LITMIR.BIZ

       Chapter Seven

      ‘SO—DO YOU have anything particular you’d like to do today?’

      Leaning across the table to spear a piece of pineapple from a huge platter of fresh fruit, Malachi smiled at Addie. She held her breath. He was wearing a pair of dark blue swim shorts, and his long, muscular legs were sprawled out temptingly towards her. With his face tipped up to the sun and his dark hair falling loosely across his forehead, he looked impossibly glamorous, and intensely male, his lush beauty easily rivalling the tropical perfection surrounding them.

      His eyes bumped into hers and he held her gaze so that she shifted restlessly in her chair. Her heart gave a twitch as he leaned forward, and for a moment she thought he was about to kiss her, but instead he picked up the coffeepot and topped up their cups.

      ‘Actually, I do have something in mind. I just need to make a couple of calls.’

      Picking up her cup, Addie wished that it was her hands and not the sunlight caressing his smooth golden skin. That she could reach over and loop her arm around his neck, press her hot, hopelessly overexcited body against his—

      But wishing was all she was likely to do.

      Skin prickling, she sipped her coffee. Yesterday she had felt so unhappy, so diminished by the way he was treating her. Only then they’d argued, and he’d pushed aside his obvious desire to comfort her, and his tenderness had shifted something inside her, opened her up to him. But now Malachi seemed to be on some kind of mission to prove that sex was the last thing on his mind. Oh, he kissed her, and curled his arm around her waist, but whenever she leaned into him, hoping, longing, wanting more, he merely let his hands drift over her back or arms.

      Breathing out, she sat up straighter and forced herself to smile, hoping that her face appeared more composed than her body felt. ‘Great. That sounds great.’

      He stared at her thoughtfully. ‘I haven’t told you what it is yet.’

      Her fingers spasmed involuntarily against the cup.

      ‘I know,’ she said quickly. ‘But I’m sure it’ll be great—whatever it is.’

      Leaning forward, he grinned at her—a long, slow, curling smile that made her heart flutter in her chest and her breasts ache.

      ‘How very trusting of you. Then I think I’ll keep it as a surprise!’

      An hour later she was regretting that trust as they skimmed across the water in the speedboat towards—who knew where?

      ‘Can you please give me a clue?’ Turning round, Addie gazed up in frustration at Malachi.

      Grinning, he shook his head, his arm curving around her waist. ‘I don’t want to spoil the surprise,’ he murmured, squeezing her hand.

      She glanced up at him, her blue eyes wide and wary.

      He laughed. ‘Trust me, sweetheart. I know what you like and you’re going to love this.’

      His fingers lightly caressed her belly through the thin fabric of her dress, and eyes half closed, she feverishly imagined what she liked doing with Malachi, her skin quivering at the thought of the two of them moving slowly together, bodies entwined—

      Her pulse gave a jolt and realising she needed to get a grip, she glanced past him to where a mass of greeny-brown was slowly growing larger. ‘Is that Finlay Island? Is that where we’re going?’

      Smiling, he shook his head. ‘Two more minutes and all will become clear.’

      At that moment, the boat curved around the island and Addie felt her mouth fall open. ‘Wh-what is that?’

      He was watching her, gauging her reaction.

      ‘That is the Pearl Diver. She’s a submarine and my most recent acquisition. I thought you might like to join me on her maiden voyage.’

      Too jolted to speak, Addie gazed in disbelief at where the submarine lay in the water. Finally she recovered and, looking up at him, she shook her head slowly. ‘Let me guess! You’re planning to build the world’s first underwater casino.’

      His eyes gleamed. ‘Now, why didn’t I think of that?’ Leaning forward, he ran a finger slowly under her chin, lifting her face to his. ‘More importantly, why didn’t my research and development team? Maybe I should give you a job there.’

      She glanced at him sharply. Most likely he was joking. But then with Malachi it was impossible to know. Perhaps he thought he was offering her some kind of consolation prize.

      Her stomach contracted at the thought of being downgraded from his wife to an employee but she managed to hold his gaze. ‘Thanks, but I actually have a job I love.’ She stared at the Pearl Diver and then back to Malachi, her curiosity piqued. ‘So why did you buy a submarine?’ She couldn’t resist teasing him. ‘Did all those other nasty billionaires have one before you?’

      The corners of his mouth tugged upwards. ‘Well, now you come to mention it—’

      She shook her head. ‘You’re impossible!’

      His grey eyes searched her face and suddenly she was holding her breath. Finally, when she thought her lungs might burst, he shrugged.

      ‘I just thought that as you liked exploring the island so much, you might want to take a look around under the water.’

      ‘You did?’

      Knots were forming in her stomach. Was that true? Had he really arranged this trip for her? Trying not to read anything into his words, she swallowed down the bubble of happiness rising in her throat and gave him a small, uncertain smile.

      He smiled back at her. ‘You seem a little surprised.’

      ‘Yes—I mean, no!’ She bit her lip. ‘It’s just that I didn’t—you don’t—I thought—’ She took a breath. ‘That’s very considerate of you,’ she finished, her voice trailing off as he stared at her assessingly, his gaze seeming to reach inside her in a way that made her nerves dance into life.

      ‘Considerate...’ Fingers tightening around hers, he turned the word over in his mouth as though tasting it. ‘Is that what I am? And there I was, thinking I was being romantic.’ He spoke teasingly but there was an intensity to his expression she didn’t understand.

      Addie felt her face still. Romantic! Once that had been her dream. And for a short time she had even believed it was possible. That Malachi was capable of loving her and of expressing that love. Now, with his hair falling across his forehead and those smoky eyes fixed on her face, it was tempting to believe there was some truth behind his teasing words. But of course there wasn’t. Her face tightened. No matter how poetic his language the only hearts he was interested in were those on the front of playing cards.

      She lifted her chin. ‘I would swoon, only it’s difficult when you’re sitting down.’

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