“Does your tattoo have a meaning behind it?”
He looked at his arm, then up at her. “Sort of. I wanted something to represent the culture here and show my love for the ocean and how much it’s become a part of me since I moved to the island. Also, Maori tattoos are believed to have protective qualities, so putting the waves on me is supposed to keep me safe when I surf. But the flowers are really the only things that have any true symbolism.”
“Which is what?” Too pushy. “Sorry, you don’t have to answer that.”
“It’s okay. Cherry blossoms were my mom’s favorite flower. The two inside the main part of the tattoo represent Lucie and me, still trying to make our way through life.” He lowered his head, clearly focusing on the two flowers riding the wave at the top of his shoulder. “These represent our parents…swept away from us by powerful things we couldn’t control.”
Vanessa’s heart broke. She couldn’t imagine losing parents who loved you. It must have been so hard for him and Lucie. Probably still was. “I’m sorry, Jackson. It’s a beautiful tattoo.”
“Thanks.” He gave her a warm smile. “Did you get enough to eat?”
“Oh my God, are you kidding? I feel like I could give birth to a Vegas buffet right now. That was so good. Did you have to charm the pants off a hostess to sneak all that out for you?”
Leaning back on one hand with his other arm propped on his bent leg, he raised his left eyebrow, the one with the sexy scar running through it.
“Is that what you think of me? That I’m just some playboy who gets what he wants by sleeping with women?”
“I don’t know. Are you?” Please say yes so I can hate you and be done with this insane attraction.
“I’m not sure,” he said with a teasing smirk. “I’ve forgotten all the other women since I’ve met you.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You’re so full of shit your eyes should be brown.”
“Okay, that might be a bit of a stretch.” The wide smile slowly faded. Topaz eyes enslaved her with a sudden seriousness she hadn’t expected, and her fading laughter died in her throat.
The intensity of his gaze, and what it meant, unnerved her. “What?”
The hand not supporting his weight lifted to the side of her face. He kept his touch so light she wondered how hands meant to destroy could be so incredibly gentle.
“There is something I haven’t been able to forget,” he said, his voice gruff.
Vanessa swallowed hard as his thumb caressed over her cheekbone, the rough pad causing tingles in its wake. “And what’s that?”
His eyes abandoned hers to settle on her mouth, and his thumb followed and traced the fullness of her lower lip. “The way you responded to my kisses last night. And how badly I want to kiss you again.”
He pulled lightly in the center until her mouth parted and ran his thumb along the edge of her bottom teeth. The tip of her tongue met the tip of his thumb as she licked, hesitantly at first, then more boldly. The hint of the sweet pineapple he’d eaten earlier made her mouth water and the simulated invasion made her sex ache.
Their bodies leaned toward each other of their own volition, and now they were halfway to an embrace. Even sitting, he towered over her. Not many men were much taller than her, but Jackson was large enough to make her feel almost dainty.
His breathing became ragged as he watched her tongue swirl around his thumb. Then she closed her lips and sucked. He groaned and a wash of heady power gave her the idea to get back at him for the stunt he pulled on her last night.
Her breasts felt heavy in the bikini she wore beneath her tank. She wondered if his body was just as affected but didn’t take her eyes from his face. Finally, to prove he didn’t completely run the show, she opened her mouth, tilted her head back to get the angle she needed, and bit the pad of his thumb. Hard.
She’d expected him to jerk his thumb away and curse. She’d planned on laughing at his shock and then exact her revenge by leaving him hungry for more. But she thought wrong. Instead of cursing, he growled in pleasure.
“If we weren’t on a public beach right now, I’d show you exactly how much that turned me on. For now you have a reprieve. Later…you won’t.”
“And if I don’t want you to show me anything?”
Leaning in the rest of the way, Jax sipped at her lips once, twice, three times, and then captured them in a slow and sensual kiss that made her feel cherished and wanted. When at last he pulled away, he grinned and said, “Then I’ll just have to change your mind.”
Ordering herself to pull it together, Vanessa hoped she didn’t appear as breathless as she felt. “You’re not off to a bad start.”
“Glad to hear it. Now I’m going to go surf off this raging hard-on while you relax.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Good luck with that.”
“I’ll need it. It’ll probably throw off my balance.” He winked. She rolled her eyes. “Be good while I’m away, bride-to-be.”