Page 22 of Little Temptation

Sweat covers my body.

Despite the shade from this section of the boat, the heat is cloying at my skin. I want to lie here and do nothing. Not move, not open my eyes, just bask in this feeling. I’m also terrified of opening my eyes and looking at Liam.

But I can feel the sweat tickling over my chest and running towards my neck, and the urge to fidget to stop it overrules everything else I’m feeling.

I stand and realise I’m still naked. A quick glance tells me there are no other boats around, so in a daring move to match sleeping with Liam Ford, I walk to the back of the boat and jump into the sea.

Sweet relief bubbles around me, and I pop back up to the surface, feeling refreshed. And this time, there’s no sign of Liam following me in. I swim to the ladder and climb back up and sit down in the shade, away from where I left Liam, and happy for the cold dip.

“You okay?”

“Fine, now.” I look for my bikini, put it back on and lie back out and stretch my limbs.

“Do you want to go back to the hotel?” he asks.

“Not yet. I could eat, though. Didn’t you say this was stocked?”

“I did. I’ll get us lunch.” Liam stands, but as he passes me, he plants a kiss on my forehead before he walks to the stairs and heads down to what I presume is the kitchen. It’s a tender act that I wouldn’t have associated with him after sex.

The sun beats down and warms my skin, and my mind runs over every second of Liam Ford owning me like I was his. Because that’s how it felt – at least, that’s how he made me feel. He took me and talked to me like he’d been waiting his whole life – desperate. Or he was just really fucking horny.

God, he’s dangerous. To my heart as well as my head.

I tune out the spicy elements of my daydream and focus on the gentle lap and sway of the boat, letting it send me into a trance-like state.

Chapter Ten

Liam comes back up from the galley with a tray of food – bread, meats, cheeses and salads, all in little bowls for us to pick at.

“Oh, yum. Did you do this all yourself?” I ask as he places everything out on the table, although there’s an air of doubt in my mind.

“Would you believe me if I said yes?”

“Um, maybe?” But we look at each other, and the lie fades when he cracks into laughter.

“No, the chef put it together. I just served it.”

“Well, I appreciate the thought.”

We both focus on the food, and I’m suddenly famished. The olives, vine leaves and fresh breads are all delicious, and once again, I’m struck by the idea of hiding away in a place like this.

“So, if you don’t spend all of your time here, what do you spend your time doing?” I ask between mouthfuls, hopeful that maybe, with the tension out of the way, there will be less awkwardness.

“Well, I have a few other businesses. Most I only oversee and don’t have any direct dealings with the everyday running, but I still meet with my team regularly. Review progress, finances, and performance. And, when I’m not doing that, I’m travelling. Looking for potential new places to invest in.”

“Parties and girls,” I add for him.

“You know that’s part of it. But it’s a small part. It’s just that’s all Woodsy and Taylor see.” His voice sounds sour when he says Taylor's name.

“Don’t you like Taylor?” I ask.

“Sure, I do.”

“You just don’t seem very friendly towards him.”

“He’s a friend of Eric’s, and he’s sort of part of the extended group.”

“That’s not an answer. And you were staring at him at the wedding.”

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