His hands moved smoothly over her back and down to her sides, his big fingers caressing the sides of both of her breasts, massaging gently but there was no way she’d confuse him with a masseuse and they both knew it. She savored every intimate second of it. Until she remembered that there was something almost too good to be true in Remy. She wanted to believe him—really there was nothing she wanted more in the world.
When he slipped his hands up to her shoulders and kneaded them she closed her eyes and wished she didn’t have her past.
“You’re tensing up.”
“Sorry.”
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“That you can’t be real. So far you haven’t done anything wrong,” she said.
“I lost the first two rounds,” he said.
“Not in the competition,” she said. But maybe that was what she should be thinking about. It was clear that his mind wasn’t really on this peaceful afternoon away from the show. Though the sun was warm and his touch on her back even hotter, she felt a cold chill overtake her.
“Oh. Well in that case, I would have not slept with you that first night. I wish I’d waited until now so I could really know you.”
“That’s not a misstep. I wanted you to.”
“I know that, but by taking you I let you believe I’m like every other man you’ve ever known. I made our getting to know each other even more difficult than it should be. Relax and let me make it up to you.”
She wanted to. Finally she just ignored her naggingconscience. She was going to enjoy this time with Remy. Even if he turned into a two-headed toad after this she’d have these moments. And she’d cherish them. No man had done this for her. No man had cooked for her. No man had treated her the way Remy did.
That had to count for something. She felt something warm and damp tease her neck and realized he was kissing her. Goose flesh spread out from the place where he was nibbling on her shoulder. Her breasts felt heavier and her nipples tightened.
She felt his mouth moving along her back in the same path his hands had taken. He lingered over her shoulder blades and then he encouraged her to move her arms above her head. He shifted over her and she felt his chest hair against her back.
Then she felt the tender warmth of his breath. He touched the curve of her breast. His other hand caressed her nipple. Her hips jerked and his hand slid down to her butt, to one cheek.
His mouth slowly left a trail of nibbling kisses. “You’re so beautiful,ma chère. I love touching you.”
She wanted to say she loved being touched by him but the words stuck in her throat. Ultimately, she didn’t want to reveal to him what she felt. She was more afraid of him in this moment than she had been in any other. There was something scary about letting him see how much he affected her. She didn’t want him to know that he had this kind of power over her. But she knew it was more than likely too late to stop it.
He kissed the side of her right breast and he did that thing where he swept his finger under her body and over her nipple again. She moaned his name. Hoping she appeared nonchalant but knowing there was no way to hide her body’s reaction to him, especially when he sweetly stroked between her legs.
She was determined to appear cool and in charge, even though she knew she wasn’t cool at all. She was sizzling in thesummer sun. And there was nothing that was going to make her cool off.
When he reached her feet he licked the arch of one foot then the other before again working his way up the inside of her leg. Oh, God, his mouth moved closer to her center and everything inside of her clenched. Afraid of what he might not do, or where he might not go.
At her very core, he left a little kiss and started his journey down that leg.
She was a mass of quivering nerves and barely aware of when he put his hands on her waist and rolled her to her back.
“I think we made sure you are not going to get burned on your back...now to make sure your front is okay.”
“You are taking this seriously,” she said, not at all surprised that her voice sounded husky and low.
“That’s the kind of man I am. How are you liking your massage so far?” he asked.
She tried to seem calm when she shrugged but the fabric of her loosened bikini top started to slide and she had to grab for it. “It’s good.”
He smiled at her. “I’m glad.”
He poured lotion in his hands and started again at the top of her thigh working his way down to her feet. This time was worse because she could see his face as he touched her body. He did seem to enjoy every inch of her skin. And there was a part of her that knew she’d never forget that look.
It was easy to believe that he was as involved in her as she was in him except for the rapt way he looked at her body. He glanced up and saw her watching him.
“What?”
