Page 30 of One Forbidden Night In Paradise (Hot Winter Escapes)

‘They were a bit shaken. But they were fine.’

She bit into her lip, her face suddenly taut. ‘How did you know they were in trouble? The people on the boat.’

Because he was looking for it. His ribs squeezed around his lungs so that it was suddenly hard to catch his breath. It was the least he could do after having failed so devastatingly to see what was going on right in front of him.

He shrugged. ‘Something felt off, you know?’

‘And you were right,’ she said quietly. ‘You were right about earlier too. I did get distracted. I didn’t follow through.’ Her mouth quivered. ‘I should finish packing.’ He felt a spasm of panic and pain as she started to close the door.

‘No, that’s not why I told you that story.’ He took a step forward. ‘I was trying to explain why I overreacted.’ Although that barely scratched the surface. ‘But the fact is that anyone can get distracted.’

‘Not you.’

‘Yes, of course me. I went down to the harbour to collect medical supplies and instead I ended up trying to rent you a bike.’ He thought that might make her smile but instead she wrapped her arms around her torso as if she was cold. It made him want to reach out and hold her. But what right did he have to touch her now? And she would be leaving soon. Dive or no dive, that was the plan. Only did it have to stay the plan?

‘Jemima, please.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Look, I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I guess I was worried because you’re my guest and I feel responsible for you.’

‘Well, you’re not.’ Her mouth quivered. ‘We barely know each other.’

His fingers flexed. But he wanted to know her. And he didn’t want her to leave. ‘I came down to say goodbye when what I should be saying is sorry. And I am. Sorry. For what I said. For how I said it.’ He took another step towards her. ‘Please, I’d like you to stay.’

He watched her bite down on the inside of her lip. ‘I thought you didn’t do second chances.’

His chest tightened. Earlier, with panic and anger blazing through him, that had been true. Now though, staring down into her wide grey gaze, he was willing to make an exception.

‘I don’t do one-night stands either. But I couldn’t walk away from you that night.’

There was a moment of heavy silence, the kind that smothered all sound.

He could see her pulse beating in her throat. ‘I didn’t want you to walk away.’ Her voice brushed against his cheek like the wing of a gull and he stared at her, rooted to the spot by the storm in her eyes.

‘And now,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Do you want me to walk away now?’

He held his breath as she reached up and rested her hand against his chest. ‘No.’

Chase stared down into Jemima’s face, his pulse leaping through his ribs to where her hand rested against his shirt, shivery pleasure dancing across his skin. He held his breath as she touched his cheek, her fingers grazing the stubble along his jaw, conscious only of the hammering of his heart and of his need, a need he saw reflected in her glazed grey eyes.

This was madness, he thought, distant alarms sounding in the margins of his brain. This could only make everything more complicated than he wanted it to be. But he couldn’t move; couldn’t look away.

And then she clasped his face in her hands in a jerky movement, and as her mouth found his he knew that only she could quiet this humming in his veins and he reached for her, locking his hand in her hair, pressing the other against the indent on her back, urging her closer.

He felt her breath shudder against his mouth and she moved against him, pressing her pelvis against his groin.

From somewhere on the boat, there was the sound of voices, a shout of confirmation. Her startled eyes met his and he saw her confidence falter and he stood there, not moving, not breathing, awash with panic and fear lest she call a halt.

His body was shaking inside, clamouring for her from head to toe but he waited, and he would walk away if he had to, but a second passed and then another, and then she stood on tiptoe to reach closer, hands fluttering to his shoulders, fingers biting into the muscles, kissing him blindly, greedily.

The walls swam around him as she started to pull him into the bedroom.

‘Wait,’ he muttered against her mouth, turning to kick the door shut, and then she was pulling him close again.

His need for her swelled up inside him. He wanted her, wanted her so badly, had been wanting her again from the moment he woke to find her gone. And now she was here, in his arms, her soft mouth working on his already overheated senses.

‘I’ve been thinking about this for days,’ he murmured against her mouth, ‘thinking about you.’

‘I’ve been thinking about you too,’ she said hoarsely. His teeth clenched as she slid her hands down over his body, down to where his erection was pushing against his shorts. As she cupped the weight of him, he sucked in a sharp breath.

It would all be over far too soon if he let her keep touching him like that.

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