closed her eyes. “See you in a few hours.”
Her friend fell asleep in seconds. Issy, on the other hand, was wide awake. She slipped on the cotton robe the resort had provided and went to sit on the balcony. Pulling her legs up to her chest, she rested her chin on her knees and watched the resort slowly coming to life.
“How do you go about asking a man to sleep with you?” she wondered aloud.
She’d never thought of herself as one of those women who longed to be swept off her feet by a swashbuckling hero, but it would certainly make things less awkward if J.B. could do the honors.
Issy was no closer to figuring out how to even raise the subject with J.B. when Sapphie awoke and they headed to the beach for the day. Taylor and J.B. joined them after lunch and the four decamped to the pool bar, where they frolicked in the water and enjoyed cocktails. Issy was touched that J.B. made a point of ordering her the virgin version of whatever colorful concoction they were drinking.
She watched his behavior closely. Sapphie was right; he didn’t look at anyone but Issy, even though there were several stunning women who tried to get his attention. Not only was J.B. solicitous, but he also touched her a lot. Her arm, her shoulder, tucking a curl behind her ear, playing footsie with her when they were seated on the bar stools. When she lay on the pool float, he rested his arms beside her and occasionally dropped a kiss on her lips.
Each touch, each kiss, heated her blood far more than the blazing temperatures. They also built her confidence so that she found herself impatient for the sun to go down.
* * *
“A TOAST TO the four most fabulous people in Antigua.” Sapphie raised a champagne flute.
“Make that the Caribbean,” J.B. added, clinking his glass against hers.
“You guys are too modest. It’s the world.” Taylor grinned.
“I’ll drink to that.” Issy took J.B.’s glass and sipped from it before returning it to him.
The look he sent her was so hot, her skin practically sizzled. When he made a point of placing his lips exactly where hers had been, Issy’s insides turned liquid. The promise in his dark eyes suggested he might be the mind reader she’d hoped for.
Dessert couldn’t come quickly enough.
Issy’s nerves returned when Sapphie and Taylor left them to go dancing. The moment of truth was getting ever closer.
“How about a walk along the beach?” J.B. took her hand, pressed his mouth to the pulse point at her wrist, then linked fingers with her.
She smiled. “Sounds perfect.”
They took off their shoes, headed down to the water’s edge and strolled through the water until they were away from the main part of the resort. While they walked, they talked—about her job and his, about his family and hers. They carefully avoided mentioning the future, not even what they’d be doing when they got home.
At the end of the property there was a long stretch of empty beach with no buildings or lights, only a few palm trees. The moon turned the sand silver, making the place look magical. J.B. and Issy sat beneath one of the trees—he leaned against the trunk, while she sat between his legs, as she had during that crazy dance on the night they’d met—and watched the twinkling lights of the vessels out at sea.
And kissed.
Long, slow, deep kisses. Hot, hard, urgent kisses.
Soon, it wasn’t enough. J.B. jumped up and helped her to her feet. Arms wrapped tightly around each other, they didn’t stop walking until they were outside her door.
This time, Issy didn’t invite J.B. in for a nightcap. Now that the moment was actually here, she couldn’t say the words. Her throat was too tight. Her mouth too dry. So she grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. Then she took the Do Not Disturb notice and hung it on the handle before closing the door.
J.B. stood in front of her, his expression solemn. “Are you sure?”
She closed her eyes briefly. Last chance to back out.
The knowledge that he’d accept her decision, even if it was no, gave her the courage she needed. “Definitely.”
“Thank God,” he murmured before lowering his head and taking her mouth.
J.B. HAD PLANNED to take things slowly. Not that he’d taken anything for granted. He’d hoped, for sure. Tonight was their last chance, with Bella leaving tomorrow, but he’d known the odds of ending up in her bed were as evenly balanced as a shoot-out.
Although this was only a one-time thing, he understood it was a big deal for her, so he needed to make tonight special.
No pressure.
It had taken every ounce of self-control to let her set the pace while they’d kissed. Especially when the tip of her tongue had slipped between his lips and tentatively touched his. The combination of sweet innocence and passionate intent was killer.
Even once they were inside her room, he’d been determined not to rush.
And he didn’t. Not when she eased his shirt out of his pants. Not when she undid his buttons, her knuckles brushing against his chest with each one.
Things got a little dicey when she pressed soft, moist kisses to his bare skin.
When she licked the ridges of his six-pack, his good intentions began to crumble. He closed his eyes and bit back a moan.
J.B. held strong until she reached his belt buckle. Then his intentions were blown to hell.
“My turn.” His hoarse words sounded sharp in the silent room.
Bella’s hands stilled. Her uncertain gaze shot up to meet his.
He stroked a finger along her cheekbone and down to her mouth. “We don’t want this over before you’ve got started.”
She didn’t look reassured, so he traced her full bottom lip. “Trust me. Any more ready and I’ll embarrass myself.” He smiled.
Bella frowned. “But...?”
His finger across her lips silenced her. J.B. replaced his finger with his mouth, letting his hot, deep kiss take over the convincing.
Her resistance melted. He felt the nervous tension ease from her body, to be replaced quickly by desire.
When she tried to wrap her arms around his neck, J.B. caught her wrists and lowered them to her sides. “Uh-uh. Turnabout is fair play.”
She bit her lip but didn’t argue. Curiosity and need replaced the uncertainty in her eyes.
J.B. licked her lip, kissed both corners, before nibbling his way along her jaw. He dipped his tongue into the hollow behind her ear, then tugged her earlobe gently with his teeth. His smile broadened at the tremor that went through her.
Unhurried,
