Nervously she ran her tongue over her lips, coming into contact with the rough pad of his thumb. His skin tasted salty and warm, making her wonder what other tastes and textures awaited her. She wanted Mike with a depth of feeling that surpassed mere passion. As she contemplated those rampant emotions, she feared she had been wrong. Perhaps it was too late. For a lot of things.
Slowly, he removed his hand from her soft lips. “When you said feast, you weren’t kidding.” He pointed to the table. With difficulty, Mike changed the topic to more mundane issues. Like food.
Her forehead creased in confusion and she fingered her bangs in the nervous gesture he’d come to anticipate and enjoy at the same time. Mike stilled her hand with his and groaned. He’d had no choice but to stop. Every time he kissed her, her honest, open response startled him. When they made love—and he didn’t kid himself that it might not happen—he wanted her acceptance to be made knowingly. Not in the throes of passion. After his glimpse into her innermost fears, he owed her at least that.
“You liked the dinner?” she finally asked, regaining her composure.
“Loved it. I can’t remember the last time someone cooked for me.”
“As it turned out, you did the cooking.”
“Yeah, but only because their screams of pain didn’t bother me.”
He winked and she tossed a paper napkin at him. “Chicken,” he teased.
“Maybe.” She shrugged and began clearing the table. With his help, Carly collected the plates and ext
ra food and carried everything into the kitchen. She looked at the pile of dishes in the sink and sighed. “The perils of eating in.”
“Now that everything’s inside, can cleanup wait?” he asked.
“I guess so. Why?”
“You up for a walk on the beach?” Mike extended one hand, silently asking her to meet him halfway. They might take that stroll on the beach, but he wanted much more. He had little doubt she knew exactly how much.
Her brown eyes narrowed. He hoped she was searching her heart.
“As long as I don’t end up rolling in sand again.” Her full lips turned upward in a provocative grin. “It took me forever to get the sand out of my shorts.”
“Okay. I promise you won’t roll around in the sand.” He met her gentle gaze. “But I can’t promise you won’t be rolling around somewhere... more comfortable.”
He scanned her face for some positive sign. She smiled and placed her hand in his.
“I always had doubts about that beach scene in From Here to Eternity.” She gave an exaggerated shudder. “All that sand and water. Hard to imagine how they maneuvered.” She wrapped her fingers around his. “I’ll bet there are plenty of rooms in this house that can accommodate us.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
She nodded. “I’m sure.” From the hungry look in her eyes, he knew the walk on the beach would have to wait.
EIGHT
With her nerves stretched to the breaking point, Carly followed him into the bedroom in the back of the house. She gazed at the king-sized water bed in awe and trepidation. “This is incredible.”
“Next best thing to the beach.” Mike released her hand long enough to shut the bedside lamp.
With the shades open and the sun still in the process of setting, the room was cast into a dusky glow. Her gaze took in the unfamiliar space. Suddenly she was all too aware of the large bed.
“Did I give you too much time to think?” he asked, approaching her from behind. His hands brushed her hair off her shoulders as he placed a soft kiss on her neck.
She trembled and closed her eyes, heightening the pleasurable sensation. “Maybe.”
The sound of his retreating footsteps was followed by the crush of leather as he sunk into the beanbag chair in the corner. Silence surrounded them, but she wasn’t inclined to break it, not yet. She needed these precious minutes and he seemed to understand. She pushed back the hair from her face.
If she hadn’t slept with her fiancé, why would she contemplate making love with Mike? She thought of his laugh, his smile, and the way he knew how to listen, then retreat without saying too much. He seemed to respect her feelings, even if he didn’t comprehend the reasons behind them.
In the ensuing silence, she forced her mind to function, and the conclusions she reached were staggering. If she wasn’t in love with him, she was well on her way. She knew the damage emotional involvement could cause, had avoided it this long. Especially with a man like him. So what now?
She swallowed hard and turned. In the shadows, she made out his masculine form reclining on the floor. A seagull screeched in the distance. Mike reached one hand toward her and waited.