She leaned against the doorframe, one arm propped against the wooden molding, her head tipped so that black curls fell over one shoulder. “You’re prompt. I like that in a man.”

Deliberately seductive and playful at the same time, she made him want to pull her into his arms and kiss her until neither one of them could think or breathe. “What else do you like?”

“Come on in and find out.” She turned and sashayed inside, leaving him to follow. At this moment he’d go anywhere she led him and wasn’t ashamed to admit it.

His gaze surveyed her barefooted retreat and the sultry sway of her hips beneath the blue skirt. She passed through the living room area they’d dined in before and continued into a short hallway. He wondered at her final destination and decided he enjoyed this kind of mystery and suspense.

“We’re here.” She paused at the entrance to the last door at the end.

He stopped inches away. Her skin glowed from time in the sun, and a light flush on her cheeks told him she was just as affected by this scenario as he was.

“You need to take off your shoes,” she said.

He met her amused stare. “Because…?”

“Because we’re going to the beach and you don’t want to get sand in your shoes. Come on, Jack.” She drawled out his name in a husky purr. “Use your imagination.”

He reached out and fingered the hem on her makeshift skirt. “Trust me, sweetheart, my imagination’s working just fine.”

So were other strategic body parts. Wondering what the hell she had on beneath the short skirt would keep him erect all evening. He wondered how far she’d take this invitation and knew he couldn’t wait to find out.

Her flush turned into a full-fledged blush. The blush intrigued him most of all. Although she toyed with him deliberately, he knew now the seductive charm and come-hither games didn’t come easily to her. He sensed, too, that she didn’t play like this often. Instead of sending him running, the possibility drew him deeper.

Jack had never been into too-innocent women, if only because they tended to expect too much in the end. But Mallory was different. She was provocative in a sultry, sexy way that turned him on and made him want to explore those uncharted waters. But she was also an independent, gutsy woman who wouldn’t demand all from a man and give nothing in return.

She understood business, and he sensed she understood him, too. His heart pounded harder in his chest.

He slipped off his sneakers. “Lead the way.”

She pushed open the door and he stepped inside. The scent of coconut hit him first, a warm fragrant aroma that reminded him of summers at the beach. He noticed the temperature next, a concentrated rise in heat from neon lights set up in the corner. Blow-up palm trees nestled around all four corners of the bed. And the sliding glass door leading to the beach had been opened, allowing a soft, humid breeze to drift inside.

“You like?” The hesitancy in her voice was clear. She’d obviously gone to a lot of thought and effort to set up this fantasy. Jack knew this had ceased being about teaching him a lesson and had become more about giving pleasure.

No woman other than Mallory had ever gone out of her way to do something for him. That she cared enough, was interested enough to bring illusion to life would tie him up in knots if he let it.

He’d rather just enjoy.

He reached out and grabbed for her hand. “I like.”

Her soft fingers wrapped around his. “That’s a good start. We could have sat outside but I thought we’d want a little more privacy, so I created our own beach.” Husky undertones infused her voice with warmth and desire. “I figured we could hang out in here.” She paused deliberately. “At least until dark.”

She pulled him toward the bed and when she settled herself on the mattress and curled both knees to one side, Jack nearly died wondering if she’d reveal anything he so longed to see.

She followed the direction of his gaze and laughed. “You’re naughty, you know that? Did you bring my bottoms?”

“Right here.” He patted the front pocket of his swimsuit, which had grown increasingly tight.

Her gaze widened as she took in the obvious bulge in his shorts. The soft skin on her neck rose and fell as she swallowed hard. “If you behave maybe I’ll let you see them on me.”

A wicked gleam flickered in Jack’s heated stare. “I’d rather see them off.”

“What makes you think you aren’t? Seeing them off me I mean?” She stood and made a provocative show of wiggling her behind. Used to frilly panties, the sensation of bare skin against cooler material felt wickedly decadent and erotic. She settled herself back on the bed.

He eased himself beside her. “You aren’t daring me to check, are you?” His fingers inched towards her.

“And ruin the element of mystery and surprise? Not a chance.” She playfully slapped his hand. “But you can get us ready for our swim.” She grabbed the bottle of massage oil from the nightstand and handed it to him. “Do my back.”

“It’s nighttime.”

She grinned. “And I thought we were using our imaginations. I wouldn’t mind a little help getting the hard to reach spots.” She stretched her legs out in front of her and wiggled her toes.

His eyes darkened as he accepted the bottle. “Do I get to call the spots?”

His hands on his choice of her body parts. A tremor of awareness shot through her veins. “If you think you can handle it.”

He reached down and pulled at the hem of his T-shirt, lifting it up and over his head. “I assure you I can.” His eyes bore into hers. “The question is can you?”

She stared at his broad chest, darkened from the summer sun and roughened with a sprinkling of dark hair. The man gave new meaning to the word sexy, she thought.

She managed a grin. “You know better than to throw a challenge my way.” She pulled her hair to one side and stretched out farther onto the bed. “Where do you want to start?”

She met his gaze, saw his eyes darkening. Then he opened the top of the bottle and poured a liberal amount of scented oil onto his palm.

“I’d like to start at the bottom and work my way up. But I also believe in saving the best for last, so roll onto your stomach and we’ll begin with your back.”

“Mmm. I can get into that.” She sighed and rolled over, resting her chin on her hands. A back rub might help relax some of her tension and nerves and eliminate lingering insecurities that remained.

And then he straddled her back. Insecurities and most other thoughts fled. Though his weight was braced on his knees, the pressure of his firm backside and groin against her hips wouldn’t be denied. An erotic tingling suffused her body and a throbbing beat of anticipation took hold.

Relax? She should have known better. This was foreplay. A distinct tremor rippled through her.

“You doing okay?” he asked.

“Great.”

“Then let’s begin.” His voice came out a low rumble and then warm, hot hands touched her back, branding her skin.

He began a slow lubrication of her shoulders, smoothing his palms over her upper back and down her arms with practiced ease. Gentle pressure alternated with harder thrusts, giving her the massage she’d desired while covering her body with oil. The distinctive scent of coconut assaulted her, wrapping her in a heated cocoon of warmth and desire.

She searched her mind for conversation, something to break the awareness and allow her some control. “This feels wonderful,” she said instead.

So much for control. But she admitted, she didn’t want anything mundane to interrupt the heady sensations he was stirring inside her.

“That’s the point.” His deep laugh reverberated against her. He didn’t stop his gentle ministrations as he spoke. “Listen to the crashing waves. I rent a beach house for two weeks at the end of every summer. You can’t beat the relaxation or solitude.”

She had to agree. The ebb and flow of the tide sounded much like the rushing of blood in her veins, soothing yet arousing at the same time. “A beach house of your own and you haven’t made time for skinny-dipping?”

“No more than you’ve made time for vacations, I bet.”

“Unfortunately I can’t afford the time off.” His fingers rounded her shoulders and moved up her neck. He hit the spots that held the most tension and as her muscles relaxed, her awareness rose.

“You could if you wanted to.” He leaned forward. All heat and hard male body, he trapped her between him and the mattress. “You could if you put yourself first. Before that all-consuming need to impress people whose love should be given unconditionally.”

His implication was clear. Her drive for partnership was for the wrong reasons.

“Besides, you know what they say about all work and no play,” he said before she could respond. His voice sounded close and his breath fanned her ear. Her nipples hardened in response, pressing against the bed.

She swallowed a moan. “All work and no play,” she murmured. “It makes Mallory a partner one day.” But right now the dream that had sustained her most of her life seemed distant and far away. Unimportant in comparison to the sensual feelings rioting through her.

Unimportant compared to being with Jack.

She’d begun to suspect he had valid points about her reasons for pushing so hard for partnership and losing her sense of self. But no way she’d waste a minute of her precious time with him dissecting her possible mistakes. She had the rest of her life to do that. She’d rather enjoy now.

He sat up and suddenly she felt a tugging on the back tie of her bathing suit.

“Jack…” Warning laced her voice.

“Relax.”

“He says as he pulls off my top.”

He laughed. “I just untied it.” His fingertip traced the line where her bathing suit had been and she arched her back in response.

God, the man was good. If he could arouse her with simple words and innocent touches against her skin, heaven help her when the real sexual play began.

“But I haven’t pulled it off. Yet.” His warm palms pressed hard against her back. His hands wrapped around her ribs and sides, his fingertips inching toward her swollen breasts that ached for his firm touch.

She let out a small whimper, and when he eased her from her stomach onto her back, she rolled willingly and gazed into his eyes. The top string of her bathing suit remained tied, but the material slipped revealing her to his gaze.

His expression, darkened with need and desire, met her stare. She swallowed hard as she wondered what erogenous zone he’d touch next. So far every part of her body had turned into a mass of writhing need beneath his hands.

Without breaking eye contact, he pulled her to a sitting position, reached for the bikini top and drew it over her head. She fought the urge to cover herself and was rewarded by the clench of his jaw and a low, guttural groan.

The knowledge that he obviously liked what he saw eased her embarrassment enough to let her get playful again. “I thought we were getting ready for the sun,” she said, reminding him to use his imagination.

“And I hoped you could teach me the fine art of skinny-dipping. Seeing as how you’re a pro and all.” One side of his mouth lifted in a charming grin she’d bet had devastated more women than she could count on both hands.

Her heart leapt to her throat. “It’s something to consider. Later.”

“Okay then in the meantime, I don’t want to miss any sensitive areas.”

He poured some more oil into his palms and rubbed them together. “I’m warming them,” he explained, in answer to her questioning look.

Mallory couldn’t draw her stare from the sight of his large hands or her thoughts from the hope that he would use them to cover her breasts and satisfy the desire aching inside her.

“Come here.” He crooked his finger at her.

Mesmerized by the husky gravel in his voice and the lure of his touch, she moved forward on the bed and settled in front of him, seated on her knees.

He mimicked her position. Thanks to his greater height, he seemed to tower over her. Anticipation rose within her but Jack did nothing to rush his movements or put an end to her expectation.

Then slowly, his eyes never leaving hers, he leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss. His mouth was warm and hot, giving but intense. He devoured her with nibbles and slow licks of his tongue. And just when she thought she was lost in him, those hot hands cupped her waiting breasts.

The unexpected touch sent a jolt of sensation to her core and she moaned. She would normally have been mortified, but his reaction obliterated all rational thought. He deepened the kiss, making love to her with his mouth while his hands began an exploration all their own. He squeezed gently with the edge of his fingers while pressing insistently against her nipples with his splayed palm. She grabbed hold of his hips to anchor herself against the dizzying, spiraling waves of need.