Sea Glass Island (Ocean Breeze) - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,42
night with a full moon predicted, she thought to herself. Would that put Ethan in the same mood she was in? Or was he immune to such things?
By the time they reached the waterfront, the sky had darkened and the huge moon was casting its light across the water, bringing silver-tipped waves to shore. They walked down to the water’s edge. Samantha kicked off her shoes and let the waves lap over her feet. She was going to suggest Ethan do the same before it dawned on her that walking in sand might be difficult with his prosthesis and that water might not do it any favors, either. Since he’d suggested the walk, though, she wasn’t about to hint she thought he might not be up to it. He knew his own capabilities better than anyone, and obviously prided himself on having mastered the use of his artificial limb.
Instead, she focused on the tranquil scene before them. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she said, unable to keep a note of awe from her voice. “I never see such clear skies in New York.”
“It is beautiful,” Ethan said, his voice oddly ragged.
When she glanced up, she saw he was looking at her, his gaze intense. “Samantha...” His voice trailed off, leaving an opening.
She seized it and stepped closer. “Don’t say anything,” she whispered, putting a hand on his cheek. The sandpapery texture was all male. So was the heat.
“Bad idea,” he murmured, though he defied his own warning and leaned down, touching his lips to hers.
To the contrary, Samantha thought it was an excellent idea as she lost herself in the kiss. It was sweet and tender and restrained, but there was an unmistakable sense of urgency just below the surface. She wanted desperately to tap into that, to shake Ethan up, to make him let go and kiss her the way he had done a thousand times in her teen fantasies.
Though she’d been seduced far more than she’d been the aggressor, she dared to touch her tongue to the seam of his lips, earning a moan of pleasure. Even so, he put his hands on her shoulders and took a step back, exhibiting that same exasperating restraint that had marked all their encounters. How would they ever get past that, she wondered, when on some very deep level, he didn’t want to?
“I still think we’re playing with fire here,” he said.
She smiled at the worry in his voice. “I hope so,” she retorted, eager for the fulfillment of all those long-ago daydreams and not caring for the moment that she was putting her heart on the line.
His eyes widened at her bold response. “You really are going to be the death of me, aren’t you?”
“I hope not. I just want to tempt you.”
“You accomplish that by walking into a room,” he said with unexpected candor. “This goes way beyond temptation, Samantha.”
“Not if we’re still standing here instead of racing to your place,” she said.
Ethan smiled at that, then took yet another step back. “Which we are not going to do,” he said firmly. “One of us needs to think clearly. I can’t give you what you need, Samantha. I don’t believe in forever or happily-ever-after. Even if it does exist, I know I’m not cut out for it. And you’re only here for another week or so. Why start something that could only end badly?”
If Samantha hadn’t seen the struggle underlying his words, she might have pressed her advantage, but how could she, knowing that Ethan—the man who never had regrets—would be filled with them in the morning? So would she, more than likely. She might not agree with the limits he’d put on his life, but how could she not respect them?
“Could we just sit on the pier, enjoy the night?” she asked, not ready for the evening to end, not if it wasn’t going to have the ending she’d hoped for. “Maybe have a little friendly conversation?”
“Sure. We can do that,” he said, taking her hand for the walk back. He glanced at her. “And just so you know, Samantha, that may have been the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
“Telling me no?” she said, startled by the admission.
He nodded.
“Then why did you do it?”
“Because it was the right thing to do. You deserve so much more than I have to offer.”
She frowned at the suggestion that he couldn’t possibly be enough for her. “Can I ask you something?”