Page 52 of One Week in Paradise
‘How would you describe it?’
He pins me in place with a stare that sends heat rippling through me. It’s the same look he gave me this morning,and minutes later, my legs were draped over his shoulders. My thighs squeeze together involuntarily.
‘I don’t know, but I wouldn’t usestuck,’ he says, a stubborn pout twisting his lips. ‘Here.’ He deftly changes the subject by holding his smoothie out to me. ‘Taste.’
I do as he says and can’t help the delighted moan that slips from my lips as the ice-cold burst of fruity flavour hits my tongue. ‘That’s delicious. Try mine.’
I hold my cup up for him to taste, but he bypasses me and instead presses his lips against mine. My mouth opens for him, and his tongue slips in without hesitation. His free hand reaches up to cup my jaw, deepening the kiss.
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of kissing Cash.
When he moves to pull away, I follow, not ready to end the kiss just yet.
He chuckles and rolls his shoulders back, bringing himself to his full height and out of reach from my lips. ‘Yours also tastes delicious.’
‘Unfair,’ I whisper, letting him lace our fingers together once more so we can continue our stroll. ‘I wasn’t finished.’
‘The day’s not over.’
A loud whistle makes us both jump.
‘Nowthat’sromance!’ A cheerful-looking woman sitting behind a makeshift stall hoots at us. There are bundles of colourful flowers set out in front of her. ‘Come and finish the job and buy your pretty girlfriend a pretty flower.’
‘Oh, we’re no—’
Before I can protest, Cash crosses the short distance between the woman and us and plucks a bundle off the stand. He says something to the woman that I can’t quite hear. Whatever it is, it makes her smile and glance over at me. She gives Cash an enthusiastic nod and grins widely at me. ‘You’re a lucky lady.’
Cash walks back to me, an array of colourful flowers in his hands, and I can’t help but agree.
He hands me the bouquet with a grin. ‘For my lady.’
I give them a tentative sniff. ‘Yourlady, huh?’
He shrugs. ‘If you’ll have me.’
A lump forms in my throat. I grip the stems of the flowers tightly. ‘Do you want me?’
He licks his lips. ‘I think you know what I want, Bailey.’
I look up at him through my eyelashes and smirk. Memories of our morning spent together beneath the sheets, slowly exploring each other’s bodies, flash through my mind. ‘Do you want to head back to the suite?’
That almost imperceptible flicker of annoyance is back, and this time it lingers. The mood between us changes almost immediately. It feels like something has wedged itself firmly between us, keeping us at a distance from each other.
‘What?’ I ask. I lift my free hand to reach for him, then suddenly second-guess myself. I let my arm fall to the side. ‘What’s wrong?’
He shakes his head. ‘Nothing.’ His voice is curt and cold. The old Cash is back. He drops my hand and steps away from me. The distance between us widens even further.
‘Cash, wait.’ I chase after him and grab his hand. ‘I’m sorry. I’ve upset you.’
‘You don’t have anything to apologise for,’ he says quietly. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me flush against his chest, resting his chin on my head. ‘We just – We want different things.’
‘How do you know what I want?’ I ask.
‘I just do.’
‘I want you,’ I tell him. And I do. I want him in my life. However he’ll let me. I’ll even take scraps if it means I get to keep him in my life for just a little bit longer.
‘I know you do.’ He pulls back and gives me a sad smile, and I swear his voice cracks a little when he says, ‘But not how I want you.’
