CHAPTER FIVE

      They had fruit for dinner, but Melanie could barely eat as she watched the island grow darker and darker. Nervousness set in whenever she thought of the night to come, of being alone with Adam on a deserted island.

      After cracking a couple of coconuts open and using his knife to slice up several oranges, he’d gone back up the beach to fetch the clothes he’d left behind and the raft they’d floated in on. Adam made the decision that they should stay by the house in case it rained again, but for now, they remained outside.

      The heat had settled in like a damp blanket. A slight, balmy breeze barely stirred the air, rustling the dry grasses and fringed palm leaves. She got to her feet to gather the remains of their meal and put the scraps out of the way in a tidy pile. She knew Adam watched her every move, could feel his hot gaze touching on her everywhere. Earlier, before the sun had gone, he’d entertained himself by perusing his damn Key to the Keys, where he’d found the idea for scraping the coconut shells clean and filling them with the remains of the rainwater.

      She bent to rinse her hands in one of the few remaining puddles and nearly jumped out of her skin when he shifted.

      “Mel.”

      She slowly closed her eyes at the husky way he’d said her name. She swallowed hard, then whispered, “Yes?”

      A long moment of silence had her nerves pulled taut, when he finally said, “Come here.”

      With her back still to him, she sat on her heels, trying to calm her racing heart. Never had she been so conscious of another human being, but she should have suspected it would be this way. Good or bad, she’d always held a fascinated awareness of Adam that wouldn’t go away, not even with the passing of seven years.

      She was a grown woman, free to do as she pleased, and though she’d never really believed in casual sex, situations like this one just didn’t happen often. And in truth, there was nothing casual in what she felt for Adam.

      She turned her head to look at him. “Why?”

      Lazily, his voice nearly drugged, he said, “You’re keyed up. I can feel it. Come here and I’ll comb your hair.”

      She lifted one hand to her tangled curls. That’s all he wanted to do? He leaned against a palm tree, looking utterly relaxed, but she could feel his tension washing over her in waves. Her heartbeat doubled. “I...I can do it.”

      “I want to do it for you.” When she started to protest, he said, “It’s the price for using the comb. Now come here.”

      On legs that felt much too wobbly, she stood and walked to him until only a foot was between them. Adam took her hand, turned her around, then tugged her down between his thighs. Taking his time, he situated her just so. Melanie stared straight ahead at the silhouette of a palm tree against the dark gray sky. Adam’s breath touched her neck when he whispered, “Relax, Mel. I won’t hurt you. Ever.”

      She had no response to that. Her senses rioted, her mind numb against everything but the feel of his fingers in her hair, gently untangling every curl.

      “I like your hair short.”

      Conversation. Innocuous, innocent conversation. She grasped it like a lifeline, trying to hide the mixed jumble of emotions she suffered. “I cut it after college. Jerry didn’t like it. He thought it looked too unruly.”

      The comb stilled for the slightest moment, then Adam laid it aside. “You always had beautiful hair. I remember when you went from braids to barrettes to those pretty combs. I used to imagine your hair trailing over my chest.”

      “Adam...”

      “And my stomach.”

      She bit her lip, the imagery crystal clear in her mind.

      “Jerry must have been a damn fool.”

      Her heart was already racing when the weight of Adam’s hands settled on her shoulders. “It’s getting late.”

      Not knowing what to say to that, she simply nodded.

      “No one’s coming tonight to rescue us, honey.”

      She nodded again. Even if a rescue crew tried, finding them in the darkness would be nearly impossible.

      “We had a deal.”

      There it was—the thing she had dreaded most, and yet strangely hungered for. At least it was dark enough that he wouldn’t be able to see her clearly. She knew what she looked like, knew she was too thin, too gangly. A man like Adam, who’d had more than his fair share of feminine attention, might very well be disappointed. The thought made her stomach churn.

      He stood and pulled her up with him, then stepped in front of her. Heat seemed to pour off him in waves, bringing with it his heady scent—not of the now familiar cologne, but of the man. Breathing deeply, she drew that scent into herself. She felt drunk with the pleasure and nervousness of the moment.

      “Mel?” He touched her cheek, smoothed his hand over her skin. “It’s okay, honey.”

      She nearly collapsed. He wasn’t going to pressure her. It was still her choice, and for that reason more than any other, she wanted to prove herself. She’d made a deal and she would stick to it. But when her fingers went to the tie at her skirt, he brushed her hands away and did the unwrapping himself, gently easing the knot apart and revealing her with slow anticipation as if she were a long-awaited gift.

      Holding the skirt open with clenched fists, Adam simply looked. Melanie was grateful for the added shadows of the trees behind them, but then Adam dropped the skirt and took her hand, easing her into the moonlight. She held her breath, keeping her head high, refusing to show her uncertainty. She locked her thighs and waited.

      For long, agonizing moments, he stood there, saying nothing, barely breathing. When she saw the beginning of his slow smile, she almost crumbled inside. “Don’t...don’t you dare laugh at me, Adam Stone.”

      His eyes glittered in the darkness, and his hands cupped her hips, gently squeezing. “Honey, I’m so far from laughing right now, I couldn’t even work up a chuckle.” He gave her a light, barely there kiss on her lips, then dropped to his knees in front of her.

      Alarmed, she started to step back, but he held onto her.

      “This has been coming a long time, Mel.” His fingers on her hips flexed, caressing her. “Damn, I’ve wanted you so long, I can’t remember when I haven’t wanted you.”

      “You...you didn’t even like me.”

      “I liked you too much.”

      Not giving her time to mull that stark confession over, he slid his hot palms up and down the backs of her thighs. He made her knees weak, her stomach jumpy. “You’re perfect, Mel. Sleek and sexy.” He glanced up at her, his expression fixed. “How the hell did you disguise yourself so well?”

      He evidently didn’t want an answer. He leaned forward and placed a warm, damp kiss on her navel. Stunned, she braced her hands on his shoulders and drew in a shaky breath. “Adam, I feel...funny.” She could barely get the words out around the tightness in her throat.

      “It’s the coconut,” he whispered, nibbling on her belly with his lips and rubbing his cheek against her. “It’s an aphrodisiac.”

      “Don’t...don’t be ridiculous.” She moaned when his hands glided higher, coasting