"You flirt with everyone." Christine frowned. "Every woman you meet. You want them all?"
Charlie shrugged. "Not in the way I flirt with and want you. Besides, you needed to come to me, make your own choice, take a chance. Since you have, we haven't even begun really."
"I trust you to take very good care of me." Her eyelids swept down. The unspoken please don't hurt me hung in the air.
He kissed her so gently it made tears form in her eyes. "You just showed me how much. You have to believe I trust you as well." So please don't hurt me, either, because I can't endure if you do.
"With anything I might suggest?" Christine bit her lip and glanced away as an adorable flush stained her skin.
Intrigued, he smiled nice and slow. "So there is a sensual vixen under the shy exterior. What do you have in mind?"
Charlie moaned as she slid away from him. She walked to the laptop case he'd flung on the small hotel desk before hitting the sound system. She dug a bit as he imaged his hands caressing her delectable ass, then she straightened and turned back. Four colorful scarves dangled as she glided them over breasts and stomach. "I saw this movie once and it gave me such interesting ideas. Care to try a few with me?"
He wondered what brought this change. Had the near plane crash caused this siren to come forward or had she simply kept this adventurous vixen hidden all these years? God, why had he waited so long? Her skin glowed, but not nearly as bright as her eyes. He loved her face, loved her body. But he was only human and needed a bit of a reprieve, as did she. Before they tackled more sensual needs, they should handle practical ones. He glanced at the bedside clock then rolled over and reached for the telephone. He ordered late lunch from room service then simply watched this mystery named Christine.
She swung one lovely leg over the other and crossed her arms. The scarves she held drew his gaze to her glowing skin. He could look all day, all night, and still not see enough.
"Prime rib and Victoria, Australia shiraz? What are we celebrating?"
Charlie rose and lifted first one slender hand then the other to his lips. "We're celebrating your unexpected arrival in Hawaii and taking chances, of course." He placed the scarves—God, what images those brought—aside. "Let's shower while we wait."
Chapter Four
Christine turned from letting the hotel staff exit the room. Her mouth watered at the sight of Charlie in nothing but a tented towel, one long toned leg partly exposed. His chest remained bare, all toned muscle and hard skin. How could she concentrate on food when dessert stood right in front of her? She'd thought washing him in the shower had been sexy. But watching him walk toward her, hair slicked back and wet, God, he personified sex. "The food is here." Geez, what a stupid, a duh statement.
He lifted the lid off one plate. "It looks good. Come and eat."
Oh, Christine wanted to eat all right. Him. Again and again. Head bowed, she went to the table, but he appeared behind her, holding the chair as she sank into it. The rare chivalrous gesture for most men came so naturally for Charlie. "Thank you."
He sat across from her and lifted both lids. The aroma of yeast rolls and rare prime rib competed with his scent. "So, while we eat let me tell you the history of Hawaii." The sound of his voice relaxed her, allowing her to enjoy dinner. Just enough native accent flavored his speech as deliciously as honey butter on the rolls. He described his world so vividly she fell more and more in love with his voice. They were literally worlds apart, yet she'd never felt closer to anyone.
Charlie buttered a roll and passed it to her. The simple gesture touched something fluttery inside her. Minutes later, she did the same for him, watching surprise enter his face before he smiled and took the bread. A drip of butter lingered at the corner of his mouth; his tongue darted to lick it. She immediately flashed back to his lips and mouth upon her in the steamy shower, his tongue tasting, bringing her climax. Her whole body went molten.
"Something wrong?" He licked his lips again, tongue gliding along his bottom lip.
Christine gulped wine and shoved a piece of meat so tender it didn't need a knife into her mouth, though she could taste nothing but his skin on her lips. "No. It's delicious." She met his gaze and saw the teasing smile. Pay back for her teasing in the bathroom. Two could play this game. She drank far too much Shiraz as she plotted, the flavor almost as delightfully sinful as what she planned for him next.