Powerful and Proud: Beneath the Veil of Paradise / In the Heat of the Spotlight / His Brand of Passion

‘We could go there if you like,’ Chase offered. The prospect held an intriguing appeal. ‘And I did say the when, where and how, it’s true. But now I’m giving you some of those need-to-know details.’

She said nothing, just turned to stare out at the sea. They were in open water, the wind starting to die down. He should tack again, but he just waited. This moment was too important.

‘I don’t want to talk about my past,’ she said slowly, forming each word with reluctance. ‘I’ll give myself in other ways, but not that.’

‘That’s kind of a big one.’

She turned to face him, and he felt as if a fist had struck his soul. She looked incredibly, unbearably bleak. ‘Then you can take me back right now.’

Chase held her gaze, felt a twisting inside him. She was truly beautiful, he realised, but it was a stark, severe beauty, all clean angles and pure lines. And sadness. So much sadness. ‘No need for that,’ he said as lightly as he could. ‘I agree.’

Her breath came out in a rush. ‘Good.’

‘So it’s a deal?’

Her mouth trembled in an almost-smile. ‘I guess it is.’

Chase stood up and walked towards the rigging. It was time to change direction. ‘Then let our week begin.’

CHAPTER FIVE (#u05679086-c80e-5dc4-ba86-e2c794dd1af8)

MILLIE watched Chase steer the boat—he’d done something with the sail again—and tried to slow the hard beating of her heart. It was impossible.

She couldn’t believe she had agreed. She couldn’t believe she’d wanted to agree. They weren’t her terms, not by a long shot, but maybe she could live with them. One week. No talking about the past. Mind-blowing sex.

Yes, she could live with them. Even if she felt a kind of numb terror at the thought of what lay ahead.

‘So, are we going somewhere now?’ she asked, rising from the bench to join him at the sail. This time she watched for the boom.

‘Yep, land ahoy.’ He pointed straight ahead to a crescent of sand amidst the water. It didn’t look like much.

‘What is that?’

‘Our own version of Survivor.’

‘You mean a deserted island?’

‘I knew you were quick.’

‘What are we going to do there?’

He gave her a knowing look. ‘What do you think?’ Millie gulped. Audibly. ‘Relax, Millie. We’re going to eat lunch.’

‘Oh.’ Another gulp. ‘OK.’

‘Although,’ Chase mused as he navigated the boat towards that slice of beach, ‘I almost think we should just do the nasty and get it over with, so you stop looking at me like I’m going to jump you at any second.’

She felt a flare of anticipation—and relief. ‘Maybe that would be a good idea.’

Chase gave her another knowing look. ‘I said almost.’

She folded her arms. ‘Well, when are we going to—?’

‘Need-to-know basis only,’ Chase reminded her breezily. Then he was mooring the boat and the island—it really wasn’t much—loomed before them.

He jumped out first, splashing through the shallows to moor the boat more securely, before turning to her and holding out his arms. ‘Want to jump?’

She stood on the deck, one foot poised uncertainly on the railing, unsure just how she was going to get out of this thing. ‘No, thank you.’

‘I’ll let it go this time, but remember our terms, Scary—you’ve got to give me everything.’

She stared at him, saw him looking both serious and smug, and then without warning or even thinking she took a flying leap from the boat and landed right on top of him. With a startled ‘Oof!’ Chase fell back into the sea, pulling her with him. She was soaked instantly, and she felt the hard lines of his body press into her own soft curves. Excitement and awareness flared like rockets inside of her, obliterating thought.

Then through the sudden haze of her own desire she saw that Chase was wincing in what could only be pain. Mortification replaced lust and she tried to clamber off him. ‘Did I hurt you—?’

‘No.’ He held her still on top of him and sucked in a breath. ‘Surprised me, though.’ He adjusted his arms around her, sliding his palms down her back so her hips rocked against his. ‘Not that I mind.’

The water lapped around them, salty and warm. Her face was inches from Chase’s and she could see droplets of water clinging to his cheek and lips. Unable to resist touching him—and, really, why should she resist now?—she put the tip of her finger to one of the drops on Chase’s cheek. He sucked in another breath, his gaze holding hers like a vise. Daringly, Millie touched another droplet on his lips. His mouth felt soft and warm, hard and cool all at the same time. Sensation zinged through her, frying her senses. Just one little touch and she was already drowning in a sea of desire.

Chase hadn’t moved, just kept his hands on her hips, cradling her with aching closeness. She felt the hard thrust of his arousal against her thighs and instinctively shifted, though whether to bring him closer or farther away she didn’t even know. Couldn’t think.

The moment spun out and Millie felt the breath dry in her lungs as she waited for him to move.

And then he did.

‘So.’ Slowly, smiling, he eased her off him. ‘Lunch.’

So they weren’t going to go for it right then. She felt a bewildering mixture of disappointment and relief. Of course, he had said he preferred the moment before rather than after. There was still so much to look forward to.

Millie struggled up from of the water, watching as Chase rose out of the ocean like some archaic deity, water streaming in rivulets off the taut muscles of his back. He sluiced the water from his face and hair and then turned to her. ‘You got a suit under there?’

‘A suit?’ She glanced down at the now-soaked striped top and capris her secretary had ordered her as part of her holiday wear. She hadn’t had time to go shopping. ‘Umm... No.’

‘Shame. I was looking forward to seeing you in a string bikini.’

‘I don’t own a string bikini.’

‘Let me guess—sensible one-piece.’

‘I burn easily.’

‘Remind me to apply another layer of sunscreen on you after lunch. But first, we dive.’

‘Dive?’ she repeated incredulously. ‘But I just told you I don’t have a swimsuit.’

Chase shrugged. ‘You’ll have to swim in your underwear. Or naked, if you prefer.’

‘What?’ This came out in a screech. Chase raised his eyebrows.