The Tycoon's Secret Affair (The Anetakis Tycoons #3)(35)

The goal was to keep the island as private and as unspoiled as possible while still providing an influx of capital for the locals.

Jewel broached the subject of a trip down to the beach over breakfast, the day after the doctor had removed her staples and pronounced her fit.

Piers frowned for a moment. “I’m not sure you should be descending the stairs this soon after your surgery, yineka mou.”

“But I’ll have you to hang on to,” she cajoled. “Please, Piers. I’m about to go stir-crazy. I’ve watched from a distance for so long, I’m beginning to feel like I’m viewing postcards.”

He smiled. “I find I can deny you nothing. All right. After breakfast we’ll go down to the beach. I’ll have the cook prepare a picnic lunch.”

She bounced on her seat like an excited child. “Thank you. I can’t wait to see it!”

“Be sure and wear some comfortable shoes. I don’t want you slipping on the steps.”

She smiled at his solicitousness. How perfect things were right now. Gone was the feeling that at any moment her world could come crashing down around her. If only…if only he’d open up to her.

For days she’d argued with herself, vacillated from having the courage to ask and having it disappear. The other problem was that if she managed to get him to talk to her about his past then she’d be forced to speak of her own.

Soon, she promised herself. But not this morning. Nothing was going to ruin their outing to the beach.

Picnic basket in one hand, his other firmly wrapped around hers, Piers made his way down the steps carved into the face of the cliff. With each downward movement, the sounds of the ocean got louder and Jewel became more excited.

When their feet finally hit the sand, Jewel stopped and looked up at the impressive rocky cliffs looming over and around them, isolating their stretch of beach from the rest of the world.

“It’s like we’re in our own little world,” she said in awe.

Piers smiled. “No one can see you except by boat, and I have it on good authority the locals don’t fish this end of the island.”

“Conjures up all sorts of naughty possibilities, doesn’t it?”

His eyes glittered in response. “You can be sure once you are well that I’ll be all too willing to indulge in some of those possibilities.”

She laughed and kicked off her shoes, digging her toes into the warm sand. Unable to resist the lure of the foaming waves, she hurried toward the water’s edge, anxious to feel the water swirling around her ankles.

The cascading water met her and rushed over her feet. She threw out her arms to embrace the breeze and smiled in absolute delight as her hair billowed behind her. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deep and wished she could stop time, right here in this perfect moment.

“You look like a sea nymph,” Piers said. “More beautiful than a woman should be allowed to look.”

She turned to see him standing beside her, his pants rolled up to his knees, his feet bare.

“Is it safe to swim here?”

He nodded.

“We’ll have to do it sometime.”

“You look happy, yineka mou. Have I made you so?”

The vulnerability that flashed in his dark eyes made her catch her breath. This strong, arrogant man was as human as the next person. Not questioning the wisdom of doing so, she flung herself into his arms, wrapping hers around his neck.

“You’re so good to me, Piers. You do make me so very happy.”

Tentatively, he returned her embrace and as she pulled her head away to look at him, their eyes met. Their lips were but an inch apart, and she licked hers nervously, in anticipation of what she knew was about to happen.

Instead of waiting on him, she pulled him close, fitting her mouth to his. He seemed willing to let her dictate the pace, and she explored his mouth thoroughly, learning every nuance, his taste, feeling the warmth of his tongue.

His fingers were a soft whisper against her neck. They delved farther into her hair, holding her closer as she deepened the kiss. The salt from the ocean danced on their tongues, mixing with the heady sweetness of their passion.

Finally she pulled away, gazing up at him through half-lidded eyes. “And do I make you happy?” she asked huskily.

He ran his thumb over her cheekbone, stroking to the corner of her mouth. “You make me very happy.”

She smiled brilliantly at him then grabbed his hand and tugged him farther down the beach. “Come on! Let’s explore.”

Indulgently, he allowed to her to pull him along. They covered every inch of the beach from cliff to cliff. By the time they returned to where the picnic basket lay, she was starving.

“Help me with the blanket,” she said as she unfurled the brightly colored quilt. Laughing, she fought with the billowing material as it refused to cooperate.

“Here, let me.”

Piers wrestled the blanket to the sand and piled their shoes at each corner to hold it down.

“Now hurry and sit before it flies away again,” he said.

She gingerly eased down and dragged the basket into the middle of the quilt. Piers sat beside her and they began divvying up the food.

The sun shone bright above them, and the sand glistened like tiny jewels, scattered to the water’s edge. She sighed and turned her face up into the warmth.

“You look very content, yineka mou. Like a cat sunning herself.”