Page 50 of Bedding his Innocent Mistress

He frowned. “Because I told you I was going to make you fly. Remember?”

*

There were no words that could describe the beauty of this patch of earth. Ivy stood at the top of the hill, the Spanish bungalow to one side of her, all rendered earth coloured walls, terracotta tiled roof, with cathedral windows, and sprawling bougainvillea running up one side and pots of lavender painted in Moorish colours standing out front.

Directly before them though was the hill Rafe had described, covered in vines, now spindly and barren, but for the grapes that were heavy and lush, and in the near-distance, the ocean, glistening in the afternoon sun. It was much warmer here than in London, and she shrugged out of her denim jacket. Rafe took it from her seamlessly.

“What do you think?”

She turned to look at him, catching a look of concentration on his features that robbed her of breath. “I think it’s the most amazing place on earth.”

He expelled a breath. “It is uniquely beautiful.” He lifted a hand to her cheek, and seemed about to say something but then thought better of it.

“How w

ould you feel about swimming with me?”

“Swimming?” She looked towards the ocean and something like contentment carried to her on the sea and the salt.

“Yes. You know, bodies submerged in water, floating, paddling…”

She playfully punched his arm. “I’ll race you…”

She grinned as she began to jog towards the water, running through a straight row of vines, not going so fast that she missed the beauty of the grapes, their juicy shapes sun-warmed and almost ready to be picked.

He caught up to her easily, smiling as he passed, but he didn’t go far ahead. Ivy put on a burst of speed, and right at the bottom, where grass gave way to sand, she lunged for him instinctively, catching at his shirt so that he stopped running. She was out of breath, and her cheeks were pink. She smiled up at him, her eyes shining.

“I win.”

He grinned, but reached for her, lifting her over his shoulder easily and carrying her towards the water. His intent was clear, but it was still somehow a surprise when her toes hit the top of the ocean.

“Hey!” She laughed, but he didn’t stop. Only when he was waist deep did he slowly ease her down, sliding her against his body until her feet hit the ground.

“My dress is wet,” she pointed out, a smile tickling her lips.

His arms curved around her waist. “So it is.” He brought his face closer to hers, his lips tantalisingly close. “I suppose you will just have to be naked while it dries out again.”

She shook her head on a laugh but then she surrendered to the moment, turning away from him and diving down into the water. It wasn’t overly warm, but it was still heavenly. It had been so long since she’d swum, and never in a beach like this.

“It’s so much better than I imagined,” she said to herself as she emerged, turning to find Rafe watching her with a look that stole her breath for its intensity.

“I pictured you like this,” he said throatily, when he was close enough.

“You did?”

In response, he drew her wet body towards his, holding her to him, and he kissed her. Rafe kissed Ivy, and it was all she thought about.

He’d wanted to drive anyone else from her mind and he’d succeeded. She was lost to him, and in that moment, she was glad for it.

“Have you lived here long?” She lay on her back, staring up at the sky, grapes on either side of her, the dress still wet as it clung to her body.

“I bought the property ten years ago,” he said. “My father always wanted to grow grapes.” His lips twisted. “It seemed… appropriate.” Lying beside her, he turned his face to hers. “I named it for him, you know.”

“The property?”

He nodded. “The wine I make is called Diego. It was his name.”

The confession twisted her insides. “I’m sorry you lost him.”

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