impossible to say more. She knew there had been every chance he would fix the boat but now he had confirmed it, she couldn’t comprehend her disappointment. Her time with him was over.
“I don’t want to go.”
“What?”
“I want to stay for a couple more days.”
“Why?”
“I like it here.” She made unnecessary adjustments to the cutlery on the table as she tried to gather her thoughts. She was getting into deeper trouble by the moment but seemed powerless to stop herself. “Besides, it would be a shame to leave now I’ve spent all of this time cleaning everything,” she finished lamely.
His expression grew serious, and she lowered her eyes rather than face more explanations. However, he tilted her chin so she had to look at him. “I don’t think it would be very smart to stay here any longer.”
“Why not?”
“Honestly? Because I can’t trust myself with you, that’s why.” He sounded regretful as he continued, “You must recognize the sparks flying between us. I want to make love to you, and unless I’m very much mistaken, you want this too.”
The blood in her veins pulsed and surged as she gazed into his warm, blue eyes so full of desire. He had at last spoken about this extraordinary sexual tension that had been there from when they had met. Both of them aware of it but not willing to acknowledge it. Until now.
Swallowing hard, she found her voice. “You’re not mistaken, Jack. I do want you to make love to me.”
He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “Thank you for being honest. But, as much as I would like to, I can’t.”
Stepping back, she stared at him. Didn’t he realize how important this was to her? That she was offering herself to him? That she had never been with a man but now she wanted this man. She needed only this man.
“I don’t understand. Do you have a girlfriend on the main land?” Please, please say no. She clenched her fists, her body tense as she waited for his reply.
“No. It’s simpler than that. I have no protection with me. Unless you’re on the pill, I couldn’t risk having sex with you and making you pregnant.”
Her face burned at his outspokenness. She held her breath at the image of his lean body on hers as he entered her, loving her, making her complete, with his baby.
“Are you on the pill by any chance?”
“No.”
“Well, that’s that. I’m sorry but condoms aren’t items I stock in my larder.”
She rubbed a hand over her eyes not quite believing this conversation. He made jokes and she made a fool of herself. “It’s okay. But, perhaps we could stay tonight, Jack?” she added, with a tilt of her mouth.
“I guess we can if you want to.” He moved to lift the lid on one of the saucepans and peered at the contents. “At least we’ve cleared the air and know where we stand.”
“Yes. And I can leave here knowing that Jack, the fisherman, wanted to make love to me. If things had been different, I mean?”
He turned and studied the beautiful girl fidgeting with the place mats. She looked forlorn, as if hoping for reassurance from him.
“I’ve never wanted a woman more in my whole life,” he breathed and watched as her face lit up and she stepped toward him.
He held up his hand to stop her. “I think a quick swim before lunch would be a good idea, don’t you? I have an overpowering need to cool off.”
Changing into his swimming trunks in the spare bedroom, he noted with pleasure the freshly made-up bed, the clean floors and polished furniture. He paused as he looked out of the window onto the overgrown garden at the side of the house. He’d had to say it, he thought. He had to bring their feelings into the open and discuss them. It had developed into an impossible state of affairs, which had been exacerbated over the few hours they had spent together. He was amazed this could happen but it had, through the looks, the caresses and the unspoken words full of unfulfilled promises.
She had shocked him. First, asking to stay on the island and then her declaration that she wanted him to make love to her. He could sense this was not normal behavior for her and she had stepped from her comfort zone by making such bold statements.
Picking up a towel, he gave a wry smile. He would never have believed he could get