she thrust towards him. ‘Dry off in there.’ She gestured towards her bathroom, before disappearing into her bedroom with a towel of her own.
His body almost let out a growl. But he shook his head and took himself into the bathroom, drying off and re-dressing—even though it was the last thing he wanted to do.
By the time he emerged, Arissa was standing in the middle of her living room, dressed in a baggy green T-shirt and jersey shorts. Her hair was still damp and curled around her shoulders.
‘Okay?’ she asked.
‘Of course,’ seemed the natural reply. All of a sudden a wave of awkwardness swept over him. He could say something. He could ask the question. He could ask her what she wanted to happen next. But in the dim light of her bungalow, and the small space of her living room, it didn’t seem quite right. It almost felt a bit intrusive, and the last thing he wanted her to feel was any pressure.
‘Thank you for tonight,’ he said softly. ‘I had a great time.’ He took a few steps towards the door.
‘I did too.’ Her reply was so quiet he almost didn’t hear it, his hand already on the doorknob. He pulled it open. The sun had finally vanished leaving the semi-dark sky sprinkled with glistening white stars.
As he turned back she’d moved right behind him.
He could have stopped. He could have said something clever. But instead he let his instincts take over and he bent, capturing the back of her head in his hands, letting his fingers slide through her damp curls and tugging her mouth towards his.
They both tasted of the ocean, both still smelling of the tang of the sea. But the scent was heady, wrapping around them as her hands slid up around his neck.
She didn’t object, her kiss matching his in every way.