UP In Flames. Lori Foster
Читать онлайн книгу.
had spunk, he’d give her that. Most women would be carping and crying and complaining right about now. Their prospects for the coming night did not look good. But not Mel. No, she didn’t complain, she just went on insisting everything was dandy in that damn annoying Pollyanna way she had of looking at everything. Even with bedraggled clothes and ruined makeup, she managed to appear regal and in control. She sat before him, her legs crossed just so, her shoulders straight.
She was staring at him again.
“Damn it, Mel.” He dropped to his knees in front of her, at the end of his control. “Do you want me to pick up where we left off?”
She looked at his mouth, then slowly shook her head. “I want to talk to you.”
“That again?” He plopped down, feeling the gritty sand on the back of his thighs, his palms. Damn sand everywhere. “All right. Let’s get it over with.”
She drew her knees up to her chest and carefully arranged her skirt over them. “Whether you deliberately jumped in to save me or not, the result was the same. You did get me to dry land, and I do owe you.”
“That attitude ought to at least make our stay here interesting.”
She drew a deep breath, and he had the feeling she was reaching for calm. “I intend to buy your resort, whether you like it or not.”
He eyed her militant expression and shook his head. “No. Now would you like to wash all that paint off your face? It’s pretty much a mess.”
“Oh.” She pressed her palms to her cheeks and looked a little embarrassed. He hoped that would be the end of it, that she’d get sidetracked with appearances and quit poking holes in his self-esteem.
Not Mel.
“I can wash up later.”
“Not unless it rains again tonight. Already the puddles of fresh water are starting to disappear.”
She blinked slowly, as if barely comprehending his words. “You expect me to wash my face in a puddle?”
“Well, honey, your options are somewhat limited right about now. It’s either salt water, which is pretty sticky when it’s drying, or a fresh rainwater puddle. The sand is clean, so the water is, too. And I can even loan you some of my soap—for a fee.”
In the fading light, her pale blue eyes looked almost iridescent. He’d always thought she had the sexiest and most expressive eyes he’d ever seen. She didn’t need makeup.
“What fee?”
“Another kiss, that’s all.” He could still taste her, and he wanted more.
“Bargaining away your goods? A real gentleman would just share.”
“But we both know there’s no real gentlemen on this island, don’t we?” Provoking her seemed his only defense. If she was mad, she wouldn’t talk about owing him. “Now what’ll it be? You want the soap or not?”
Indignation made her eyes bright. “Oh, all right.” Taking him by surprise, she leaned forward, grabbed his face in both hands and gave him a hard, dry smooch. He didn’t even have time to pucker. “There. Now where’s the soap?”
“That’s it?” He had to fight to keep from laughing. Her averted gaze told him what that impromptu kiss had cost her in the way of nerve.
“That’s it.” She tried to look smug, but she avoided his gaze so the effect was minimal. “You didn’t say what kind of kiss.”
“I see I’ll have to word myself more carefully in the future.” Still smiling, Adam dug through his bag and pulled out the scented bar of green soap. It smelled like Brut cologne.
Melanie stared at it. “Is that all you have?”
“Sorry, but I didn’t take into account feminine bathing preferences when packing it. It’ll do the job. And you better hurry up before all the water either evaporates or sinks into the ground.”
She took the soap and moved only a few feet away to where a shallow puddle had formed in the sand between some scrub grass and a young mangrove tree. On her knees, she bent forward and splashed her face. The position put her shapely rump up in the air, and Adam had to choke back several comments that tripped to the tip of his tongue.
Worse than that, he had to sit on his hands to keep from touching that sweet little bottom. He’d felt its softness when they were swimming to shore, had twice rested his head against her delicious buttocks. He’d had to fight the inclination to explore that area further while the opportunity presented itself. He’d even considered taking a few small nibbles, he’d always had a certain fondness for feminine posteriors, and everything about Melanie Tucker had always been a source of fascination.
She’d been too frightened of the ocean to notice his interest; he doubted that was the case now. But the woman obviously had no idea of her own charms. If she did, she sure wouldn’t offer up such an irresistible temptation.
Hadn’t her fiancé ever told her what a great bottom she had?
When she lingered, splashing again and again, he finally turned away. He wasn’t into torture, and tonight his control seemed precarious, at best.
A few minutes later, face freshly scrubbed and even more appealing, Mel returned his soap to him. She sat beside him, looking more self-conscious than ever, but also a lot more determined. “Now, about the resort.”
“Do you want a comb or some lotion?”
“Does the lotion smell like the soap?”
He grinned. “Sure does.”
She stuck out her small hand, palm up.
Adam held the bottle out of reach. “You know you’ll owe me again, only this time it’ll be my choice.”
She sighed. “And what exactly would your choice be?”
After looking her over from head to toe, he locked onto her gaze. Her eyes were wide and wary, and he thought he might be content to simply look at her all night. “It’s a warm evening.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t relish sleeping on this sand.” He picked up a handful and let it sift through his fingers. “It sure as hell won’t be very comfortable.”
“We’ll be rescued before it’s a problem.”
He grunted. Damn persistent witch. “Maybe, but if we’re not, I want you to lose the skirt.”
Her back snapped straight, and she glared at him. “This time you have to be joking.”
“Nope.” He enjoyed watching the flush bloom over her face and upper chest. He imagined her breasts rosy and warm, and shifted uncomfortably. “It’s the only piece of material we have that’s big enough to serve as a sheet. We can both snuggle up on it.” When she looked furious, he asked softly, “What’s the matter, Mel? If you’re so sure we’ll get rescued, then it won’t be a problem.”
He’d caught her and he knew it. His motives were twofold. If he could keep her mind on sex and off his personal business, she’d likely forget his financial confession. At the same time, he knew he’d gladly be stranded for a month if it meant he could fulfill his fantasy of being with her. Like an obsession that wouldn’t go away, he wanted her as much now as he ever had. Maybe more, because he’d kissed her and knew how good she tasted, how perfect it had felt.
They had a staring contest going, one he knew he’d win because he enjoyed looking into her blue eyes.
“Oh, all right. But you’re being outrageous and making me dislike you immensely.”
He shrugged. “You’ve always disliked me. Not surprising. We’re from different worlds.”
Her mouth tightened. “I disliked you, Adam, not because you didn’t have as much money as