“I do.” In the table by the lounger. He stretched out over her.
She skimmed her foot up and down his calf, which brought the heat of her more fully against his erection straining like hell to get out of his boxers.
“You sure were confident in your plan, Troy.”
“Confident in how damned hot we both get the second you walk into the room, or into my thoughts.”
“That’s actually pretty romantic.”
“I’m trying.” Now probably wasn’t the time to tell her he’d taken the edge off in the shower the night before. But he was grateful he’d done so, because no way in hell was he going to waste this chance with her on some quick trigger finish. He would be in control, damn it. Holding himself in check at the waterfall had been worth it. “And as for being confident about today? Not exactly. I’m never certain of anything around you. You surprise me on a regular basis. So while you were changing, I stored condoms in about a dozen different places.”
“Why not by the waterfall—or in a beach bag for when we went to the lagoon?”
“You surprised me.” And they’d improvised well.
He had no complaints about the appeal of carrying this fiery-haired beauty—his fiery-haired beauty—up to his lair. He was damn glad for the privacy and security that allowed him to roam the grounds freely with her. The couple who serviced the home lived five miles away, and they never came unless he called. No one would get past the wired gates without his say-so.
He and Hillary had free run to do whatever, whenever they wanted here.
“I surprised you?” She tugged the hair along his neck gently. “Very cool. Because you’ve been surprising the hell out of me since the second you talked your way into the seat beside me on the plane.”
“Any objections?” He slipped his hand between them, gently rolling her nipple between his thumb and forefinger.
“Only that you’re talking a lot, and I have better plans for your mouth right now, like using those teeth to tear into a condom wrapper.”
He pressed his thigh between her legs until she moaned. “I do like a woman who knows what she wants.”
“In that case, this time, I want control.”
Power plays were cool by him since they were both going to be winners here. “I’m all yours.”
“Well, we can start by getting rid of your board shorts.” She tugged at his waistband and together they sent his swim trunks flying into the pool.
Her eyes and hands went to his hips, then curved around his arousal. He passed her one of the condoms, and she sheathed him with torturously slow precision that threatened to send him over the edge, here and now, with the monkeys laughing at his lack of restraint. But then she’d vowed this was about her turn to be in control.
Rolling with her, he shifted to his back, bringing her on top of him. She straddled his hips and lowered herself onto him inch by inch, stretching, accepting him into her body. He guided her with his hands on her hips, thrusting into her over and over as they found their rhythm. Her husky purrs of pleasure spurred him on, made him want to bring her over the edge again. He cradled her br**sts, and she rewarded him with a breathy gasp. He couldn’t take his eyes off the beauty of her. The way her hair slithered over her shoulders as she rode him. How her br**sts moved in his hands.
The pleasure on her face.
With each stroke, he claimed her as his, again and again. Or maybe she was claiming him. Right now, all he cared about was that he had her. And he would have her over and over this week. The thought of losing this, of losing her, ripped through him, and his fingers dug into her hips, guiding her harder and faster, watching for the signals that she was close to completion, as well.
A flush rose up her chest.
The pulse in her neck throbbed faster.
Her head flung back, auburn hair streaming as she—
Yes. He thrust into her a final time, the silken vise of her body pulsing around him as he came, powerfully and completely. He pumped into her one last time and wrung yet another cry of pleasure from her. His arms went around her, gathering her as she melted onto his chest. He kissed her forehead, tasting the salty dots of perspiration along her brow. Their sweat-slicked bodies sealed and holy hell, he was in trouble.
For the past seventeen years he’d told himself he was done with family. Only claiming a group of brothers equally as cynical and world-weary as he was.
Today, with Hillary, he wanted more.
* * *
Three days later, Hillary reclined against Troy in the bubbling hot tub, mint leaves floating around them and scenting the night air. She’d had more sex since arriving here than she’d had in her entire life.
Okay, perhaps a slight exaggeration, but she certainly had never been this satisfied. Troy’s meticulous attention to detail, his determination to study every possible way to make her come was mighty enticing. She’d never had a man this devoted to giving at least as much pleasure as he received. Sagging back against his chest, she let the pulsing jets work their magic on her well-loved muscles.
She tipped her head back to look at him, taking in his now-familiar face. “Thank you for my cow towel.”
“You already thanked me,” his voice rumbled against her.
“And for the big fuzzy cow slippers.”
“Wouldn’t want your feet to get cold at night.” His hands slid just under her br**sts, massaging her ribs, her stomach, soothing and arousing even though her body was too exhausted to comply.
“Coffee definitely tastes better in a cow mug.” She twisted to kiss his shoulder, right over the spot where she’d nipped a little too hard earlier. He had a way of driving her crazy like that. “Although the hula cow by my toothbrush was a little strange, but it made me laugh.”
“Then I’ve done my job well.”
She’d laughed herself sore when she’d realized all the computers—and there were many in his house—had Holstein cow screen savers.
“You’ve been very generous and thoughtful—and fascinatingly original.”
“God forbid I ever be boring.” His strong fingers worked along her thighs. “Would you like a black-and-white diamond pendant to go with your collection?”
“You’re being outrageous.” Outrageous—and so charming she didn’t know how she would go back to the real world again, where this fantasy would fade. Because she knew without question, the fantasy always faded.
“Damn, does that mean I have to take it back to the store?”