Chapter 10

Vivian stood in front of Rock, the desire surging in her body. Her arousal had been on a slow burner since she’d arrived this morning, but the moment she’d left the water it had exploded a hundredfold.

Rock undressed her with his stare. His hungry eyes had darkened with desire and she noticed the barely visible tremble in his muscled arms as his fists clasped the edge of the sun lounger.

Another shiver ran down her spine. When he stopped being so commanding and barking orders at her, he was not only sinfully sexy, but also incredibly appealing. Magnetic even.

Her legs became wobbly and her pulse beat way too fast for the minimal exercise she’d just engaged in. Instead of doing the sensible thing, run for the changing room and get dressed, she held his gaze and moved closer.

Her lips opened in a silent gasp the moment she brushed against his knee and the tingling sensation set her body on fire. The next moment she became wrapped into two strong arms with her breasts brushed up against a solid chest.

Raw feelings overtook logic. Vivian snaked her arms around his shoulders, even as his mouth crashed over hers. His tongue demanded access to her mouth and took it with the rough need of a starving man.

Viv knew she shouldn’t like it. He had no right to steal that kiss from her. But her body thought otherwise. She followed his lead and played with his tongue, nibbled his soft lips and licked across the tiny pit in the middle.

Her stomach filled with thousands of butterflies and she needed to get closer to him. Feel his ardor. The lust pooling in her belly destroyed every rational thought and she was pure sensation. Bliss.

When they came up for air, he pushed her back to look into her eyes. His gaze was … embarrassed. Now that’s cute.

Rock thrust a hand through his hair, and cast his eyes down as he took several deep breaths. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

“Shush.” Vivian put a finger on his lips as she struggled to get herself back under control. For once he wasn’t arrogant and commanding, and that completely sent her off-kilter.

She was sick and tired of being told what to do or what not to do, but at least she knew how to cope with it. All of her life, her five brothers had butted into her life with commands, and the last thing she needed was another man in her life doing the same. Off course she knew her brothers bossed her around because they loved her and wanted to protect her…but Rock?

“Can I get you something to drink?” he asked moments later, apparently as shaken from the intense sensations of the kiss as she was.

“Yes, please.”

“Coffee? Lemonade?” he asked.

“Lemonade is fine,” Vivian said. Coffee would only agitate her even more.

He picked up his phone and let the housekeeper know what he needed and then looked at her again. “Vivian, would you have dinner with me? Please?”

The soft tone of his voice made her want to crawl up on his lap and stay there forever. And his dark brown pleading eyes undid her. She shouldn’t. But since she couldn’t come up with a valid reason why not, she nodded her head. “I’d love to.”

“Great. Tomorrow?” Rock’s smile had her melting to a puddle at his feet.

“Tomorrow.” She somehow managed to answer, which cause him to chuckle, but the next moment his expression hardened again.

“I’ll text you the time,” he said and busied himself with his phone.

Vivian felt the strong urge to get out of there and clear he mind. “Texting is fine.” She jumped up and gathered her belongings. “I should get out of here so I’m not late to work.”

Rock stared at her with the same arrogant expression he’d mastered so well.

 Figures. Hot one minute, cold the next. God, he’s frustrating. But his kiss…

“Thanks for the use of the pool,” she said and all but darted away to the changing room.

“No problem. Shall we go into the…”

Vivian was already out of earshot and leaned against the closed door. Then she quickly changed and got ready to leave, hoping he would have left meanwhile.

No such luck.

“I’ll see you out,” Rock said and she couldn’t decide whether he was happy or sad about her leaving.

“Thanks, but don’t put yourself out. I remember the way.”

Rock looked like he wanted to argue, but then he nodded and said, “I’ll text you later.”

“Fine.” She gave him a tentative smile and walked away, nodding at the housekeeper as she passed by with a tray with two glasses of lemonade.

“You are leaving?” the housekeeper inquired.

Vivian nodded and smiled at her, a real smile this time. “I’m afraid I need to get to work. But thank you. The pool was wonderful.”

“You’ll come again?” the woman asked.

Vivian shrugged and then smiled. “We’ll see.” She headed out to face the rest of her day, her mind’s eye stuck on the image of a handsome man with dark tousled hair, dark brown bedroom eyes, and a killer smile.

She was more attracted to him than any other man she’d ever met, and memories of his kiss sent shivers up her spine.