Alexandra put her hand into his—so trusting. So unaware that he intended to show her just what it was to want a bad boy like him. But on the deck, and out from under the awning, the sky caught at him as it always did. The moon hung like the earring of a goddess, a shimmering crescent.

In the deep velvet sky, stars began to pop into existence. Dareios put an arm around Alexandra, his seduction forgotten for a moment.

For this moment, he only wanted to hold her, to keep her close, to share this moment.

Water lapped quietly at the hull of the Kairos, and salt-tinged spray dampened his skin. This was why he loved the water—the sea. Everything seemed so simple, so clear on the water. So uncomplicated. He glanced down at Alexandra.

She was complicated. She stared out at the sea and sky, her wine glass forgotten, seemingly hypnotized by the play of light and wind and waves. He could hear the splash of some aquatic animal—dolphins probably following the yacht.

He knew she wasn’t a virgin—the advantage of being an old family friend meant he knew almost everything about her. But she had not dated all that much. Her college fling with the dreadful Carl—a man he’d been more than glad to help Antonio send on his way—had been a bitter experience for Alexandra.

She’d been cautious with her heart—and her body. And he wondered now if she’d settled on him for this fling because she thought he was safe—good ol’ Dareios. Her brother’s friend. Well, he was not good…or that old…and he was not the sort of man she needed.

No, his Alex needed a nice boy. Someone looking to marry and have children and who would settle down at once and treat her as she deserved. She did not need a man like him—someone incapable of staying with one woman. She needed to learn there was a bad side to wanting to date a bad boy.

Alexandra let out a breath and leaned against him. “It’s beautiful. I love being on the water. Life seems so simple here. So perfect.”

He pulled her closer and pressed a kiss into her hair. “I look up at the stars, and I try to match each one I see with a reasons why you are so beautiful.”

She giggled. “Does that line generally work?”

He pulled back and raised an eyebrow. “Are you telling me you didn’t like that? What is wrong with you?”

She wiped the smile from her mouth. “I’m sorry. Please try it again.”

“No, no—the moment is gone. I can’t remember what I said.”

“Something about stars…about me being beautiful?”

“Well, you are.” He shook his head. “Alexandra, you don’t have any idea—”

“About what?” She turned in his arms and leaned her palms against the deck railing. “I’m not an innocent, but you seem to think I’m still twelve.”

“More like sixteen with that body of yours.” He ran his hand down her waist and bunched her dress in his fists. “You have no idea what you’re asking for from me with this fling.”

“Yes. Yes, I do.” She stretched up on tiptoe and kissed the corner of his mouth. Swiping her tongue against his lips, she gave a soft moan. He pushed his hands into her hair and held her head, kissing her, delving deep into her mouth. Pulling back, he looked at her. Suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to erase the memory of any other man from her mind. He wanted to see her smile—and come apart in his hands.

Pulling her with him, he took her back into the dining room—the night air had taken on a sharper bite. Inside the dining room, it was warmer. The crew had left coffee on a side table and the gelato was slowly melting in their small silver bowls set in ice. Dareios smiled. He turned to Alexandra, took her by the waist and lifted her onto the mahogany table.

“What—?”

He put a finger over her lips. “You’re not allowed to question—only to be pleased. Lay back.”

She gave him a sideways look, reluctance and worry darkening her eyes. But she laid back. Her dress pooled around her. Reaching up under it, he pulled her panties down and off her. She gave a small gasp. He grinned, and put his hands over her breasts and squeezed. “Do you like this?”

“Am I allowed to answer?” she asked, her voice breathless and husky.

“Only yes or no—nai or oxi. Now do you like this?” He squeezed her breasts again, and rubbed his thumb over the nipples. Under her bra, the tips of her breasts hardened. He put his mouth onto one breast and tugged at the nipple through the fabric of her dress. She gave a moan. Lifting up, he saw her eyes had closed and her head fell back. “I’m going to take that as a yes.”

“Nai…Nai! Very yes,” she murmured.

Shifting, he ran his fingers up her bare legs. “You do have beautiful legs.” He was hard now. His erection rubbed against the edge of the mahogany table. He pushed into it, welcoming the pressure. Under his touch, Alexandra’s skin felt as smooth as the gelato that was slowly melting. And that gave him an idea. Dipping two of his fingers into the gelato, he painted a line along the inside of her thigh.

The chilled dessert touched her skin and she gasped. “That’s…cold.”

“Let me warm you.” He licked the line he had painted, tasting the tang of lemon, a touch of Alexandra’s skin lotion and her own salty texture. Dipping his fingers in again, he painted a line on the other side, this time higher up on her leg. She gasped and he put his mouth over the spot he had chilled. He sucked on her skin. Reaching up, he closed a hand over her breast and squeezed, and then rubbed the nipple between his thumb and forefinger. “More?”

“Nai…please… per favore.”

If she was mixing her languages—Greek, English and Italian—she must be close to coming apart. Pushing up her dress, he took a moment to admire her.

She was beautiful—shapely hips, a flat stomach, dark hair shaved close around her mound. His mouth watered at the sight. She spread her legs for him and he caught the scent of her arousal—as ancient and as wet as the sea.

Dipping his fingers into the gelato again, he spread three spots onto her skin—one on each hip and one just above her dark curls, on the edge of her mound. He pressed his lips to her hip and sucked hard. She bucked, but he held her down and shifted to the other hip. This one he licked and nibbled. And then he moved to the third spot. She made a small sound and he lifted his lips. “Is that a protest? A no?”

“I’m going to kill you if you stop—please. Don’t stop!”

He grinned. “What happened to only yes or no?”

“Yes…yes…how many times must I say it?”

Letting go her hips, he picked up the bowl of melting gelato—this one a chocolate. He held the bowl over her lower lips and parted them with his fingers, and poured. She gasped and gripped the edge of the table with her hands. Putting down the bowl, he admired the mess he’d made. He’d darkened her lips—he’d made a sweet dessert for himself. He pushed his erection harder against the table to keep himself from coming. He could right now. One touch and he would explode. But he wanted to see Alexandra come apart—he wanted her to know just what he did with other women. And not just her.

Leaning over, he put his mouth on her.

She tasted of dark chocolate and darker sin. She tasted wet and salty and elemental. She tasted of heaven. He pushed his tongue into her and put his hands on her hips when she squirmed. Lifting up, he told her, “Be a good girl—I know you can be good.”

She managed a muffled moan. He dove back down to that sweet spot between her legs. Licking and tugging on her clit, he gave himself to the pleasure of feasting on her. Nothing existed except the chocolate—and Alexandra.

She moaned again and he slipped a finger into her to push deep and play with her, searching for that spot that would give her the most pleasure. She gasped and he knew he’d found it. He kept his mouth and tongue working and added two fingers—then three, stretching her wide, searching again for that deeper spot that gave her such joy. Sweat ran down his face, and down her thighs. He almost pulled out so he could unzip and push into her—but that would spoil this moment.

This would be her fling—she would be happy. And tomorrow he would see about putting her on a plane to go home.

And then he forgot his plans.

Alexandra began to make small gasping sounds, tiny mewing as if she wanted to scream but was holding it back. The sounds drove him wild. He pushed harder into her, sucked on her clit and felt her fall into trembling bliss.

She put a hand on his shoulder and he stilled.

Lifting up, he grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth. Before he could, Alexandra grabbed his shirt and pulled him to her. She kissed him—had to be tasting herself and the gelato. Letting go, she smiled. “Now that is a good dessert.”

Pressing down on his erection to quiet it, he turned away and found her panties. He looped one finger into the elastic and handed them back to her. “Would you like coffee?”

She put a shaky hand into her hair. “Yes. Something.”

He had to smile. “You don’t have to keep saying yes.” Moving to the carafe, he poured them each a measure of the dark liquid. She took hers glykys—almost honey sweet—while he took his sketos—without sugar. He took her hand and led her back onto the deck.

She gave a sigh and leaned against him. A cool breeze blew over them, and the splash of the water and the soft hum of the engines filled the night. He was glad she found no need for words. He wanted just to enjoy this moment—because he knew he’d better not do this again.

His plan had been to push her to the edge—and over it. To take her apart and leave her a little nervous and ready to back off from him. Instead, he’d been caught in his own trap.

He’d left himself wanting more—not her wanting less. And he wasn’t sure what he was going to do now with this woman who had him wishing he was a man who could be happy with just one woman.