Free Perfect for the Beach by Lori Foster, Janelle Denison, Kayla Perrin Page B

her ploy. She was after a wild, fast, hot tumble that would prove to him, and most likely herself, that she was in control of them. And unlike the way she’d surrendered to him that afternoon on the flight to Florida, she was determined to remain on top—literally and figuratively.
    As difficult as it was for him to refuse her, they wouldn’t be making love tonight, no matter how badly his body ached to drive deep inside of her.
    Without much effort, he managed to loosen his hands from hers and slide his arms around her waist. Confusion reflected across her expression as he gently eased her back down to the mattress beside him, then a whimper of frustration escaped her throat when he turned and drew her back up against the front of his body, spoon-fashion.
    “Alex?” The one word held a wealth of questions, and emotion.
    “Not tonight, Dana,” he murmured softly, then switched off the lamp, knowing it was going to be a long, restless night for both of them.
    With his arm draped around Dana to hold her close, he felt a sigh of breath shudder out of her chest, much like a sob. He squeezed his eyes shut, her pain and confusion nearly tangible. She thought he was stripping away that control she prided herself on, but he was really just redistributing it so that she’d learn to depend on him every once in a while.
    And know that it was okay to do so, without losing anything in the process.

Chapter Four

    Reclining on a lounge chair by the resort’s lagoon-style pool, and dozing with the warmth of the sun on her skin, Dana frowned as a large shadow loomed over her, blocking the bright, warm sunlight. She waited for the obstruction to pass, but instead felt cold droplets of water splash on her bare belly. Sucking in a shocked gasp of breath, she opened her eyes to find Alex standing above her, drenched from a swim in the pool.
    He combed his hair away from his face with his fingers and grinned unapologetically for getting her all wet, his mood playful despite all that still stood unresolved between them. “Hey, gorgeous, would you like to take a walk on the beach before we head back to our suite to clean up for dinner tonight?”
    She returned his smile and handed him a towel so he could dry off. “Yeah, I’d like that.” She stood and secured her matching sarong around her waist.
    Minutes later they were strolling along the shore hand in hand, with the ocean lapping against their feet and their toes sinking into the wet sand. A light, warm breeze blew off the coast, tousling Alex’s damp hair around his head and making her wrap swirl against her legs. Their walk was relaxing and serene, and though they were both quiet, there was no tension between them.
    Amazingly, the day had begun without the angst in which the previous night had ended, and for that Dana was extremely grateful. They’d slept in until after nine A.M., then ordered breakfast from room service and ate the meal out on their balcony, with a spectacular view of the ocean. At eleven they headed to the spa for their appointment and enjoyed soothing, stress-reducing massages, then opted for a late lunch at the resort’s café before going their separate ways for a few hours.
    Alex had gone to the golfing range to hit a few buckets of balls, and Dana had taken a book to the pool to relax and read, until she’d fallen asleep. Everything about the day was normal and pleasant and enjoyable, but she knew it was all a temporary reprieve. Alex was giving her time and space to figure things out for herself, which she appreciated, but she was all too aware that the clock was ticking on their time together and she’d eventually have to give him an answer to his proposal.
    She’d spent the better part of the morning and afternoon doing a lot of contemplating about her past, her present, and what she wanted in her future. She’d thought she’d had it all figured out—what she wanted out of life and what direction it was heading—but that was before she’d met