expect anything more from you than a resumption of our working relationship.’
Cade glanced down. She wasn’t looking at him; against the silver shimmer of the lagoon through the palm trunks her profile was elegant, sensuous—and as determined as the chin that supported it.
Oddly enough, he believed she’d been convinced she was frigid. He’d deduced something of it even before she’d told him; her reactions to his touch had warned him of some emotional trauma. Suppressing an uncivilised desire to track down and punish the man who’d done such a number on her, he wondered if this was why she’d refused Peter.
No, she’d
laughed …
That implied a certain crudity—or cruelty.
She’d rejected Peter in a manner that had left him so completely disillusioned he’d been unable to live with the humiliation.
So was now the time to tell her who he was?
Not yet, Cade decided. There was more to Taryn than he’d thought, and he’d only got just below the surface.
Why was she back-pedalling? She must realise she had no need to whet his appetite; he was still fighting to control a ferocious surge of hunger. In his arms she’d been eager and passionate, her willingness summoning sensations more extreme than anything he’d felt since his untamed adolescence.
But she had every right to remind him of their professional relationship. And he had every right to tempt her into revealing herself more. He stamped down on the stray thought that his desire might be gaining the upper hand.
‘Fair enough,’ he said, finishing, ‘Although I should warn you that I’m particularly fond of exceeding expectations.’
And waited for her reaction.
CHAPTER SEVEN
T ARYN gave him a swift, startled glance, faltered on a half step, recovered lithely and looked away but, beneath the shimmering gold
pareu,
her breasts lifted as though she’d taken a deep breath. The languorous perfume of some tropical flower floated with voluptuous impact through the warm air as they turned off the main path towards their accommodation.
Was she resisting an impulse to take the bait? Cade waited, but when she stayed silent continued with a touch of humour, ‘However, as we’re back to being professional, here’s what’s happening tomorrow.’
He gave her the programme, finishing with, ‘And the day ends with a dinner cruise on the harbour.’
At her nod, he said blandly, ‘To which you are, of course, invited.’
‘I’ve given up protesting,’ she said, irony colouring the words.
Cade permitted himself a narrow smile as he opened the door. ‘And of course you’ll be perfectly safe with all those people around.’
‘I’m perfectly safe anyway,’ she returned a little sharply, and said a rapid, ‘Goodnight,’ before striding gracefully towards the door of her room.
The fine material of her
pareu
stroked sinuouslyacross the elegant contours of the body beneath it, and he found himself wondering how she would look when it came off …
He waited until she reached for the handle before saying, ‘I’ve always believed that the best strategy was standing and fighting, but retreat is probably the right tactic for you now. Sleep well.’
She turned her head and sent him a long, unwavering look before saying, ‘I shall,’ and walking through the door, closing it quietly but with a definite click behind her.
Safe behind it, Taryn dragged air into famished lungs and headed for the bathroom, churning with such a complex mixture of emotions she felt as though someone had pushed her head first into a washing machine.
A shower refreshed her marginally, but sleep proved elusive.
Every time she closed her eyes she relived those searing kisses, so midnight found her wide awake, staring at the drifts of netting that festooned the bed.
Was Cade looking for an affair? Just thinking about that made her heart jump nervously and stirred her senses into humming awareness.
If so, she’d refuse him. He’d accept that—and, even if he didn’t,
Cade glanced down. She wasn’t looking at him; against the silver shimmer of the lagoon through the palm trunks her profile was elegant, sensuous—and as determined as the chin that supported it.
Oddly enough, he believed she’d been convinced she was frigid. He’d deduced something of it even before she’d told him; her reactions to his touch had warned him of some emotional trauma. Suppressing an uncivilised desire to track down and punish the man who’d done such a number on her, he wondered if this was why she’d refused Peter.
No, she’d
laughed …
That implied a certain crudity—or cruelty.
She’d rejected Peter in a manner that had left him so completely disillusioned he’d been unable to live with the humiliation.
So was now the time to tell her who he was?
Not yet, Cade decided. There was more to Taryn than he’d thought, and he’d only got just below the surface.
Why was she back-pedalling? She must realise she had no need to whet his appetite; he was still fighting to control a ferocious surge of hunger. In his arms she’d been eager and passionate, her willingness summoning sensations more extreme than anything he’d felt since his untamed adolescence.
But she had every right to remind him of their professional relationship. And he had every right to tempt her into revealing herself more. He stamped down on the stray thought that his desire might be gaining the upper hand.
‘Fair enough,’ he said, finishing, ‘Although I should warn you that I’m particularly fond of exceeding expectations.’
And waited for her reaction.
CHAPTER SEVEN
T ARYN gave him a swift, startled glance, faltered on a half step, recovered lithely and looked away but, beneath the shimmering gold
pareu,
her breasts lifted as though she’d taken a deep breath. The languorous perfume of some tropical flower floated with voluptuous impact through the warm air as they turned off the main path towards their accommodation.
Was she resisting an impulse to take the bait? Cade waited, but when she stayed silent continued with a touch of humour, ‘However, as we’re back to being professional, here’s what’s happening tomorrow.’
He gave her the programme, finishing with, ‘And the day ends with a dinner cruise on the harbour.’
At her nod, he said blandly, ‘To which you are, of course, invited.’
‘I’ve given up protesting,’ she said, irony colouring the words.
Cade permitted himself a narrow smile as he opened the door. ‘And of course you’ll be perfectly safe with all those people around.’
‘I’m perfectly safe anyway,’ she returned a little sharply, and said a rapid, ‘Goodnight,’ before striding gracefully towards the door of her room.
The fine material of her
pareu
stroked sinuouslyacross the elegant contours of the body beneath it, and he found himself wondering how she would look when it came off …
He waited until she reached for the handle before saying, ‘I’ve always believed that the best strategy was standing and fighting, but retreat is probably the right tactic for you now. Sleep well.’
She turned her head and sent him a long, unwavering look before saying, ‘I shall,’ and walking through the door, closing it quietly but with a definite click behind her.
Safe behind it, Taryn dragged air into famished lungs and headed for the bathroom, churning with such a complex mixture of emotions she felt as though someone had pushed her head first into a washing machine.
A shower refreshed her marginally, but sleep proved elusive.
Every time she closed her eyes she relived those searing kisses, so midnight found her wide awake, staring at the drifts of netting that festooned the bed.
Was Cade looking for an affair? Just thinking about that made her heart jump nervously and stirred her senses into humming awareness.
If so, she’d refuse him. He’d accept that—and, even if he didn’t,
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