She couldn’t say who broke the kiss first. She was shaking with need and desire and shock. She’d never been so wanton or responded to a man with the intensity with which she responded to Jack. The knowledge gave her pause and she scooted back to the headboard, seeking space.

His eyes were glazed and unfocused, much like hers, she assumed since he looked as shaken as she felt. Silence pulsed between them.

Mallory leaned back against a bank of throw pillows. She glanced around for a covering for her exposed skin, but found nothing within reach. She settled for closing her eyes against the sight and feeling of being raw and exposed.

But all she saw beneath shut eyelids was Jack, rubbing his hands together and her imagination conjured the feel of his slickened palms against her still tingling, still wanting flesh.

“I haven’t finished protecting you from the sun.”

At the sound of his husky voice, she trembled. Shaken or not, when the man started a project, he apparently liked to finish. Something they had in common. Because she hadn’t finished wanting him.

“Then what are you waiting for?” Funny how she found bravery beneath closed eyes.

His hot fingers grabbed hold of her foot and began a slow, easy massage. He kneaded and rubbed, pressed and released, eliciting a torturous yet rapturous sensation at the same time. He coated her foot and calf with scented oil, pausing to relubricate his hands before doing the same to the other leg and then moving upward.

He’d only grasped her ankle yet the rest of her flesh burned. He built up the steady press and release rhythm anew, one her body seemed to recognize and mimic until the pulsing of her muscles found an answering vibration in areas he had yet to caress.

“I have to admit, you’ve got talent,” she said on a soft sigh, opening her eyes.

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” He met her gaze with a lingering look that felt more like a caress. His smile obviously meant to reassure.

His hands eased up from her knee to just above the hem of her skirt. When he touched skin, his eyes widened in surprise. “No bottoms.”

“Of course not. They’re in your pocket,” she said, treating him to what she hoped was a disarming grin and a teasing glint in her eyes. Bravado was all she had left to rely on. He’d seen and felt everything else. “You doubted me.”

“I doubted your nerve,” he conceded. His fingers swept in broad strokes across her femininity and her breath caught in her throat. “But I shouldn’t have.” His features darkened. “And if you want me to stop, I will. Just say the word.”

Jack’s hands closed around her thighs. He leaned over her, his dark head bowed so she looked directly into his compelling and intense gaze.

His thumb grazed tingling flesh that had been deprived for too long. He initiated long, smooth strokes that tantalized and teased, seduced and captivated.

“Stop?” She’d die if he did.

The delicious movement of his fingertips paused. His dark eyes questioned. And Mallory feared she’d broken the spell and she’d never feel the culmination of his fervent ministrations.

She licked her lips, coating the dry skin. “That was a rhetorical question.” In fact she was more afraid of him stopping than of him taking the next step.

Relief washed over his handsome features, but he didn’t say a word, just reached for the bottle once more. He poured a quarter-sized amount of liquid into his hand. “The sun can be deadly to skin that’s not used to the harsh rays.”

“So I’ve heard.” Her heart began to pound hard and fast, but somehow she managed a smile. One meant to reassure him she wanted everything and anything he planned.

His grin was nothing short of intoxicating as he parted the scarf she’d tied around her waist earlier and slipped his hands beneath the material. “In fact, I’d better make sure I coat every inch.” His entire palm cupped her thigh so his fingertips merely grazed her private folds.

The tingling she’d felt earlier turned into a full-fledged blaze. A teasing hint of what was to come, and her hips jerked upward of their own volition. “I…” She realized the sound came out more a moan than a coherent word. “I’m burning now.”

“But you’re burning from me, not the sun.” His slick fingers met her waiting flesh.

Dizzying sensations assaulted her as hot, coated strokes of his fingertips parted and caressed. She moaned as he kneaded her in exactly the right place. The moan turned her into a wild woman, her hips bucking against his hand.

Jack muttered a soft curse. Sweet heaven. And that’s where he was, in heaven, with a woman more responsive, more open and giving than any he’d known. Dampness coated his hand and despite the slick oil, he knew he’d found her essence. His own body throbbed but he couldn’t relieve his or her passion that way. No matter how much he wanted to.

No matter how much he wanted her.

Because this romp on the beach had taught him something about himself. He could lose himself in this woman. After all he’d seen in his jaded youth, life and career, there was no way he could allow it. But he could enjoy her warmth and heat and revel in giving her pleasure with no threat to himself.

He glanced down at her delicate features. Her eyes were shut tight, her face alight with passion. He was in control of her emotions and her release. And that’s all that mattered.

Each movement and caress of his hand elicited a new response. Enthralled by the pure rapture and need he saw on her face, the temptation to prolong his exquisite torture was appealing. But not at her expense and though she was obviously enjoying it, he’d also brought her too close, too fast.

He did the only thing he could. He eased his finger inside her hot, moist body. She shook and convulsed around him, and then her body squeezed his finger tight, gripping him in damp heat and complete ecstasy.

He stretched out beside her. With his free hand, he smoothed long strands of hair off her face. “Look at me.”

Her velvet blue eyes opened wide and she met his gaze with an imploring one of her own. He shifted his hand. Without withdrawing his finger, he cupped her entire mound in his palm and rotated with gentle pressure.

“Jack.” Her eyelids opened wide as she breathed his name.

“I’m here.” His thumb moved in small circles until her breathing came in shallow labored gasps.

He’d found the right spot, the one that made her wild. The one that made her his. Maintaining a steady rhythm and keeping a slickened finger inside her body, he edged her closer and closer to the precipice.

“Go with it, sweetheart.” He urged her on with his words and his calculated movements until her climax hit fast and furious.

He felt the shudders wracking her body, relentless in intensity and just as he thought she was coming down off the crest, he pressed his palm one last time against the juncture of her thighs. She let out a sound that was a groan of utter pleasure and surrender.

Jesus, she was hot and wild and her uninhibited moan rocked the foundation of his world. He’d give almost anything to experience the same moment inside her body.

Almost. Because after the intense reactions they’d both experienced with just a kiss, if he made love to Mallory, Jack feared neither one of them would find their way back to a sane, solitary life.

Her spasms stopped as quickly as they’d come and he found himself gazing into her sated deep blue eyes. Minutes passed in silence. Finally, when her labored breathing reached a normal rate, she spoke.

“You give new meaning to protection from the sun.”

He was glad she’d taken things lightly. After the intimate moments in this bedroom, he feared she’d get too serious.

Then he laughed wryly. Perhaps he was at risk of losing himself to this woman who’d begun to trust him with her most personal demons and secrets, but he couldn’t say she felt the same. At least she hadn’t been in control of herself seconds earlier, he thought smugly.

“Wipe that self-satisfied grin off your face before I’m forced to take drastic action.” She pulled her skirt down and pushed herself to a sitting position, hugging her knees against her exposed breasts. All without meeting his gaze.

So she wasn’t the woman of the world she wanted him to think she was. The thought gave Jack immense pleasure. Not that he had any delusions that he was her first anything, but he could tell from the shy way she cast her eyes from him and the becoming flush on her cheeks that Mallory wasn’t overly experienced in dealing with things afterward. She was most definitely the enigma he’d painted her as, with more intriguing facets revealing themselves to him as time passed.

He reached for her bathing suit top and draped it over her head. Gratitude filled her gaze, warming him, caressing him in her essence. He swiveled her to the side and retied the open strings of the bikini at her back.

All without sound or roaming hands. No matter how much he desired to leave her bared to his gaze, she’d obviously be more comfortable covered. And her comfort mattered more to him than a lingering glance at her bare breasts or an extra stroke with his hands. Being with Mallory was hot and electric, but it was more than a casual sexual encounter he’d leave behind in the morning and forget by the next day.

Jack wasn’t stupid and knew there was an important subliminal message in his feelings regarding this affair, but he chose not to heed it. Affair being the operative term, a brief interlude where they could both indulge their sensual natures.

He shifted positions so he moved back in front of her again.

“Thank you.” Emotion flickered in her gaze.

He flashed her a charming, light grin. “You’re welcome.” He cupped her chin in his hand and brushed his thumb over her silken skin. “The whole point was to give you pleasure.”

She laughed. “You know I meant thank you for the bathing suit, not thank you for the…” A red-hot blush stained her cheeks and she shook her head. “Never mind that. But the whole point was to entice you.”

“And you did it very well. In a very unique way.”

She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Every woman in the office wants to entice you. I’m not a Terminator groupie. But you challenged me and I just wanted…” Her voice trailed off, and he got the distinct impression she figured, why bother explaining.

But he desired an explanation. Badly. He knew women were drawn to him, but he never took the attention seriously. He figured they liked a challenge and a partner-challenge made him even more of a catch in their eyes. He tended to ignore both the gossip and the interest. But Mallory was different and he never wanted her to feel grouped with a bunch of women whose notice he neither encouraged nor wanted.

He bent closer. So close he could brush his lips over hers, and without thought, he did. She leaned into him, softening her mouth against his and he accepted her encouragement, drawing her into a moist kiss, more meaningful and less urgent than before. Then he pulled back. “You wanted to what?” he asked softly.

Her lashes fluttered upward. “To show you what it’s like to be an optimist, like we discussed the other day on the beach. To give you something to dream about when our time together is over.” Wide eyes stared up at him, drawing him in with her honesty and sweetness.

“You wanted me to dream about you.”

She inclined her head in a slight nod. “The same way I’ve dreamed about you,” she admitted.

He was flattered, but realized he didn’t like the end of their relationship being discussed aloud. Especially coming from her luscious, well-kissed lips. Even if she was right and an end was inevitable.

He leaned back, his chin resting on his knees as he studied her flushed face. “I’ll dream about you, Mallory. In ways I’ve never dreamed about anyone else.”

She met and held his gaze. Warmth and bonding bounced between them before she shook her head and broke the spell. She smiled. “Why don’t you hand over the oil and let me give you more for the memory books?” Her lips turned upward into a wicked grin. “You’re not the only one who can satisfy.”

CHAPTER TEN

JACK’S BODY HARDENED at the thought of Mallory’s soft hands on his straining erection. “And I know you were satisfied.”

“Typical man.” She laughed. “Come on. Let me have the oil. We can’t have you taking that body in the sun without adequate coverage.”

Coverage. He liked that thought. Jack passed the bottle toward her. “Careful, it’s slippery.”

“Oh, I think I can handle it.” Her fingers deliberately touched his before wrapping around the top of the bottle neck, in a provocative grip meant to show him she knew exactly how to handle a slippery appendage.