So why did he seem as lost in her as she was in him? They both felt it, she knew that. They were both out of control, and she didn’t regret it at all. She needed him. The brief kisses they had shared, the stolen moments between them, they were all leading to this and she would not back away again.
Skin on skin now, stepping out of the remaining layers to stand before each other, she revelled in the taste of him, the warmth of his skin over his toned muscles. Madness. She knew it was madness. She didn’t care.
‘But you’re still shivering,’ he told her. ‘Into the shower before you die of cold.’
‘It’s not the cold,’ she replied.
He lifted her off the ground, scooping her up in his arms. ‘Let’s test that theory. What else makes you shiver, Dr Walker?’
The hot water of the shower flowed over their skin. She melted under his mouth, his hands caressing her, drawing her against him. She buried her fingers in his hair and cried out as he entered her, lost in a pleasure she had forgotten how to feel.
Ari slept more deeply than she had in years. The bed cradled her, his arms cradled her. And the storm raged outside. Far away from either of them.
‘Ari…’
The whisper woke her, a stir of breath on her cheek or perhaps a gentle caress. She opened her eyes as sunlight crept through the gap in the curtains. Rafael slept on beside her, warm and tempting, one arm flung up above his head, his breathing deep and even. It hadn’t been his voice she had heard.
She stared at him. What had she done?
Not that she regretted it. Not really. But still…what had she done?
She needed to get back to the gîte, to Jason and Nico. She had to let them know she was OK and tell them about what they’d found.
That was her excuse and she was sticking to it.
Slipping out of the bed, she backed up towards the antique wardrobe. The wetsuits were still in the en suite, cold and damp. She wasn’t about to try to put hers back on. There had to be something she could wear here.
‘Ari…’
There it was again, not Rafael’s voice. Simon’s. She was sure of it.
Ari sucked in a breath and tried to open the drawer silently, not so easy to do with old furniture. It squeaked and groaned open.
‘Are you looking for something?’ Rafael asked in a sleepy, but amused tone.
Ari spun around guiltily. ‘I just…I needed…something to wear.’
‘Were you leaving?’
‘I have to.’
A frown flickered over his brow. ‘Are you sure? Come back to bed, Ari. It’s still early.’
She spotted the dressing gown hanging on the back of the door, a rich navy wrap. It was long and soft, silk and expensive. Of course it was. She wrapped it around herself hurriedly and turned back to face him. He was sitting up now, looking suspicious.
Damn, she thought. What could she say?
I’m sorry, but this was a mistake… We were both very emotional last night and… I shouldn’t have…
She was such a coward.
‘I need to talk to my brother. We’ve not even spoken about what we saw down there, the carvings, the cave. I have to… I’m sorry. I just—’
‘You don’t have to be sorry.’ The patience was stretched thin, she could hear it in his voice.
‘I’m not. I mean…Rafael, this…this was probably not a good idea. We didn’t know what we were doing.’
‘I knew exactly what I was doing,’ he countered. ‘I thought you did too. Ari? What is this about? Talk to me.’ He rose to his feet, approaching her like he might a frightened animal.
