Free Taking Chloe by Anne Rainey Page B

and be out on the water within the hour.”
    Chloe laughed, feeling a lot more carefree than she had in a long time. “Let’s do it!” The sexy glint of arousal in Merrick’s eyes kick-started her heart. “I love it when you get that wild look, babe.”
    Chloe pulled Merrick to a stop, rose up on her tiptoes and covered his lips with her own. Merrick stepped forward, aligning their bodies. He tilted his head to take over the kiss. His tongue probed the seam and she parted, aching for his flavor on her tongue. The kiss seemed to last forever.
    Someone yelled out, “G et a room,” effectively yanking them out of their erotic haze. Merrick dropped his hands and stepped back. Chloe couldn’t catch her breath.
    “If we weren’t out in the open…” Merrick groaned.
    Oh, wow. She could only imagine.

Chapter Ten
    It’d been a week filled with revelations. After the day in the park, Merrick seemed determined to wring every ounce of fun he could out of their trip. They’d gone parasailing, which she’d discovered she loved. The heights had made her a bit shaky at first, but with Merrick right beside her she’d gotten over those initial jitters. They’d gone out on a jet ski the next day and she’d gotten a bit too pink from the sun. Chloe hadn’t cared, though; she’d been having way too much fun. Who knew she had a thing for speed? She’d already begun working out a plan to buy herself one. Unrealistic and way out of character, but who cared? Sometimes a girl needed to have a little fun.
    Three days into their vacation, Merrick had arranged for her to have time at the hotel spa. The full treatment—massage, manicure, pedicure and facial. It’d been heavenly. Afterwards, he’d made love to her for hours. In the last five days, they’d made love in the shower, the bed, the patio and there’d even been a wild moment against the door to their suite.
    This was to be their final evening. Chloe’s legs shook with nerves. When she’d agreed to the trip, she’d been ready for a mental breakdown. Her heart had been in tatters as she watched her marriage fall apart. Six days of bliss with Merrick had changed them both. She still didn’t know where they were supposed to go from here, but she had two things she didn’t have before: hope and determination. The time had come to fight for her marriage. She was ready. Even if it meant tying Merrick to the bed, which was exactly why she stood in the bedroom of their suite with two silk scarves.
    Could she possibly be so bold as to force her husband to submit to her desires? Would he even want to? His aggressive and dominant nature would probably balk at the idea. Only one way to find out.
    Chloe placed the makeshift binding on the nightstand next to the wine chilling in the ice bucket.
    She went to the bathroom and checked her appearance one more time. She’d gone shopping early in the day at the little boutique attached to the hotel and bought herself a sexy, red, pleated babydoll and matching thong panties set. She didn’t bother with makeup other than a little pink lip gloss, and she’d left her hair down, just the way Merrick liked it.
    She’d managed to get him out of the suite when she’d explained she had a surprise that would make their last night special. He’d grumbled a little, but she could see the anticipation in the blue depths of his eyes, too.
    Chloe heard the card key in the lock, and her stomach bottomed out. Oh, God. Showtime.
    She walked back into the bedroom and picked up the silk scarf, then waited for her husband to enter the room. She didn’t wait long. Merrick suddenly stood in the doorway, fists clenched at his sides, nostrils flaring. He looked her over with slow purpose, taking her in from head to toe.
    She could swear her knees knocked together.
    “You take my breath away.”

    The deep timbre of his voice floated over her, sending her into a new realm. It fueled her courage as nothing else could. “Thank you, Merrick.”
    He moved