The Ruthless Gentleman(38)

I’d kissed men before—of course I had—but I wasn’t sure I’d ever been kissed, not like this, not with Hayden’s possessive, perfect way.

I slid my hands up his chest, heat against heat, his heartbeat hammering against my palm. He pulled back for a second, narrowed his eyes and dived to my neck, pressing kisses into the dip between my collarbone, then trailing up, nipping and sucking before pulling away again, looking at me as if I was some kind of prize he’d never thought he would win and didn’t think he deserved, then hungrily found my lips again.

He was right, my pussy was tight and hot. I arched my body against him, trying to give it some peace. He moaned into my mouth, grabbing my ass, sliding his hand down the back of my thigh and raising my leg as he pressed his erection against my belly.

The heat between us winched up, higher and higher, with no telling when or if it would stop or explode.

My sounds were getting louder and I knew I needed things to stop before . . . before I became incapable. I couldn’t lose control. I was so close to not caring about anything but this moment, about anyone except Hayden and me.

The breeze carried laughter from a nearby yacht, echoing into the quiet night now the fireworks had stopped. If we could hear them, could they hear us, see us?

I pushed my hand against his chest and he pulled back, looking me right in the eye. I shook my head. “We have to stop this.” I wanted him to keep kissing me. I wanted to feel the heat coursing through my body for just a few more minutes, but I had to end this now.

“But you don’t want me to stop,” he murmured, scraping his scruff-covered cheek against mine.

“You’re right. I don’t,” I whispered, need spreading across my skin, but I managed to resist him and stepped back, out of his arms. “But I need to go.” I should never have come up here. I knew it would lead to trouble, however sweet it might feel in the short term. It was too risky. There was too much at stake. My brother’s care and my career were never going take second place to any man. But the choice had never felt so difficult, had never stung quite so painfully, as it did when I turned away from Hayden Wolf.





Seventeen





Avery


Everything was on its ass. Last night I’d kissed Hayden Wolf, which I absolutely should not have done. And this morning when I’d gone ashore after breakfast, I couldn’t get hold of my dad. I was five seconds away from freaking out.

So far this charter I’d managed to get ashore at least every other day to call my dad. Today was important. Michael got a physical therapy report every month from his therapist and it was due yesterday. The report set out Michael’s progress and was required by the insurer, but it also lifted all our spirits. Despite Michael’s accident being so long ago, the fact that he was still making progress gave us all the drive to move forward and especially Michael. It kept his goal of walking again at the forefront of his mind. Michael had just started his additional therapy, which my forty percent pay raise was paying for, and even though it was unrealistic I was hoping it would have already made a difference and the report would reflect that.

“Avery, Avery, this is Neill. Mr. Wolf is looking for you.” My radio rang out from my waist and I sighed. Hayden still insisted on dealing with just me. August and Skylar weren’t complaining, and usually neither was I, but right then I wanted to focus on finding an excuse to go back on shore so I could call home again.

I hooked my hair into a ponytail and straightened my skirt, checking my reflection in the floor-length mirror on the back of the door. “This is Avery. I’ll be right there,” I said into my radio and I headed to the galley. Last night I’d forced myself back to my room. This morning I could still feel the press of Hayden’s thumbs over my hips, still feel his teeth against my neck, and I wondered how long the memories might last, how long I could keep remembering our kiss. I wanted to etch it into my brain as the most perfect one I’d ever had.

I’d tried to avoid his eyes as I served him breakfast this morning, and he had seemed amused at my embarrassment. But he wasn’t the one who’d risked everything for a kiss. And although I was sure my guilt was scorched into my forehead, no one had said anything. And why would they? The only one who’d been onboard last night was Captain Moss, and if he’d seen anything, I’d have a plane ticket in my hand and my suitcase packed already. No one else knew.

“Where is he?” I asked Neill as I got to the kitchen.

“Pacing in the dining room.” He lifted his chin to the galley entrance. “This isn’t fair to you. August and Skylar are perfectly capable of being at his beck and call. It puts too much pressure on you.”

Why was Neill acting as if Hayden was being unreasonable? We’d had guests who were much more demanding. “I don’t mind,” I said, heading out.

“Just be careful. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

I paused in the doorway, my heartbeat shifting up a level, and turned around. “What?”

Neill shrugged. “He’s clearly got a thing for you.”

I frowned and hoped it covered my blush. “He does not. He’s just intense about his privacy.”

Neill stopped slicing whatever it was on his chopping board and fixed me with his stare. “Look at you,” he said, glancing at me from head to toe in the way only a gay man could get away with without being a sleazeball. “Of course he’s got a thing for you.”