Page 18 of Natural Temptation

Meredith arches an eyebrow. "All work and no play makes Ryan an uptight boy." Her fingers graze my arm, leaving tingles in their wake. "Perhaps we should remedy that..."

I swallow hard, trying my damnedest to remain composed. "Meredith, I really shouldn't—"

As the music swells, her fingers twine with mine. "Dance with me, sweetie."

Her sultry breaths tickle my ear. Without waiting for a response, she tugs me gently away from the crowd, and I let her lead the way. The farther we go from the beach party, leaving the flickering torches behind, the drier my mouth becomes. The raucous laughter and chatter fade away, replaced by the soft lapping of waves against the shore. Moonlight bathes the deserted stretch of beach in an ethereal glow, transforming Meredith's hair into a shimmering halo.

"It's magical out here," I murmur, drinking in the serenity. But even as I speak the words, my body grows tense.

"Oh, no,youare magical, Ryan. Last night, you made me come so hard I swear I saw stars."

I have no idea how to respond to that statement, so I don't even try. We walk in companionable silence, our bare feet sinking into cool sand. With every step, our shoulders brush and her presence alone relaxes me. Yet I'm hyper-aware of her proximity, the gentle sway of her hips, the intoxicating scent of coconut and something uniquely Meredith.

"So, Ryan Kimble, tell me something I don't know about you."

I hesitate, caught off guard by her directness. "I, uh...I make a mean pineapple upside-down cake?"

Meredith's laughter echoes off the trees. "Somehow I doubt that's the most interesting thing about you."

Our fingers are still entwined, and I give her hand a gentle squeeze. "Maybe not. But I'd rather hear about you. What brought you to Heirani Motu?"

She pauses, her head down, and rubs her arms as if she's cold. But I doubt that's the case. We are on a tropical island, after all—not in the arctic circle. The moonlight catches the amber flecks in her eyes, making them shimmer faintly. I also notice, however, that she's begun to sniffle. It only lasts a moment, then she straightens and clears her throat. No trace of anxiety or sadness remains. Her lips curve into a soft, inviting smile. She doesn't speak, but her gaze holds mine. Her body language is open, one hip cocked slightly as she leans toward me, closing the already small distance between us.

God, she's beautiful. And vibrant. And everything I shouldn't want. My eyes flick toward the ocean and its vast expanse that mirrors my tumultuous thoughts and mood. I take a small step back.

"We should probably head back," I say, the statement sounding hollow even to my own ears.

Meredith's brows furrow. "Are you okay, Ryan? You seem...tense."

I run a hand through my hair, a nervous habit I can't seem to shake. "It's just, you know, work responsibilities and all that."

But even as I speak those words, I can feel my resolve wavering. The moonlight, the gentle crash of waves, the intoxicating presence of Meredith—it's all conspiring against my better judgment. I find myself torn between duty and desire, professionalism and the raw need to connect.

Meredith takes a step closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Ryan, I need to tell you something." She hesitates briefly, then seems to make a decision. "I've never felt this...alive before. This connection between us, it's more than physical. It's like you see the real me, and I see you."

My pulse accelerates. Her words echo my own unspoken thoughts, and I feel as if my carefully constructed walls have begun to crumble. How she does this to me, I can't explain.

"I realize we barely know each other," she continues, her fingers brushing my arm. "But I'm willing to take a risk here. Are you?"

Without meaning to do it, I stretch my hand to cup her cheek. Her skin is warm and impossibly soft under my palm. I have to remind myself that she's not some naive girl. Meredith Hayes is a mature woman who knows what she wants.

I trace my thumb along her jawline, and I'm acutely aware of every point where our bodies connect. "I want to take the risk. God, I want to. But there's so much you don't know about me, about my past."

She leans into my touch, her gaze locked on mine. "Then tell me. I'm here, Ryan. I'm listening."

As I close my eyes, I'm torn between the intoxicating pull of her presence and the weight of my responsibilities, my guilt. When I open them again, I see nothing but acceptance in her gaze, and for a moment, I let myself hope for a miracle. Then I lean in, drawn by an irresistible force—Meredith. The moment our lips meet, the kiss becomes charged with passion, hunger, and a hurricane of emotions that sweeps away all my carefully constructed defenses. Her lips are soft yet insistent, tasting of salt and tropical fruit. I pull her closer as she threads her fingers through my hair. Our need for each other erupts into a desperate, tongue-tangling, groping exploration of each other's mouths and bodies.

The sounds of the beach party fade away, replaced by the thundering of my heartbeat and the soft sighs escaping Meredith's lips. Time seems to slow, stretching this moment into eternity. It's just us, two souls connecting under a vast canopy of stars, with the gentle lapping of waves as our soundtrack.

When we finally peel our mouths apart, breathless and gasping, reality comes crashing back. My mind races, panic rising like bile in my throat. What am I doing? I'm the general manager, for pity's sake. I have a job to do, responsibilities that can't be ignored.

"I...I shouldn't have done that," I stammer, stumbling backward. "Meredith, I'm sorry. This isn't...I can't..."

The confusion in her eyes makes me hate myself for putting that look on her face. But how can I explain? How do I tell her about the guilt that haunts me, the vows I've made to never let myself be vulnerable again?

"Ryan, it's okay," she tells me, reaching for me. "We're both adults here. We can figure this out."

I shake my head, my thoughts a jumbled mess. "No, you don't understand. My job, my past...there are things you don't know about me. Things that make this impossible." I veer away from her, my feet already shuffling back toward the flickering lights of the party. "I have to go. I'm sorry, Meredith. I just...can't."

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