As Rico sipped his after-dinner cup of coffee Asia stole a furtive glance at him. No wonder he was the way he was. As a child he’d probably had to bold and assertive just to be heard in what must have been a busy and boisterous family environment. She could just imagine the interaction among the cousins, particularly the boys, each trying to outdo the other as they fought for dominance. Rico would have had to be strong and forceful to hold his own.
A smile tickled her lips as she thought of what he must have been like as a youngster in the Megalos family. With his lean figure he must have been a scrappy little thing, fighting his way past bigger, brawnier boys until he was able to compensate with a height that probably exceeded the majority of them. Rico was at least six foot one, taller than the average man, and that would have definitely worked in his favor.
“What are you thinking?”
Asia blinked. Rico’s question brought her back to earth with a bump. “Oh, nothing,” she said airily. “Just enjoying my tea.” To prove the point she picked up her cup and took a sip.
“Very good,” he said with a nod. “I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the meal.” Then he smiled and reached for her hand. “Now it’s time to burn off some of those calories.”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes snapped to his and she made to pull her hand away but he held it fast. His smile took on a mocking twist. He must have guessed what she’d been thinking. “Let’s go for a walk.”
Still holding her hand he stood up, forcing her to rise, and then he turned her toward the stairs leading up to the deck. “Up you go.”
He helped her up, following close behind. Up on deck the cool air of the salty ocean was a contrast to the intimacy of the cabin below.
A light, almost imperceptible shiver ran through her. The light silk of her blouse was poor protection against the night air which had dipped a few degrees since they’d boarded the yacht.
Rico must have seen her involuntary shiver because, before she knew what was happening, he’d gathered her in his arms, holding her so close she could feel the beating of his heart. As he held her he stroked her arms which were practically bare in the short sleeved blouse she wore.
“Let me warm you up,” he whispered as he stroked, his movements slowing to a seductive caress that was making a heated blush suffuse her body. He’d said he’d warm her and he was certainly doing that…too successfully. She suddenly felt so hot she was almost panting.
She swallowed. “I’m…alright,” she tried to say but it came out as a weak whisper then a gasp as, without warning, he dipped his head and captured her mouth with his own.
Dear God, what was happening? She knew, of course. Rico Megalos was masterfully and expertly taking over. He was seducing her and she couldn’t do a darned thing to stop it. She didn’t want to.
His lips, so strong and hard in the boardroom, were warm and pliable on hers. He was gentle with his kiss, as if soothing her fear, calming her jangling nerves, filling her mind with nothing but his kiss. Then, as she relaxed into him, reveling in the hardness of his body against hers, he deepened his kiss, sliding his tongue past her lips to explore her even more.
And that was when she knew the battle was lost. He was an expert kisser, teasing and taunting, probing then plundering until all she could do was cling to him as he swept her away in the seduction of his caress.
Heart racing, ni**les taut and tingling, she moaned when he pulled his mouth away to trail his lips down her neck and toward the curve of her collarbone. There he tempted her with tantalizing kisses until she arched her back, wanting more of him.
A fire raged in her belly, the flames reaching up inside to lick at the taut tips of her ni**les. Oh God, she wanted him. She needed his lips, his tongue on those tortured ni**les. She wanted him to soothe, to quench the fire that threatened to consume her.
“Please,” she gasped and reached up to slide her trembling fingers through the sleek silk of his hair. Without hesitation he moved his mouth lower. With powerful hands he lifted her higher, his mouth sliding down to the crevice between her br**sts.
He knew what she wanted. Dear God, he knew. Asia arched her back, her body clamoring for more. He answered her plea when he took the top of her bra in his teeth and pulled it down to expose her distended bud to the air. And then, to her sweet relief, he sucked it deep into his mouth, sending a tremor rippling through her body. God, that felt good.
Too soon, Rico pulled his lips away and set her gently on her feet. “You’re cold,” he whispered. “Shivering. Let’s go downstairs and get warm.”
Downstairs. Get warm. The words were like alarm bells going off in her head. Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. What the heck was she doing? How could she have been so stupid?
She’d lectured herself to death about not getting involved with a client. And then she’d gone and let him kiss her. And more. And now he was inviting her back downstairs to ‘get warm’. Where? In the bedroom? Not in this lifetime.
Asia pulled out of Rico’s arms. “I don’t think so,” she said, her voice as cool as the air wafting in off the ocean. “I think I’ve had enough for one evening.”
Rico dropped his hands and stepped back, a frown darkening his face. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I want to go home.” She fixed him with a stare as frosty as her voice. “Now, please.”
For a while he stared at her, saying nothing. Finally, he spoke. “Very well, we will go.” Without another word he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her shivering in the chill of the sea air.
Slowly she turned back to the railing and stared out onto the inky-black water. She wrapped her arms around herself, seeking what little warmth she could. As cold as she was, until Rico came back she would not be moving from this spot. Downstairs, warm and cozy though it might be, was off limits for her.
The fact was, she was weak. The events of the night had demonstrated that very clearly. She was a professional but she was not acting like one. She was ashamed to think it but her behavior was more like that of a love-struck schoolgirl. And she’d almost paid dearly for it.