Tasha smiled. ‘I can’t think of anything I’d rather do right now.’ She sensed hesitation. ‘I know I’ve had a couple of glasses of wine, but I know what I’m doing.’
Aware she needed to take the lead to prove to him how much she wanted this, she let her hands slide from his neck, grazing over his muscular chest before taking his hand in hers.
‘I believe this is the way to your bedroom?’ she asked, smiling up at him over her shoulder as she led the way.
‘Yes, it is.’
46
CALLUM
Two days later, when Callum opened his eyes, he lightly kissed the skin on her tanned shoulder, wondering how he was going to bear waking up without her in his arms. He had been dreading today and now it had arrived. By tonight Tasha would be back in England. She had already made some contacts with agencies for her next job but he couldn’t tell whether she was excited about what to expect next or not.
He listened to her gentle breathing, the warmth of her breath against his arm sending sensations racing through him. He glanced at the clock, noticing they had a few hours before she needed to leave for the airport and decided that after finally falling asleep in the early hours after their lovemaking to let her sleep for a little longer.
Images of their nights together came rushing back to him. Being intimate with Tasha had seemed perfect from that first time, but last night had an added urgency to it as each of them tried to make the most of every moment they spent in each other’s arms. His heartbeat raced. He wanted to make love to her now, but she needed to sleep a bit longer. Whatever he had expected when he admitted his feelings for her, this wasn’t it.
Tasha stirred and the sheet slipped slightly to expose more of her back. Like every other part of her, this was also perfect. He felt the urge to lean forward and kiss the tanned skin but wanted to let her sleep for a bit longer.
He tried to imprint the sensation of his skin against hers to his memory, wishing it didn’t have to end. He thought back to his plan not to lead her decision either way about whether she stayed on the island or left, but with each passing second his determination to keep his thoughts to himself weakened. He didn’t want her to go. She sighed in her sleep and it occurred to him that he hadn’t said as much to Tasha. Was he right not to admit his feelings to her? Could she make a different choice whether to stay or go if she did know he would rather she not leave?
She turned her head and looked up at him, then turned around to face him, draping an arm over his chest. ‘Good morning,’ she said, her voice croaky with sleep. ‘I don’t recall sleeping that well for…’ she frowned thoughtfully ‘…forever.’
He bent his head to kiss her. ‘I’m glad.’
She closed her eyes. ‘I wish I didn’t have to leave today.’
He wrestled with his thoughts, wanting to do the right thing by Tasha.
She opened her eyes and looked up at him. ‘What’s the matter?’
He gave her an apologetic smile, aware that any resilience he’d had to keep his thoughts to himself had now vanished. ‘I want to admit something to you but don’t know whether I’m being selfish to do it.’
She moved her head back slightly and rested a hand on his cheek. ‘Of course you should tell me, Callum. Whatever it is, we should be honest with each other.’
She was right. She had also said what he’d hoped to hear.
He took a deep breath. ‘I don’t want you to leave the island.’Be honest, he thought, forcing himself to admit his true feelings. ‘I’m falling for you, Tasha. I had made up my mind not to stand in the way of your career, but after last night I think it’s wrong not to be completely truthful with you and admit that I want you to stay here with me.’ He looked away from her and stared out of the window. ‘I’m sorry. I’m aware that’s completely selfish but I thought you’d rather know how I feel.’
When she didn’t immediately respond, he looked at her, trying to get a sense of how his admission made her feel. She hadn’t pulled away from him, so that must be a good thing, he thought hopefully.
She kissed him on his neck. ‘Thank you for telling me how you feel,’ she said quietly. He could tell she was struggling to work through her own feelings and was beginning to wish he hadn’t said anything, when she spoke. ‘My feelings for you are increasing all the time,’ she said, giving him a smile. ‘And, lying here with you is something I want to be able to do every day I possibly can.’ She met his lips in a kiss. ‘I really don’t want to leave you either, Callum.’
‘Then don’t.’
Her eyes widened. ‘What do you mean?’
‘If you want to stay for longer, then stay.’
She rested her weight on one elbow. ‘What happened to you thinking I was doing the right thing by returning home?’
‘I was trying to do the right thing.’ He sighed. ‘Which, if you want the best for your career, you probably are.’ Not wishing her to think he was going back on what he had just said, he added, ‘I don’t know if it’s possible for you to live here and still work in show business, but if you’d rather take your chances here, then I would be very happy for you to do that. I also completely understand if you feel you have to go.’
47
TASHA
She gazed into his eyes as she thought about what he had said.
