My whole body came to life with those words—I want you—but I reminded myself this wasn’t about me. This was about Natalie getting on that damn boat so we could get the hell off this island.

I still didn’t know her end game. I didn’t know if she’d try to run as soon as we docked in Tahiti or if she really did plan to go all the way to Italy. I only knew keeping her with me meant I had a better chance at heading off anything catastrophic. At least where her life and safety were concerned.

Man, you are so fucked, it isn’t even funny.

I ignored the little voice in the back of my head. Ignored the instinct screaming in my gut that nothing good could come from taking her back to Italy. Lifting the tie in my hands, I held it up to her eyes, then secured the silk ends together at the back of her head, careful not to catch any strands of her hair. “How’s that? Can you see?”

“No. It’s fine. I-I can’t see anything.”

Blood rushed straight into my groin, stiffening my cock, and a thousand different dirty images of what I could do to her when she was blindfolded fired in my brain.

Stay in control. This isn’t about sex. It’s about distraction.

And it was. When she looked at me, I knew she didn’t see me, she saw a monster. And hell if I could blame her for that, because every single thing she’d written about me on that list had been true.

The pep talk cooled the fire growing in my veins, easing the tightness in my pants. I let my hands fall to her shoulders, ignoring how soft her skin was where the ballet collar of her shirt fell open, and focused on the reason I was doing this. “We don’t have a lot of time, so I need you to work with me.”

“O-okay.” She swallowed, her throat working in a way that made me remember what it felt like when she swallowed like that while pleasuring me with her sinful mouth.

My dick swelled all over again. And fuck. Thoughts like that were not going to help the situation.

I swiped at the perspiration suddenly dotting my forehead. “Sit on the bed.”

She reached back with her hands to find the mattress, then slowly lowered herself to the edge. The second her warm breath permeated my shirt at my waist, my cock grew even harder, and I realized my mistake.

I quickly dropped to my knees and pushed her legs apart, making room for me between her thighs. “Are you sure you can’t see?”

She nodded.

“Good.” I pulled the small, purple, figure-eight-shaped toy from my pocket and held the button down to turn it on. The low buzz immediately put her on alert, tensing every muscle in her body. “Relax,” I said, placing my palm on the skirt covering her thighs to calm her. “You’re going to like this.”

With one hand still on her leg, I held the toy sideways and lifted it to her throat, letting her feel the vibration against her bare skin. The toy wasn’t big—as long as my palm and at its widest, as thick as the circumference of a quarter. But the vibrations were nice and strong, and its hidden talent was the way the smaller circle rotated in a clockwise direction.

“Oh my,” she said as I rolled the toy down her throat and over her collarbone, slowly making my way across her left breast. “What is that?”

“Hula Beads.” I rolled the toy over her left nipple, letting the vibration tease the tip into a hard bud beneath the cup of her bra.

“Oh... That’s nice.” She braced her hands on the mattress and leaned back slightly, pushing her chest out for more. “I don’t even want to know why you have them or who they were for.”

I frowned as I trailed the beads to her other breast, teasing the tip in the same way until it was a stiff peak. They were for her. One of several toys I’d ordered and had flown in along with those hiking boots when I’d stupidly thought I could woo her back to me.

“I don’t reuse sex toys. They’re new. I just opened the box in the closet if you want to see the packaging.”

“No, that’s okay. I...I believe you.” She arched her back even more, telling me the toy was definitely doing the trick in distracting her. “Wow, that feels good.”

I should have been relieved by that statement, but I wasn’t. If anything, I grew agitated. I didn’t want to be a distraction for her. I wanted to be the very thing she couldn’t live without. And I didn’t like the fact she thought I just up and brought women here to fuck. “And for your information, I don’t bring guests to this island. Ever.”

Desperate to get on with this so we could get the hell to Tahiti and I could get away from her, I rolled the toy down her belly and pulled it away only long enough to slide my hand beneath her skirt.

“Oh, I thou—” She sucked in a breath when I pressed the toy against her panties.

“Oh my God,” she gasped. Her legs fell open wide, and reflexively, she rocked her hips against the toy. “Oh yes...”

My dick swelled to nearly bursting. Beneath my hand, I could feel her heat. And I could smell her scent...that tangy, sweet, hypnotic scent drifted around me, making me absolutely mad.

I fought for control, for the strength to get through this. Reminding myself this was just for distraction, I slid the rotating head up and down her slit. She groaned and let her upper body fall against the mattress. Pushing her skirt up to her waist, I stared down at the spot where I was teasing her, unable to look away from the wetness growing between her thighs and dampening her pink lace panties.

“Luc...” Her hand landed over mine still resting on her thigh. Her fingers squeezed until pain shot up my arm.

Bloody hell, I wanted to lick her there. Wanted to taste her. Wanted to make her fly apart with my mouth. I slid the rotating head lower, to the apex of her pussy. “Like that?”

“Oh my, yes.” She flexed her hips. “More.”

I ached to give her more. Wanted to give her my tongue and then my cock. Was desperate to hear her scream my name when she came.

“Mm... That toy feels good.”

That toy. Not you.

The reality of her words dampened my arousal, just enough so I didn’t rip open my pants and slam myself inside her.

My erection softened, solidifying my purpose. As she writhed against the toy and fisted the comforter beneath her hands, I knew it was as good a time as any to get on with that purpose.

Lifting my hand from her thigh, I tugged the damp lace aside and slowly pushed the toy inside her. She groaned as it filled her, circling her hips against the sensation. And when her slick channel had swallowed the toy so only the thin nylon loop remained, I slid her panties back into place and pressed my thumb against the lace covering her clit. “How does it feel now?”

“Oooh...” Her whole body trembled. “It feels so good.”

She continued to press her tantalizing pussy against my hand, and as I looked up her body at her flushed cheeks and straining muscles, I knew I’d achieved exactly what I’d wanted.

I’d made her forget every one of her fears. I’d even made her forget me.

I tamped down my disappointment, tugged her skirt back into place, pushed to my feet, and reached for her hand. “Come on.”

She grunted as I pulled her up from the mattress. But before I could haul her up into my arms, she twisted and climbed up my body, wrapped both legs around my waist, then found my mouth and drew me into a searing kiss that nearly rocked the world right out from under my feet.

I stumbled. Gasped. Couldn’t do anything but open to her kiss.

She tasted like heaven. Like the salvation I needed and the sin I wanted to commit all over again with her. And even though I knew I shouldn’t, I let her kiss me. I let myself be dragged into her warm, wet heat. I let another piece of my heart fall head over heels in love with her.

This isn’t love. If it was love, she wouldn’t have run from you. This is distraction. This is nothing more than sex.

That reality trickled through my sex-fuzzed mind, once again dragging me back to the reason I was doing this. My mind shot to Manaia waiting with the boat, to the plane we couldn’t miss in Tahiti. To the very reason I was taking her all the way to Italy. To Dante trapped in that fucking cell, awaiting judgment.

I pulled away from her mouth and sucked back air. Let her feet slide to the floor. Stared down at her flushed face and damp skin and told myself I could survive loving her. I could even survive wanting her. And in some ridiculous way, I even knew taking her to Italy might actually be a good thing. It would force me to face my father and prove to him our marriage was legitimate. And by doing that, I really could protect her. Because regardless of what I could or couldn’t do for my brother, keeping Natalie safe was the only thing that truly mattered. Even if it gutted me in the process.

I grasped her left hand to pull her toward the door before I could get lost in that wanting all over again but faltered when I caught sight of the tattoo on her finger.

Shit. That word was destined to draw attention. ”Wait here a second.”

I let go of her and moved for the closet again. She wobbled on her feet and exhaled a soft sound that was a cross between a huff and a sigh. Once I had what I needed, I moved back in front of her where she was slumped against the wall, enjoying the buzzing toy, and reached for her hand. “Hopefully, I got the size right.”

I slid the band down her finger. She sucked in a surprised breath and immediately reached for the ring with her other hand. “It’s thick.”

It was. Wide enough to cover every part of that tattoo, and not something I was interested in discussing. Closing my hand over hers again, I pulled her toward the door. “Come on.”

“We’re leaving? Now?” She stumbled, but I caught her with an arm around her waist and pulled her up against me.

Hell yes, we were leaving now. Because I was pretty sure if I didn’t get us both out on that damn boat, I was going to say fuck it to all the reasons she didn’t really want me and give in to my own base desires right here on this bed.

I reached for the remote in my pocket and hit the button to change the vibration on her toy. “Trust me, you won’t even care.”

She groaned at the new sensation and sagged against me. And knowing there was no way she was walking out to that boat, I swept her up into my arms before she could claw her way up my torso again, and carried her into the hall.

She wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pressed her face to my neck, breathing hot and heavy against my skin. “Oh fuck, Luc.”

Oh fuck was right. I was fucked royally.

Just not in the way I desperately wanted.

I made it to Tahiti without losing my sanity. Or my shaky hold on my control.

Barely.

It was the longest boat ride of my miserable life. After carrying a limp Natalie into the stateroom below deck, I’d pleasured her with my fingers and that damn toy until I’d felt the yacht’s engines slow. I don’t know how many orgasms she had. I don’t know how many times she begged me to take the toy out and fuck her. It was all a blur in my sex-fuzzed mind. I also have no idea how I resisted her sultry body and erotic writhing on that big bed. I only know that by the time we docked in Tahiti, I was so hard, I was sure a gust of wind could make me come. And I needed to get away from her before I gave in to her demands and thrust my cock inside her until we both screamed.

Luckily, Manaia didn’t make any comments as we disembarked. Not about Natalie’s rumpled appearance or my obvious sexual frustration. If he heard Natalie’s cries of pleasure from below deck, he never made it known. He only told me to call him when we needed a ride back to the island.

I thanked him, grabbed both of our bags, and headed toward the car waiting for us in the parking lot. Still weak from what I’d done to her, Natalie blinked against the bright light and struggled to catch up. I’d removed the toy when I’d felt the boat dock, but I’d left the blindfold on until we stepped off the boat. She was having trouble adjusting to the light, but I didn’t slow my steps and I didn’t look at her face. Didn’t trust myself just yet. Not when I was still hard as stone and aching for my own release. A release I didn’t want unless it actually meant something.

“Merda,” I mumbled under my breath as I swiped at the sweat on my brow. “How the fuck did your priorities get so out of whack?” A month ago, I would have jumped on a hot girl begging me to fuck her. Today, I wanted more than sex. I wanted the connection Natalie had forged with me in Italy. And nothing short of everything with her would ever be enough.

I waved off the driver when he tried to take the bags and said, “I got it.” Shoving them into the trunk, I heard Natalie awkwardly talking to the driver but I didn’t pay much attention to her words. The back door opened and closed, telling me she’d climbed in the vehicle. Slamming the trunk closed, I moved around the passenger side of the car and took the front seat next to the driver so I wouldn’t be tempted to touch her. Or kiss her. Or fucking take her right there like a horny teenager.

“Airport,” I said to the driver, tugging my wallet out of my back pocket. “And make it fast. We’re in a hurry.”

“Yes, sir.”

Most of the cabbies on the island spoke English, something I was thankful for. Rolling down my window, I braced my elbow on the windowsill and rubbed my aching forehead, hoping the wind would cool me down. I could all but feel Natalie’s gaze boring into the back of my head, but I didn’t turn to look. Didn’t have the strength or the willpower to resist her right now.

This was an asinine plan. I should have left her on the damn island. I should be sitting back there with her right now in case she tried to bolt. I still didn’t know what she planned to do, and I was tired of trying to figure it out. I was tired of everything—my family, my House, my responsibilities, her. My life, which only a few short months ago had been so easy and carefree, was now one gigantic clusterfuck, and I was stuck in the middle of a whirlpool, struggling to keep my head above water.

The driver pulled to a stop in front of the terminal and shifted into Park. “Fast,” he said with a grin my way. “Just like you asked.”

Realizing I’d zoned out on the short trip, I glanced at the meter on the dash, then handed the man at least double the fair. “Thanks. Appreciate it.”

I climbed out and moved to the trunk, grasping both bags before Natalie could get there. From the corner of my eye, I caught the annoyed look she flashed me before turning a sweet smile on the driver. “Thank you.”

The native man smiled and waved to her, then moved back to the driver side. Still unable to look at her full-on, I said, “Come on,” and stepped up onto the curb.

I kept an eye on her as we checked in and got our tickets, watching for any sign she was planning to bolt. Since I’d had to book her ticket last-minute, there were no first-class fares left, so the best I could get her was a seat in coach. She didn’t seem thrilled by that fact, but I didn’t care. We made our way through security, and every time Natalie tried to talk to me, I was able to avoid her, mostly because there were so many people around. But I didn’t breathe easier until we boarded. And then not until we stepped on the plane and I signaled the stewardess our way. “She’s first class.”

“Oh, right this way, ma’am.” The stewardess smiled and stepped back, motioning Natalie into the first-class section of the aircraft.

“Wait.” Natalie turned to look at me as I plucked her coach ticket from her hand and turned the other way. “But your seat—”

“Is back here. Don’t make a scene. People are trying to board.”

I shoved my first-class ticket into her hand and ushered her toward the front of the plane. But I didn’t miss the frustration in her eyes. Or the way her shoulders tensed. But for the first time since I’d told her I was heading back to Italy, I was able to draw a full breath.

We were on the plane. She couldn’t leave. And I was free of her heat and scent and fucking tempting body for at least the next twenty-four hours. After that...

After that, we’d be in Italy, where all bets for everything were off. But at least there I’d have the good sense not to get sucked into wanting her all over again.

Or so I hoped, since wanting her had only put her life in jeopardy more times than I could count.