The Perfect Plans Series [Box Set] (59 page)

“I’m open to talk about anything, but you’ll have to be a little more specific. Which part would you like to discuss? The one where you swept me off my feet, or the one where you swept me off my feet?”

“Well,
specifically
,” he glances towards me, “…the part when you bugged out a little when I mentioned the love word.”

“I didn’t
bug out
.” I scrunch my nose in mock defiance. “You’re really picking up the North American slang, aren’t you? Maybe I’m a bad influence.”

“Aby, I’m serious.”

“Alex,” I stop abruptly, turning to face him. “I love you,” I reach up to touch his cheek. “I can say that because I’m ready to. It doesn’t mean I expect you to reciprocate something
you’re
not ready to.” My hand slides down along his chest; it’s a purposeful motion to avert my gaze. I’m not lying to him, but I would be lying to myself if I ignored the pang in my heart that longs to hear him say those three words. “Love comes with trust for you,” I bravely smile up at him. “And despite that I’ve tested that lately, I do know how you feel about me.”

“Do you?”

“Yes. I do. And until you’re ready to tell me,” I nip at my lip seductively, desire oozing from my gaze, “…just show me.”

His eyes burn sapphire in the moonlight, his mouth parted on a husky breath as he cups my face to take me in a fierce kiss.

Trembles of need burst through every nerve as his tongue claims me, his hands devouring their way down my neck and spine. I reach for him, moaning as he grabs my waist, squeezing me tight against him. Every touch, every brush of his lips and tongue speak more than any words possibly could. I feel his need for me, his pull to me, as strongly as the air I breathe.

Reaching for the hem of my dress, he tears it up and over my raised arms, tossing it to the side before I witness his surprise. He devours my nudity, looking into my eyes with carnal hunger - a hunger that tells me we wouldn’t have made it this far into the evening if he had known what was missing beneath my pretty little sundress.

Grabbing my nape, he pulls me in for another assault of the senses at the realm of his perfect lips and tongue, my hands feverishly tugging at the closure of his shorts.

I moan from the loss of his kiss as he reaches to pull off his shirt, bending to discard his bottoms to the sand. The sight of his erection, bobbing eagerly against is sculpted abs is the end of me. Pouncing, I wrap my arms around his neck, reclaiming his lips as he cups my ass to lift me, my legs securing around his waist as he carries me out into the warm ocean waves.

“MMMM…WHAT WAS that for?” I mumble against Alex’s lingering lips.

He brushes my cheek, straightening to sit down on the porcelain edge of the claw foot tub, “I woke up wanting to kiss you.” His eyes, raking over my submerged body, leave a trail of goose bumps in their wake. “As delicious as this visual is, it wasn’t nice to find you weren’t lying next to me.”

“I’m sorry,” I pout dramatically. “My body was begging for a bath. I swear I have sand in every crevice.”

“Not possible.” His heated gaze repeats its consumption of my naked form before his lips curl up in slow, soul burning grin. “I devoured every crevice of your perfect body in the shower last night.” He dips his hand in the water, lathering me with lust at the touch of his fingers up my thigh and tummy, a breathtaking, teasing caress of my sex in their journey.

“Well, perhaps you weren’t
thorough
enough,” I bite my lip devilishly.

His smirk widens, and I take advantage of the attention of his eyes returning to mine to display my overwhelming need for him in my gaze. Insatiable doesn’t describe what this man does to me. Being naked and wet under the captivating pull of him merely adds to his effect on me. Not to mention the euphoric romance of our locale. I only wish we could stay here on our little fantasy island, hidden from the realm of reality forever. For now, I’ll settle for the warmth of his beautiful body wrapped around mine in this tub. “Off with thy pants, Alexander the Great.”

“Not just yet,” he replies on a whisper, tracing a path through the beads of water leading to my belly button, his eyes lost in the motion.

I’m lost, myself, to the feel of him, my body reacting to the explosive current of his electrifying touch and the heat of his gaze. In his hands, under the spell of his eyes, I’m transported to another world. His world. And he has this way of making me feel like I’m the only one in it.

Mine
, his profession zings though my psyche as his touch tantalizes along my core.
Yours
, I reply silently, moaning, closing my eyes in the pleasure of his fleeting graze.
Always
.

Opening them to his stare, I note the sudden melancholy floating across his face. “Alex?”

He says nothing as he stands, turning to dry his hands in the terry robe hung nearby. Although he offers a warm grin at my questioning frown, I can’t help but shiver at what lies beneath it. Leaning against the wall, he bites the corner of his mouth as though preparing to break bad news.
Damn
. Please don’t be bad news.

“I received a message from the producers,” he begins, looking down momentarily in regret. I’m sure it has something to do with the disappointment that unconsciously, though, undoubtedly flashed across my face. “They need to push the shooting forward,” he looks back to me, crossing his arms over his chest, relaxing into his lean against the wall.

“What does that mean for you?” I attempt to lace my question with an odd mixture of nonchalance and understanding; an added forced smile in hopes of passing. I’m sure I failed.

“We shall see. I have to call them.”

“Okay,” I smile sincerely, trying to make him feel better. He’s obviously worried this may affect our little escape, and more so how I will react. The least I can do is lesson his guilt. It’s not his fault that reality is calling. “Why don’t you go make the call, I’ll get cleaned up for breakfast by the...”

“No,” he shakes his head, the return of his devilishly, delicious smile reheating my skin despite the cooling water. “I’ll go make the call,
you
stay right where you are. I have to scour every inch of you for lingering sand,” he adds, bending his legs to hover at the side of the tub. Brushing an escaped strand of my pinned hair behind my ear, he leans in to whisper a soft kiss across my lips, his tongue teasing a lick that I feel right between my legs. “Don’t go anywhere.”

I watch him walk away, leaning my chin on the side of the tub, devouring his incredible physique. My eyes linger on his perfect ass beneath his white pajama bottoms before moving up to his broad back, my nails aching to scratch down every delicious muscle as I scream his name. I stay that way, involuntarily staring towards his long retreated form, until I shiver from the chill of the water, and the loss of his touch. The chill of reality lurking.

It’s not like we can hide from it. Alone on an island or not. Sighing, I lean back into the mould of the tub.
Maybe I can hold him hostage here
, I purse my lips at my inner dreamers fanatical contribution to a solution.
Arg, pirate Aby
, I mime the title, giggling to myself. I’ve officially flown the coop. Less than two days in the sun on a tropical island certainly has its way of easing up my defensive wall. As well as being a willing prisoner of love to one
Alexander the Great
, of course. The combination has worked wonders. It feels good to let go. Being back in Alex’s arms is all I need to face the lingering fears of reality -
his
reality.
Thank God for second chances
, I smile, sitting up to unplug the drain and turn on the hot water.

Settling back into place, I dip my toes in the cascading stream, running my hands through the water to pull the renewed warmth upwards to surround me. My flesh is perked from the chill, my nipples even more so at the thought of Alex’s return. The slow reheat of the water titillates every aroused pore, and I close my eyes, basking in the anticipation of his touch.

“You’re stunning.”

My eyes dart open in surprise, a delicious flutter running through me at the sexy sight of him leaned against the doorframe watching me. “You’re not so bad yourself,” I reply breathlessly.

His sweet smile doesn’t reach his eyes, and I take a deep breath in preparation for the pending news. Folding his arms, he leans into the frame further, his jaw clenching. It’s clear he’s gauging his words - and my reaction.

I hate that I’ve created this hesitation in him at the hands of my history of bad reactions.
Pathetically
bad reactions. Well, not anymore. I need to be as strong for him as he has been for me. “Whether we have to leave today, tomorrow, or the next,” I begin with a comforting smile, “…it doesn’t matter, Alex.”

His gaze drops to the floor for a moment before he looks back up to me, a small closed-lip pull of the corners of his mouth.

I feel the pang of disappointment in my gut at his silent affirmation of the early end of our island excursion, but I don’t want him to feel it too. At least not because he feels guilty about how
I
feel about it. “As amazing as this escape has been, as long as I’m with you, it doesn’t matter where we are,” I pour every ounce of love and strength into my tone and smile. “So, when do we leave?”

“Tomorrow afternoon,” are his only words of reply.

“Well, in that case, Mr. Incredibly Sexy and Romantic,” I cup my chin seductively in my palm, leaning against the side of the tub, “…what are you waiting for?”

Desire curls in around the melancholy glimmer of his irises, effectively transforming his gaze and demeanor with burning returned want. Reaching for the waist of his pajama bottoms, he pulls them down to the delight of my watchful eyes.

A devilish smile escapes me as I lean back and watch the man of my dreams, in all his glorious nudity, walk towards me, anticipation soaring through my clenching core.

THE BRIGHT SUN glitters across the pool, its warm rays dancing with the cool water beading on my slickened flesh as I float weightlessly in Alex’s arms, lost in the erotic euphoria of his hold.

“This is amaze-balls,” I close my eyes, relishing in the feel of his strong hands beneath me, gliding my body along the water.

“I’m glad you approve,” he chuckles, adjusting his grip of me to keep me afloat with one hand, cupping water in his free palm, playfully pouring it over my stomach. “If only we could stay longer. I’d keep you here forever, if I could.”

Opening my eyes, I use my hand as a shield, taking in his darkened silhouette from the brightness of the sun. His wet curls slicked back, water droplets sluicing down his cheeks, neck and wide shoulders from his recent dip, send my heart rate soaring.

“You
can
keep me forever,” I smile, reaching up to touch the perfection of his chest. “It doesn’t matter where we are, as long as I’m with you,” I remind him. “It’s
you
that’s amazing.” I need him to know that it’s not the expensive locale that has me in awe. It’s him. It’s everything about him.

“I could say the same, baby.” His shy smile makes me love him even more.

“Do you realize how hooked you have me?” I question with a playful evil eye, maneuvering from his hold. Wading the water to stand before him, I place my hands on the heated skin of his tan shoulders, desperate to feel him beneath my palms.

He welcomes the shift with a sinful smile, reaching for my waist to hold me in place, looking into my eyes with adoration.

I could stare at him forever, this man I love. Held in the engulfing dominance of his large hands, I feel precious. Protected. Loved. I don’t need to hear him say it to know how he feels. His actions speak so much louder than any words. And though I hope mine do as well, I can’t help but want to tell him over and over. But…not right now. This moment is perfect, and I don’t want to ruin it with a reminder that what I feel for him is bigger than the both of us.

To be honest, I’m still trying to wrap my head around the enormity of the love I already feel for him. Isn’t that, after all, the real reason I ran away? I’ve faced that epiphany. Shared it with him even. But we never really delved into the underlying question behind my fear - Are we moving too fast?