She gazed silently into his eyes.

“It’s a risk, you and me. For you, it’s your reputation. For me…” He gave a short laugh. “Well, all the usual reasons. Plus, you’re Raine’s friend, and she’s going to kill me if you get hurt.”

“I’m not going to get hurt.”

“I’m counting on that,” Alec said honestly. He might be narcissistic and self-centered, but he didn’t deliberately set out to hurt anyone. He tried hard to choose independent, worldly women. That they were mostly gold diggers was regrettable, but then the breakup disappointed them on more of a financial level than an emotional one. And that was good.

He heard the steward behind him with the first course.

Alec came to his feet. He’d hold Charlotte in his arms later and try to chase away her demons. It was a temporary fix for both of them, but it was all they had.

The water in the aft-deck hot tub swirled around Charlotte’s naked body. Soft, underwater lighting reflected on the blue walls, highlighting her pale skin and Alec’s arms where they wrapped around her waist to anchor across her stomach.

Angry at the Hudsons? At first she’d dismissed Alec’s theory. Schooled by her diplomat grandfather and gentle, compassionate grandmother, Charlotte always had her emotions completely under control. She wasn’t given to outbursts of anger. She was analytical and empathetic. Anger was a self-indulgent emotion that was never productive.

But as dinner moved on, something pricked at her brain: Could Alec could be right? Had she spent the past twenty-one years repressing her anger? Was that why her stomach churned at the thought of seeing the Hudsons?

She’d always felt like an outsider. And she’d long since admitted to her jealousy of her cousins and their easy familiarity with each other. But was there more?

“Stop thinking,” Alec rumbled in her ear, giving her a quick kiss on the temple, his arms tightening for a split second around her waist.

She was cradled in his lap beneath the warm water. He’d asked the ship staff to give them privacy, so they were alone on the dark deck, surrounded by a smoked-glass guardrail. Clouds had been moving in for an hour, and the city lights turned blurry as the first raindrops plunked into the tub.

Charlotte snuggled against the cocoon of Alec’s body. She didn’t feel like an outsider now. In fact, for the first time in her life, she was at the center of the universe-hers and Alec’s. She recognized the danger of those feelings and vowed they wouldn’t get out of control. But for now, for tonight, Alec was a welcome break from the reality she’d have to face back at the movie set.

The rain grew heavy, fat droplets splashing into the hot tub.

“You want to go inside?” asked Alec.

“I like it here,” she responded, reluctant to break the spell.

“I like it, too.” He kissed her neck, tracing a trail to her damp shoulder and back again.

“You taste good.”

“It’s the rainwater.”

“No, it’s not.”

She tipped her head to one side, giving him freer access. His large hands slipped up her stomach, covering her breasts. “You’re soft,” he muttered. “So soft.”

She dropped her head right back, and he placed a warm, wet kiss on her lips.

“Have you stopped thinking?” he asked.

“I think you’re magic,” she answered, and he smiled.

“It’s nice to be magic.”

He kissed her again, more seriously this time. Then he carefully turned her so she was facing him, straddling his lap, her arms loosely around his neck.

He shimmied her close. “Do you want anything?”

“Besides you?”

“Coffee, brandy, dessert?”

“You’re going to call the steward?” She glanced meaningfully down at their naked bodies.

“We can have it delivered to the stateroom.”

“I assumed you had something else in mind for the stateroom.”

He smoothed back her wet hair. “I’m in no rush.”

Then his expression turned serious. “We’ve got all night.”

“What about Rai-”

He put an index finger across her lips. “Nobody’s called. Nobody’s going to call. It’s just you and me.” His gaze trailed from her neck to her breasts, her stomach and below. “You are astonishingly beautiful. I could sit here and stare at you all night.”

“That’s only because you can’t see my skinny derriere.”

“Turn around.”

“I don’t believe I will.”

“I’ve grown fond of your derriere.” He slipped a hand beneath her and gave a squeeze. “Plus, you ate all that pasta.”

She struggled not to wriggle under his hand. But it was strong and warm and oh-so-sensual. “The pasta was delicious.”

Alec kissed her mouth. “A dismal second.”

“To?”

He drew back. “You fishing for more compliments?”

“Oh.” She pretended to suddenly understand. “A dismal second to me.”

He chuckled low. “You are shameless.”

She gave in, shifting her body so that his hand touched the sensitive spot between her legs.

“Pretty much,” she agreed in a husky voice.

His eyes darkened, and he leaned in for a very serious kiss, his fingertips setting out on an exploration that made her gasp, even as cool rain water trickled down her spine.

“Inside?” he rasped, and she quickly nodded her agreement.

He lifted her out of the tub, wrapped them both in thick, white robes and carried her the short distance to the master stateroom.

The room was huge, with a cushioned, cream-colored carpet, gleaming cherrywood paneling, a massive bed with a rose-colored comforter, eight pillows and a padded bench at the foot. There were mirrors on the ceiling, oil paintings on the walls and a subtly textured, cream wallpaper that wrapped around a sitting nook with overstuffed furniture and porcelain lamps. Several flower arrangements gave the room a sweet, subtle scent.

Alec set her down on the soft carpet, dragging back the comforter to reveal crisp, white sheets. He tossed most of the pillows, then tugged at the sash of her robe. With warm hands, he brushed the terry-cloth from her shoulders, easing the fabric down her arms, until it cascaded to a pool at her feet.

“Amazing,” he whispered, drawing back to gaze at her naked body.

Charlotte felt amazing. She loved the warm look in his eyes, the hiss of his indrawn breath, the power of his muscled body as he tossed his own robe and stood naked before her.

She reached out to touch his chest, his skin warm under her fingertips. “Amazing,” she echoed.

He stepped forward. His palm cupped the curve of her hip, drawing her in. His other hand touched her chin, tipping her face ever so gently as he bent toward her for a soft kiss.

“I don’t want tonight to end,” he told her.

Neither did she. “What if we keep sailing? Into the Mediterranean, through the Strait of Gibraltar and out into the Pacific.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

“They’d probably send a search party.”

He raised an eyebrow. “But I wonder how many times we could make love before they found us?”

“I wonder how many times we can make love tonight?” she countered.

“Now there’s a challenge.” He backed her into the edge of the bed, kissed her soundly, his hands roaming, while she gave up any pretense at control, dragging him onto the bed, kissing his mouth, tasting his skin, running her hands down his back, his thighs, kneading his hard muscles, before sitting up to straddle his body.

They both groaned at the contact, staring into each other’s eyes. His hands bracketed her hips, easing inside her. He was huge and hot, and she gasped as sparks spread out to touch her fingers and her toes.

He locked his hands with hers, and he flexed his hips. She matched him thrust for thrust, her head tipping back, and the world sliding into a cataclysm of color until she cried out his name and he wrapped her in an engulfing hug.

Hours later, they lay side by side, he on his back, she sprawled on her stomach. She felt as though she might never move again.

Through bleary eyes, she watched him liberate a long-stemmed rose from the vase beside the bed. He stroked its soft petals along her shoulder, down the indent of her waist, over the curve of her hip then across her derriere.

“I’ve changed my mind,” he said, “your derriere is perfect.”

She couldn’t help but smile. “You do know how to show a girl a good time.”

“I try.”

“You didn’t have to do all this,” she continued. The yacht, the hot tub, the amazing dinner. “I’d have slept with you again anyway.”

His voice was a low rumble. “You mean I could have checked us into the Plaza Della Famiglia for thirty euro and had my way with you?”

She smiled. “Yes,” she answered honestly.

He stared, not moving, at the ceiling for a while.

There was a funny catch to his voice when he spoke again. “That means a lot to me.” He paused. “Knowing that you mean it.”

Then he rose on his elbow to gaze down at her. “But it’s also important to me that I didn’t do that.”

She nodded, understanding, touched by his point. And, quite frankly, a luxury yacht made for better memories than a cheap motel.

He gently brushed a lock of hair back from her cheek. “Of all the women…” He went silent for a long minute. Then he leaned forward to kiss her mouth.

He pulled her almost fiercely to him, kissing harder and deeper. Her energy returned in a rush, and their naked bodies meshed together. The rain drummed steadily on the window and lightning flashed in the sky, while the yacht, droning steadily, made a lazy turn to head back up the Tiber River.

They made it to the airport just in time to greet Raine and Kiefer and jump on the jet to get to London. The Montcalm Gulfstream had two seating areas, four armchairs facing each other at the front of the cabin and a couch, table and two side-facing armchairs at the back.

Raine seemed uncomfortable as they boarded, moving to the back and buckling in on the white leather couch. Charlotte followed, wondering if she’d somehow offended her friend by staying out all night. She and Raine were sharing a hotel suite, so Raine had to be fully aware that Charlotte had spent the night with Alec.

Alec and Kiefer sat down in the second row, on opposite sides of the aisle, facing forward. The captain came back to talk to Alec, while a steward offered drinks all around. Charlotte said yes to champagne and orange juice, steeling her courage to face Raine.

“You all right?” she asked Raine as the jet taxied for takeoff. Alec and Kiefer had immediately settled in to a work discussion.

“Yeah.” Raine nodded without glancing Charlotte’s way.

“The meeting?” Charlotte forced herself to ask. “It went well?”

Raine gave another nod.

The engines whined to full throttle, the jet gaining speed before smoothly lifting off the runway, climbing fast and banking north.

As they leveled, and the noise subsided, Charlotte gathered her courage. “Raine, I have to-”

“You’re probably wondering,” Raine interrupted, glancing worriedly at the two men in the front of the cabin. She leaned close to Charlotte. “You’re probably wondering why I didn’t show up last night.”

Charlotte was confused. “Show up?”

Raine nodded. “At the hotel. I-” Her eyes darted to Alec for a split second. “I was with Kiefer.”

Charlotte raised a hand to her lips to cover up the smile. “You spent the night with Kiefer?”

Raine nodded, looking pained. “I wasn’t going to-” She twisted her hands around her clutch purse. “I know I said I wouldn’t-”

“I slept with Alec,” Charlotte admitted in an effort to lessen Raine’s embarrassment.

Raine drew back. “Huh?”

“I didn’t go back to the hotel suite, either.”

“You slept with Alec?” Raine hissed.

“Shh.” Charlotte checked out the backs of the men’s heads to make sure they weren’t listening. “Yes.”

“So you didn’t even know I wasn’t there?”

“Didn’t have a clue,” said Charlotte.

“I could have gotten away with it?”

Charlotte nodded. “But you slept with Kiefer? What happened?”

“After the meeting,” said Raine, keeping her voice down, “we went to dinner. I wondered why you guys didn’t call, by the way.”

“I wondered why you didn’t call us.”

“There was dancing,” said Raine. “And, well…”

“He now knows you think he’s hot?” Charlotte suggested.

“He knows now.”

Both women stared ahead in silence for a moment.

“And Alec?” asked Raine.

“Knows I think he’s hot, too.”

Raine nodded, a grin growing rapidly on her face.

Suddenly, both women burst out laughing.

The two men turned to stare.

“Nothing,” Raine assured them.

“Girl talk,” said Charlotte.

Alec’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, but Charlotte gave him a benign shrug. It wasn’t her place to give away secrets. After a minute, the men went back to their conversation.