Five
Emerson
I was a masochist. And maybe, a sadist, too, because I was getting off on Fray’s reaction to me. Yet, I knew there was no way we could pursue this tension between us. Not tonight anyway.
But I was torn. I was just as afraid of not being able to behave as he was, but there was no way I could let him sleep on the sofa. It was way too short for his six-foot something frame, and he’d paid a gazillion dollars for this suite.
Yes, I’d checked to see what exactly my prize was worth when I considered if I could ditch it or not. So the man was not paying five-figures to sleep on anything but a bed.
“Use that bedding to make a Great Wall of China in the center of the mattress. You’re not sleeping on the couch.” I pivoted toward the bathroom. “I’m going to get ready for bed.”
“Emerson…”
“Full disclosure two,” I said, digging out what I needed to change into and hoping my nightshirt wasn’t too ratty or revealing. “Don’t make me mad. You wouldn’t like me when I’m mad.”
“Okay, Hulk.”
“Glad to see you like old TV shows as much as I do.”
“ Like might not be the term I’d use. Stuck at my grandparents’ cabin with no cable and a bunch of old VCR tapes is more like it.”
I laughed. “Not even DVDs? The inhumanity.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Build the wall, McGuiver,” I instructed, nodding toward the bed.
“I liked him,” he called after me as I shut the bathroom door.
When I returned a few minutes later, Fray stood beside the bed. “I didn’t know which side you’d want.”
“Doesn’t matter. I doubt I’ll sleep much.”
“Look, I can still—”
“It’s the water. We’ve made it out to open sea, a bit away from the shoreline. Can’t you feel the difference?” Seriously, we’d gone from a gentle almost imperceptible rocking I could ignore to a genuine sway that felt as if we were making up and down figure eights through the water.
“Are you okay?” he asked urgently.
“I took Dramamine, earlier,” I assured him. Motion sickness wasn’t my problem. It was the insidious reminder we were on the water. Deep, deep water.
“I’ll just take this side,” I said quickly as I surged toward the nearest edge. My legs were beginning to feel like rubber because I was so unaccustomed to the sensation of being on the ocean.
Quickly, I burrowed beneath the covers, my back to the beautiful temptation sharing the bed with me. I heard him sigh then felt him climb into the bed, the blankets shifting a little despite the “wall” between us. My hand fisted in my pillow. More than anything, I wanted him to toss the barrier to the ground and pull me into his arms. Somehow, I knew his embrace would make me feel safe instead of completely at sea.
* * * *
Mmm…my pillow felt nice beneath my cheek. Warm, soft…yet firm…and it smelled so—
Holy crap! My eyes flew open then widened even more at the sight of the hard pec right in front of my face.
“Oh my God,” I breathed. How did I…? What did I…? Oh my God!
Fray’s arms tightened around me. My first thought was Wow, his arms do feel good. The second was Fray’s arms are around me! Help!
I did need assistance because right now, I never wanted to move. And that could be a problem.
“Good morning,” he murmured into my hair then kissed the top of my head.
“Um, okay. How did I end up here? Where’s the other bedding?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care. Not complaining.”
He rolled me onto my back, coming partially over me, then pressed his lips to mine, devouring my mouth while I melted. My arms circled his shoulders while I kissed him back with equal fervor. When I turned, throwing a leg over him in an attempt to get closer, he pulled back. Damn, his gentlemanly ways. I knew he wanted to let loose. I felt it almost as strongly as I felt my own need. And it should scare me since I’d never gone that far with someone I barely knew, but it didn’t. With Fray, my fear molecule just didn’t seem to exist.
His fingers buried in my hair, and he drew my mouth back to his.
“Good morning,” he repeated against my lips. “Ready to start our adventure?”
“We forgot to pick our excursions last night.” I stared up into his dark eyes, thinking I might like to take a trip there. We could just stay here. I could explore the glory of Fraser Cassel.
Wow, apparently, my inner sex goddess had come along for this vacation.
Fray let me go when I pulled back, trying to come to my senses. I needed to move away before I was reeled in by his Death Star tractor beam. It’s a trap, Emerson!
I mentally shook my head at my ridiculousness. Fray would figure out what a nerd I was much sooner than later, though I suspected he might be on to me already since I often communicated with movie references.
“It’s okay,” he told me. “I picked some stuff after you fell asleep. If you want to change anything, we can.”
“Okay,” I agreed, kind of excited to see what he’d selected. He’d seemed properly horrified by my fear of water, so I was pretty sure it was safe to say he hadn’t picked snorkeling or swimming with sharks or anything.
I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the mattress then froze at the pile of bedding on the floor near my feet. On the ground on my side of the bed.
“I didn’t do that,” I claimed, staring at it.
“You sure?” he asked, not bothering to mask his amusement.
Nope. No. I wasn’t sure.
“Yes.” I turned, crossing my arms over the perky nipples poking against my thin nightshirt. “But nice try attempting to blame it on me.”
He smirked. We both knew he’d had nothing to do with it.
It looked as if I needed to have a stern talk with my subconscious self who’d eliminated our Great Wall while I was sleeping.
* * * *
“So what are we doing?” I asked once we were safely on land. I was dressed in tiny denim shorts and a T-shirt over my bikini that I’d honestly thought I wouldn’t wear on the trip. Now, I wasn’t wearing for Fray. I wasn’t. But I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when I shed my shorts and tee. And shoes. Fray had insisted I have on good walking shoes, too.
He laced his much larger fingers through mine. “Well, I didn’t think you’d want to swim with the pigs, so…”
“You’re right there. It sounds interesting to see, though.”
“Maybe, we will. I figured we’d stroll the boardwalk. They have one that runs a great deal of this island. Then we’ll have lunch at the Jumbey Grill and hit up the five bars in our own little pub crawl.”
“Sounds dangerous—the alcohol part. And…like we’ll have a bunch of time by ourselves.” Unlike any of the guided excursions I’d read about.
His thumb stroked over the back of my hand. “I may have booked us a private cabana, too. We can be on the beach but not too near the water.”
“The ship’s weather report on the overhead said it’s supposed to be a perfect sunny day, without a cloud in the sky, so I might work on my tan.”
“We’ll have to let your tour guide know.”
“Are you my tour guide for this day trip, Mr. Cassel?” I asked, reading his teasing expression.
“Well, Ms. Blake, I certainly am. I think the first order of business is heading over to the cabana for some sunblock. And some kissing. It’s been at least an hour since I’ve had you in my arms with my mouth on yours.”
I curled my lips together and fought a smile. At the same time, my core clenched in utter delight.
Yes, please. Let’s kiss.
“I might need help with the sunblock,” I said, feeling quite brazen.
He let go of my hand, but a moment later, those same fingers grazed up my bare thigh, lifting goosebumps. “I’m counting on it, love. Counting on it.”