‘Oh!’ Olivia drew in audible breath as the dancing started. ‘How do they do that?’ she breathed.
The two young Thai men, bare-chested, spun and dipped, twisted and swirled through the shadows of the night. The fire-tipped sticks created incredible patterns that lit up the air with eddies of orange; spirals of flame surrounded each dancer. Olivia gave a small cry and reached out across the table to grab Adam’s hand; the heat of her touch on his skin rivalled the blaze of the dance.
‘That was incredible,’ Olivia breathed.
‘They’re moving farther down the beach,’ Adam said levelly. ‘We can go down later and see some more if you like?’
She shook her head, strawberry tresses ruffling round her oval face, releasing the scent of freshly washed hair to tantalise him.
‘Crunch time,’ she said, letting go of his hand and curling her fingers round the stem of her champagne glass.
Anticipation grapple-hooked his chest, caused his heart to hammer his ribcage.
‘I’ve been thinking about what you said in the cave,’ she said. ‘About you being on offer for the night.’ A small, nervous laugh escaped her lips. ‘I’ve made you sound like a BOGOF supermarket deal.’
Adam tipped his hands upward. ‘That doesn’t sound like the impression I’m aiming for.’ Keep it light. Unease prickled his skin at how important Olivia’s decision was to him. It was a night. Important? Yes. Crucial to his entire well-being? No. Though it was fast becoming more and more critical to a rapidly growing part of his anatomy.
A welcome smile touched her lips even as she rolled her eyes. ‘I was forgetting that you are above the echelons of those needing to shop for bargains. BOGOF means buy one, get one free.’
Adam grinned. ‘There’s only one of me, honey.’
‘Don’t I know it? Which is why I’ve decided to climb on that conveyor belt for the night.’
Relief washed over him in a warm wave even as he strove to remember the rules of the game. ‘Welcome aboard.’ He sucked in much needed air. ‘But remember one thing, Liv. You’re unique. Not interchangeable. This night is about us. OK?’
She gave a small nod, as if she had processed and approved his words, and then hers lips turned up in a shy smile. ‘So what now?’
Adam returned the smile, aiming to project a whole lot of inner wolf. ‘We are going to do whatever you want, Liv. Your choice. Your control. Your terms.’
* * *
Olivia tried to think over the exhilarated buzz that hummed through her body, turning her into a live wire of excitement. They were going to do it—assuage this crazy attraction. Any which way she wanted.
‘Whatever I want?’ she asked.
He nodded.
‘OK. Don’t laugh, but I want to go home and sit under the stars and make out.’ She blurted the words out.
A smile tipped his lips and creased his eyes.
‘Hey,’ she protested, ‘I said don’t laugh.’
‘I’m not laughing. I’m thinking that sounds about perfect.’
Light-headedness born of anticipation made her giddy as they rose together. Adam made to pull out his wallet and Olivia shook her head. ‘My treat, remember? It’s already paid for.’
‘So we’re all done here?’
‘Check.’
‘Then come on!’
Olivia’s heart did a funny little flip at the huge grin on Adam’s face as he held out his hand and she slipped hers into it.
Half running, half walking, both of them laughing in sudden exhilaration, they made it back to the villa. It was only when they stood on the threshold that Olivia felt the onset of faint panic, and an absurd shyness tugged across her chest as they stepped inside.
But diffidence loosened its hold as Adam reclaimed her hand and led the way onto the decking. Without breaking their connection they settled onto the woven bamboo swing chair.
Olivia curled her feet under her bottom on the white cushion as the chair rocked under their weight, feeling that strange shyness returning. It had been easier back in the day in the lift, or in the limo, where passion had simply overtaken them with no time for thought.
This was different. Adam had given her a choice.
She stared up at the inky black sky, coruscating with starlight, and turned to Adam. The half-moon dappled his profile with its beams.
‘It’s beautiful,’ she said, meaning You’re beautiful. But maybe that wasn’t an appropriate thing to say to a man? Her tummy dipped with desire; this was right. How could it not be?
Stop overthinking, Liv.
She took a deep breath—infusing her senses with the calming frangipani aroma—and dropped a bare foot to the ground to act as a pivot, twisting herself onto his lap. Her knees straddled his lean hips, the core of her pressed against his hardness, and she exulted in the reaction.