Page 30 of Bride Under Contract

She swallowed, more than aware of her own desire. Certainly she could feel his, wedged against her stomach, beguiling and tempting.

‘As I said, you don’t know me. I don’t get involved.’

But, again, Carter didn’t know her either.

They really were going nowhere.

In a few weeks she’d be back home, facing the problems she’d left behind, and right now she felt this rare liberty—as if this was the only real chance she had to be free, to know herself, to be with another person as the woman she wanted to be.

She knew, too, as she had on sight, that she did not belong in Carter’s world, and nor did he belong in hers.

They met tonight, in this rare, sultry place, and for the first time in so many years she wasn’t scared about tomorrow.

‘Yes.’ Grace nodded. ‘I do want more than a kiss.’

He slid his hands down her hips, held her bottom, while his eyes never left her face.

‘We can go back to my grandfather’s place,’ Carter said, then added, ‘Take my boat.’

She pulled her head back. ‘I thought...’ She swallowed. ‘Can’t we go to your suite?’

‘Here?’ He frowned taking her face in his hands, looking right into her eyes.

‘Please.’

‘Are you a quiet lover?’ he asked, and she felt her cheeks burn beneath his palms.

‘I don’t know,’ Grace responded. ‘Maybe?’

It was the closest she could come to telling him she’d never made love.

CHAPTER FIVE

CARTER STEPPED INTO a speedboat and then offered her his hand.

Grace took it gladly.

She knew there was no future, no romance. Just this night...

And she knew she might never again get the chance to be wild and free and with someone so beautiful.

After six missing years Carter made her brave enough to discover this side of herself.

His speedboat was beautiful, with a small cabin and plush, comfortable seats, and instead of releasing her after she’d boarded he pulled her in and kissed her again. A soft, slow kiss that told her this was all okay.

‘It’s an hour or so, with a stop on the way—and, yes,’ he said, as he started the engine. ‘I’ll get you back for your dawn—’

‘Actually,’ Grace cut in, ‘there’s no dawn tour. Tomorrow it’s a jungle walk...’

Carter felt his chin rise, his shoulders and neck tightening—though it was not echoes of the past that had tension ripping through him, but thoughts of her in the jungle tomorrow.

‘Who’s...?’ Even his vocal cords had tightened, and he cleared his throat as the boat moved off. ‘Is Arif taking the group out?’

‘No, I think it’s Felicity.’

He said nothing, his eyes fixed ahead. He’d barely heard of Felicity, let alone seen her, but knew she wasn’t a local and was here doing research. He reminded himself that Arif wouldn’t let her take a group out if she wasn’t skilled, but hadn’t Felicity been here mere months?

It was dark, with no glint of moon, and even the stars were hidden behind low black clouds as they put-putted past the longhouses. But when they turned off the main river...when the last of the light was gone...he heard her deep intake of breath...

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