Page 14 of Exposed

“Any of the resort staff,” the instructor said. “I can’t believe this happened. I need to get the lead over here and show this to him. Hang on.”

As she rushed off to get her boss, Eric pulled Beth tighter into his side. Now that she was back on solid earth, gravity seemed to be pulling down on her harder than usual. Or maybe that was just the weight of the stares of those around her. Dammit. She hated to appear weak, but there wasn’t much she could do about it now. The reporter in her urged her to take note of the people around her, to see if anyone was acting suspiciously, but she couldn’t be certain how much she’d retain later of anything she tried to take note of now. It all seemed to blur together. EvenEric talking with the lead instructor, then bundling her back onto the shuttle to return to the resort, seemed like an out of body experience.

Beth felt like a rag doll, lifeless and drained emotionally and physically. While it wasn’t her usual MO to depend on others for help, she was mighty glad Eric was by her side through it all. She cuddled closer into him on the shuttle’s bench seat, the effects of shock making her shiver as she peered up into his worried face. “Thank you.”

“Damn, sweetheart,” he growled before capturing her lips in a brief, passionate kiss. He pulled away and pushed her head down onto his chest again. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, okay? I was afraid I’d lost you.”

She nuzzled into his warmth, closing her eyes. “Because of the job.”

His words chased her into slumber, haunting her and thrilling her at the same time. “No. Not because of the job. Because of you, sweetheart.”

9

Eric prided himself on being a gentleman and he wasn’t about to stop behaving himself now, no matter how hard the adrenaline and need to assure himself she was all right coursed through him. Besides, she was sleeping against him now, a sleep probably brought on by a combination of crashing adrenaline and shock. Either way, it made her warm and soft and vulnerable—and damn if it didn’t bring out every alpha male instinct he had, wrong or not.

Beth might hate him for it later, but he sure as hell was going to take care of her now. Whatever she needed, he’d be there to give it to her.

The shuttle halted outside the main resort buildings a short time later and Eric scooped Beth up into his arms to carry her all the way back to their private bungalow. He waved off the staff who rushed at him, wanting to assist and to apologize for what had happened. He didn’t trust a single one of them anywhere near her. Someone here had tried to harm Beth, to kill her. They’d almost succeeded. Soon, he would find out who it was and make them pay. But not now. Now was about her. Taking care of her.

Once he got them inside, she stirred against him. He kept a hold on her but put her gently on her feet before him and brushed the loose hair from her face to assess any injuries she might have. She had scratches on her soft skin from bumping the sharp stones, dirt smudged on her cheeks, and she looked shaken and exhausted—but that seemed to be the extent of it, thankfully. It could have easily been so much worse. The picture of her dropping off the cliffside would stay with him forever.

She was looking up at him, weariness etched into every line of her face, and his heart ached. He turned her to sit on the edge of the sofa. “Stay here, sweetheart. I’m going to run you a hot bath.”

Meekly, she did as he asked. That right there was enough to let him know she wasn’t herself. Beth wasn’t a woman who liked being told what to do. He loved that about her.

His mind snagged on that as he went into the bathroom and flipped on the hot water in their jacuzzi tub. Loved? Nah. It was just a saying, an expression people used. He didn’t love Beth Williams. That would be ridiculous. They barely knew each other. They were working a job together. Besides, she was so far off limits he needed a map to find his way to her. No. He was merely attracted to her, and he was here to help and protect her. That was all.

That was all itcouldbe.

Once he’d filled the tub and added half a bottle of the sweet-smelling soap stuff on the counter, he went back out to find Beth standing and staring out the doors leading onto the veranda. The warm breeze drifted in, fragrant with jasmine and the scent of the sea. She looked like a goddess come to life, despite her ruffled appearance, and Eric wanted her so badly he hurt.

Beth turned to face him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Someone tried to kill me. I thought I was going to die today.”

He stepped closer and nodded, words failing him. He’d thought that too.

“You saved me.” She moved closer, close enough for their bodies to touch. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt. “You know how people talk about regrets? Things that they didn’t do in life? I’d always thought mine would be about the Pulitzer prize I didn’t win or the cover story I failed to finish. But if you hadn’t saved me today, I think my biggest regret would have been…you..”

Eric blinked down at her, trying to take that in. “Me? What do you mean?”

“I want you,” she said. “It’s as simple as that. I wanted you the second I saw you in the newsroom. Since then, I’ve been coming up with list of reasons for why I shouldn’t have you.” She gave him a wan smile. “None of those mattered when I was plummeting down the cliff face. And now…now I can’t come up with any rational reason why we shouldn’t make love.”

He gulped in a breath, not sure he could trust what he was hearing and unwilling to take advantage. “Beth, you’ve had a terrible scare. This might be the shock talking. You don’t?—”

“Don’t I?” She stopped him. “Tell me you don’t want me, and I’ll back off. But if you do… Why shouldn’t we have this? We’re here, we’re alive—we have a chance to make each other feel good. Why shouldn’t we take it?”

Maybe it was the life or death situation they’d just gone through. Maybe it was magic of the island. Maybe it was the silent plea in her eyes. Whatever it was, he didn’t hesitate now. Yes, she washis best friend’s sister. Yes, there’d be lots of explaining to do later. But damn, he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath and the fact she wanted him too was like the headiest aphrodisiac in the universe. “I do want you.”

“Then, come with me,” she invited, stepping away from him and moving toward the open bathroom door. “Make love with me. Please.”

There was nothing he could do but follow her. He couldn’t deny himself what he’d wanted since nearly the moment he’d met her. He caught up with her and took her in his arms. With one foot, he kicked the bathroom door closed.

“Oh, Beth,” he growled, taking her face between his hands and kissing her. Her fingers were already under his shirt, lifting it. He broke the kiss long enough to yank it over his head. The rest of their clothes were discarded during a frenzy of kisses until they were both standing naked beside the tub. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her, licking her, nuzzling her. He cupped her breasts, brushing his thumbs over her taut nipples, loving the way she shivered beneath his touch and arched into him, those tiny mewling noises coming from her lips the most glorious song he’d ever heard. He kissed his way down her throat to her breasts, taking first one nipple, then the other into his mouth, toying with its twin between his thumb and forefinger. “God, Beth. You are so beautiful.”

“No, you are,” she said. Her fingers were on his chest, squeezing the muscles and following the line of hair down his stomach to his cock that was rock hard and ready for her. She squeezed him, brushing her thumb over his tip and almost making him come. “Let’s get in the bath.”

Eric climbed in first. When she joined him, she straddled his lap, bringing their bodies tight together in the hot water. It was the best kind of torture, but she was just getting started. She put a little distance between them and washed him with the cloth, stoking his desire higher and higher until he thought it might kill him.

“Now you.” He took the cloth from her and gently wiped the dirt from her face before cleaning the superficial wounds on her legs and arms. After wiping away the last physical traces of their harrowing climb, he lavished attention on her exquisite breasts before moving lower to stroke her slick folds. She was so hot, so ready for him.

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