my fiance showed up…"
"Yeah?" I looked at her, waiting to hear the end of the story.
"And he was the same guy."
"The man with the eyes that you couldn't stop staring at?"
She nodded.
"What did you want that guy to do? The one with the turquoise eyes?"
She only hesitated a moment.
"I wanted him to kiss me," she whispered.
The moment the words were out of her mouth, we both leaned towards each other. Our lips locked and I was on fire. She had her hands around my waist and was pressing her breasts into my chest. I rested my hands on her hips, above her bikini bottoms. The feel of her smooth skin was overwhelming.
She opened her mouth, and I slid my tongue between her parted lips. She made a little mewling sound and pulled me closer. I lost myself in the feel of her lips, her soft breasts, her skin.
A minute later, she pulled back, breathing heavily. I stepped away.
It was too hot. Too intense.
She put her hand to her mouth.
"I don't usually do things like this," she said.
Well, if she were talking about getting so caught up in a kiss that I lost track of time, space, and myself because I was so into her, I'd have to say...
Me neither.
Chapter 11
ASHLYN
My nipples were pebbled, and my core throbbed between my legs. My breathing was becoming harsh and erratic, and I could hardly see straight. Need was coursing through my body and I couldn't even think.
I'd never been kissed like that before in my life. And once again I let my mind wonder. If kissing him felt that good, what would it be like to make love to him?
But I had pulled back for a reason. Things were moving too fast. My mind knew that I couldn't sleep with a stranger. My body said I could.
I might have thrown caution to the winds and come away on this whirlwind adventure to another planet to save my family, but I couldn't change a lifetime of prudence overnight.
I put my hand over my swollen lips.
"I don't usually do things like this," I said.
His muscular chest was heaving, and those turquoise eyes possessed desire. For me! It was a heady feeling knowing that a man like him wanted me. It made me feel powerful. It made me feel beautiful. It made me feel unbelievably sexy. And I wanted him too.
But I wasn't going to have him. Yet.
I couldn't do casual relationships. That was a recipe for disaster.
He moved away from me, and it was for the best, no matter how much my body protested. We needed some space between us.
----
We spent the afternoon swimming and chatting. He told me about his grandfather and how he had helped him to restore The Dream. I told him about my brothers. It was nice.
I had a nap and woke to find him watching me with a soft expression in his eyes. From someone else it might have been creepy, but from Nathaniel it was romantic. The sun went down, and Nathaniel's housekeeper arrived with a meal in a basket.
"I thought we'd have dinner down here," he said, watching for my reaction. "Is that all right?"
"Sure," I said. "I'm starving. All this swimming and sunshine is making me hungry."
"That's not what's making me hungry," he muttered.
He smoothed out the sand near where we were sitting, making it flat. Next, he shook out a large blanket and spread it on the sand without a wrinkle. With precision, he placed the salad, seafood dishes, and a container with dessert onto the blanket. Finally, he handed me a plate, fork, knife, and spoon.
"Dig in," he said.
I took the plate and cutlery and closed my gaping mouth. I helped myself to everything. It all looked weird. But I needed to be open minded. I wasn't on Earth anymore
"Are you always so meticulous?" I said, gesturing at the neat picnic.
He gave me a rueful smile.
"Yes. It comes from growing up on and off of sailing ships. You can't have a mess on a ship. There's not enough room. Sailors are notoriously finicky about how they keep everything. I quickly learned that if I left a mess, I'd be working three times as long as if I had put things away properly in the first