nervous and fumbling, and he’d seen his role as educational—no real surprises there considering what he did for eight hours a day, five days a week. Although he fancied her like mad, and he’d always been able to see past her role as Dan’s sister, he’d still thought she’d defer to him, and he had to admit part of him thought he’d be the one taking charge.
Her enthusiasm, her passion, had completely taken him by surprise. Although she wasn’t very experienced in bed, her eagerness to try everything, and her complete abandonment in their lovemaking, had shocked him. And he wasn’t easily shocked. He’d been with wilder, more experienced women who’d known every trick in the book and had been prepared to try them all out on him, but none of them had made him feel like he had the other night with Faith. He’d never lain in the moonlight and worshipped a woman as if she were a Greek goddess. He felt embarrassed now, thinking about it, but at the time it was as if he’d been under a spell, or drunk maybe, although he’d never been drunk, so he had no idea what it felt like.
And now he had five other sins to try, and excitement and impatience blended inside him, along with a hint of wariness. He felt as if he were standing at the edge of a huge puddle, about to step in, and he had no idea how deep it might be. It could come right over his head, for all he knew. He had to be careful. Okay, he was only four years older than her, but he was the guy—he had to take charge of their relationship. He had to keep things light and fun. The seven sins were the key—they’d agreed to take part in this scientific experiment, and he had to concentrate on the physical side of things and keep both of their emotions well out of the way.
At that moment, Faith came around the corner, saw his car and gave a big smile as she crossed the car park toward him. He got out and leaned on the door, smiling as she walked up to him. She wore a long green skirt and a black camisole top, and he could tell by the soft shape of her breasts and the lack of straps that she wasn’t wearing a bra. She possibly had no panties on either. Damn it, three seconds into the date and he had a hard-on. There was no hope for him.
“You’re late,” he said, softening it with a smile.
“I couldn’t get rid of Eve. I think she may have cottoned on to the fact I’m meeting Beau tonight.”
“I find it very odd when you refer to me in the third person.”
She winked at him, glancing quickly around the car park before coming around the car to the passenger side. She carried a big cooler along with her night case and dumped them on the back seat before climbing in the front.
“I feel like we should have a secret password or something,” he said, getting in beside her.
“I did think about wearing my dark glasses and false nose.” They both laughed, clipping in their seatbelts.
“If we see anyone we know you’ll have to duck down.” He started the car and headed for the exit.
She chuckled, reached across and squeezed his hand. “I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”
“Me too.” He lifted her hand and kissed her fingertips. Glancing over, he saw her brown eyes were warm with affection.
He cleared his throat. “So what’s in the bag?”
“Ah, it’s a secret. Where are we going?”
“Er…not saying.”
“What are you, twelve years old?”
“Takes one to know one.” Laughing, they began talking about their day, while Rusty headed up State Highway Ten, out of town.
He drove for about half an hour, and Faith watched with interest as he headed north toward Doubtless Bay, but turned off at Pungaere Road for the Puketi Forest. Were they going camping? Halfway up the forest road, however, he took another turnoff across the beautiful rolling hills and fields full of cows and horses toward Lake Manuwai.
He smiled at her inquisitive glances. “Okay, stop giving me the third degree.” He put his hand in his pocket,
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