40-Love - Olivia Dade Page 0,41

his mouth.

Her nails dug into his skin, and it felt like a benediction. A victory, the likes of which he hadn’t known for years.

He tore his mouth from hers, keeping eye contact as he slid his hand around to her front, still under her cover-up. His thumb stroked the side of her breast in a sweeping arc as he waited for permission. For a sign he wasn’t taking more than she was offering.

She rested both palms on his chest, but not in refusal. In exploration. They slid up and over his shoulders, down his arms. Then she covered his hand with hers and moved it over her breast. Positioned it so he was cupping the heavy, warm weight of her, her tight nipple pressing into his palm through the swimsuit.

Suddenly, not enough oxygen was making its way into his lungs.

“Tess…” He licked his lips. “Älskling, I can’t—”

Voices. In the distance, but too close to continue.

He dipped his head for one last taste of her, for one last feel of her plush lips parting for him. Open. Vulnerable. Exquisitely soft. And then he slid his hand out from under her cover-up and straightened it around her suit.

But he couldn’t stop entirely without making sure she understood what he wanted from her. Not just sex and bodies and careless pleasure, easily dismissed. More than that.

How much more, he didn’t yet know. But he couldn’t wait to find out.

So he brushed his lips across her temple, where fine threads of her dark hair had dried in the sun. Then across her eyelids, that fragile skin traced by tiny blue veins. Then her cheeks, velvety and hot. Finally, he rubbed his nose lightly against hers and hoped she grasped what he was attempting to communicate.

She rested quiescent beneath his attention, her fingers curled once more against his chest as her mouth curved in a soft, private smile.

“We have company.” He whispered the words into her ear, his nose nuzzling the plump lobe. “And you’re right. I need to get prepared for my early lesson. I should go.”

When he began to pull away, though, she laid a hand on his arm. “Wait.”

That single word was satisfyingly breathy, and he smiled at her and obeyed.

“Lucas…” Her thumb swept over his cheekbone and dipped into his dimple. Then she caught his eye, her gaze steady. “I’m sorry I was thoughtless and harsh when we argued. I have no good excuse, and I swear I’ll do better from now on.”

Sincerity shone from every word, and he owed her the same respect. The same honesty.

“I owe you an apology too. I was unkind.” He took her hand. Kissed her fingers. “And we both have our reasons, but you’re right. Neither one of us has an excuse. I’ll act differently in the future, I promise.”

Dammit. He really had to go.

Relinquishing her touch caused a literal, physical ache in his chest, but he somehow managed to pull away. To stand by her side and look down at that floppy hat, the swirling blue dress, the pale curves of her legs and feet shining beneath the water. To memorize the near-perfection of her in this moment.

She tipped her head back, and her round, sweet face came into view below the hat’s brim. Perfection achieved.

“See you tonight?” she asked.

“For our lesson?” This close, he could spot an adorable freckle dotting her right cheekbone. He wanted to taste it. “Or dinner?”

He’d take anything and everything she was willing to give him. Especially since they had so little time before she left the island and him behind.

“Both.” Then, to his pleasant shock, she raised her hand and gave his butt a light pinch. “Now get going before I lose control and ravish you in full view of other guests.”

Her grin was wide and confident, her eyes assessing as they scanned him from the top of his tousled hair to the insistent bulge pushing against the cool, damp material of his trunks.

“You never told me that was an option.” He frowned down at her. “I feel misled.”

Another, harder pinch. “Go, Karlsson. I need to get to work too.”

Several tourists came into view around a stand of palms, and he reluctantly moved a step away from her and turned his back to them, the water lapping around his knees.

“You’ll pay for that pinch,” he told her.

She clapped her hand onto her hat, making sure it wouldn’t fall off as she dropped back her head and—

Did she wink at him? Really?

Her teasing grin grew even more wicked. “I