Blush - Nicola Marsh Page 0,1
who idolized him and had him on a fast track to the senate. Not for the public who he vowed to serve with honesty and integrity, despite the few who believed him.
Nah, tonight was all about him.
“Do you want to get out of here?”
He hoped to God she’d say yes.
Her steady gaze sparked with understanding and something more. Something that made his blood fizz with expectation.
“I’d love to.” Her fingertips brushed his and he clasped her hand before she changed her mind. “But I’m sharing a villa with Chantal.”
“Damn. I checked out this afternoon because I’m flying out in a few hours.”
“Oh.” Disappointment downturned the corners of her lush mouth. He knew the feeling. No frigging room and a gorgeous redhead who had the same thing on her mind he did: sex.
“We could take a walk on the beach?” she said, glancing at the ocean over his shoulder. “I took a walk this morning, found a fabulous cove.”
His blood that had been fizzing a moment ago? Rushed south in a big way at her boldness.
“Secluded, I hope?”
She nodded and squeezed his hand. “You know I’m not in the habit of seducing politicians, right?”
“And you know I’m not in the habit of seducing accountants?”
She laughed, a soft sound that made him want to ravish her on the spot. “Starlets and models, yes. Accountants? Highly doubtful.”
“You’re beautiful.” He captured her chin, leaving her no option but to meet his gaze. “Honestly? I haven’t seduced anyone in a long time.”
Her skeptic eyebrow quirk spoke volumes.
“That makes two of us,” she said, her hint of bitterness surprising. “Let’s make a pact.”
“Pact?”
“You have a plane to catch soon and a public life to head back to.” She hesitated and gnawed on her bottom lip, the display of vulnerability endearing. “Why don’t we spend a few hours together then continue with our respective lives?”
“A secret island assignation, huh?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Then I head back to Vegas, you to wherever, secure in the knowledge our seduction skills are safe for another six months.”
“I’m based in LA.” He laughed. “Speak for yourself. Been more like nine months for me.”
“Try twelve.” She wrinkled her nose, a cute gesture at odds with her coolly elegant appearance.
“How is it someone as beautiful as you hasn’t had—” he bit back sex, too personal, “—a date in a year?”
“No time or inclination.”
She was lying. He saw it in the quick look away, in the tiny twitch of a muscle in her jaw.
Not that he cared. He didn’t need to know her darkest secrets. For the next hour before he boarded that jet and returned to his miserable life, the only thing he needed to know was how he could pleasure this gorgeous woman.
“Know the feeling. About the lack of time,” he clarified, enjoying the spark of amusement in her eyes. “The inclination? Always there.” He shrugged, bashful. “It’s a guy thing.”
She laughed as he intended. “For two people in a lengthy dry spell, we’re doing an awful lot of talking and not enough seducing.”
He tugged on her hand so she landed flush against him, the feel of her soft curves a powerful turn on. “I’m all for moving onto the seducing part. Starting now.”
Her nipples grazed his chest and he bit back a groan as she leaned forward to murmur, “Follow me.”
He didn’t need to be asked twice.
He would’ve followed Adele to a nearby volcano and walked on lava if she’d asked, he was that goddamn horny.
For a guy who’d been taking care of himself to relieve pressure rather than any real enjoyment, his dick had suddenly become the center of his universe. And it demanded retribution, in the form of one sizzling redhead who led him across the beach, around a rocky headland and into a cave that looked like something out of a movie.
“Wow,” he said, releasing her hand long enough to slip off his shoes and socks, surprised by how much he liked feeling the sand beneath his feet.
When was the last time he’d been to a beach, let along strolled on the sand? Five years ago? Ten?
He remembered visiting Bondi Beach in Sydney with Jess a decade ago on their outback adventure…had it really been that long? Was his life that screwed up he didn’t take time out to enjoy the small things?
He knew the answer to that question and the resounding ‘hell yeah’ pissed him off.
“Spent the morning here,” she said, slipping off her sparkly stilettos and heading deeper into the secluded cover. “Chilled out. Did some thinking.”
“Looks