Cyrus glanced at her and she smiled. She meant it. The different environment had caused them both to relax. Hopefully the longer they stayed the closer they’d become.
Cyrus’s hand remained on his thigh, and she slipped her panties under his fingers. It took a few seconds for him to comprehend what he held. She knew the exact moment he did because he stiffened slightly and then looked briefly down at his hand. As he stuffed the black lace into his pocket, she took the opportunity to entice him further by crossing her legs and pulling her dress higher, up to mid-thigh.
He looked sharply at her. “What did you say?” he asked.
Daniella frowned at him in confusion. “I didn’t—”
“It seems my wife still isn’t well,” Cyrus said, talking over her. He touched her forehead. “I should get her back to the villa. She feels hot.” His eyes met hers, and the desire there did indeed heat her blood.
“Yes, we should probably go,” she agreed, putting on as much of a pitiful face as she could, considering she wanted to burst out laughing.
“Oh no, too bad,” Sylvia said. Her mouth turned down in disappointment.
“Yes, it is,” Cyrus said regretfully.
He stood quickly, and the O’Ryans looked startled at the speed with which he bolted from the chair. His behavior was comical because he remained calm on the outside, but his speedy movements contradicted his tranquil exterior.
“Have dinner on us.” Cyrus went for his wallet in the same pocket as her underwear. He tried to maneuver around it, but in his haste, the black lace fell onto the table.
Daniella covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. To his credit, Cyrus behaved as if there was nothing unusual about a thong falling out of his pocket. Completely unruffled, he calmly retrieved the scrap of fabric and stuffed it back in. Meanwhile, Sylvia flushed, her mouth partially open.
Rex had a small smile on his face and looked at Cyrus with a bit of envy and admiration. “Like I said, enjoy your freedom for as long as you can.”
Daniella stood. “I’m so sorry we disrupted your meal.”
“It’s perfectly fine,” Sylvia said, waving off the comment.
Cyrus tossed the colorful bills of currency onto the table. “Enjoy your evening,” he said.
“Thank you. You, too,” Rex said, a broad grin on his face.
“I plan to,” Cyrus said.
The men shared a look, and then without further ado, he grasped Daniella’s hand and hauled her toward the front door of the restaurant. She’d abandoned all pretense and was grinning from ear to ear. They flew down the steps as if running from a fire.
“I haven’t eaten,” Daniella said, laughing.
“Don’t worry. I have something to fill you up.”
A thrill shot through her. She loved when he used sexual innuendo. He didn’t leer or smile slyly like other men. He kept the same neutral voice, as if having a perfectly normal conversation without any sexual overtones. Normally, she thought it was sexy, but today it was hilarious and super-sexy.
Long fingers clasped her wrist and forced her to keep time with him, but she barely managed with his long, purpose-filled strides extending over the ground in a wider arc than hers.
“Cyrus, I can’t keep up. You’re walking too fast.”
“You started this,” he reminded her.
Then he stopped abruptly and without warning picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. Daniella squealed in surprise and glee. At the same time she placed a hand to her bottom to keep her dress from riding up and exposing her bare backside.
She laughed even harder now, hanging upside down over her husband’s shoulder as he rushed along the sidewalk parallel to the beach. He maneuvered between pedestrians to get her back to the villa as expeditiously as possible, uncaring about the stares as only Cyrus could be.
This was the Cyrus most people didn’t see. She loved his playfulness, and seeing this side of him made her feel as if she were in on a secret few people were privy to. As if he could let down the walls with her.
“You better not trip and fall with me. You need to slow down.”