Dreams That Bind Us (Romancing The Keys #3)

Chapter 9

K ey West

"You look beautiful."

A wave of heat crept up Anna's neck at his sincere words, and her gaze dropped to her pink toenails that peeked out from the hem of her dress.

She never knew what to say when someone gave her a compliment, even more so with James. Especially when his eyes ran as hot as they did right now. But it was the reception she had been hoping for.

Watching the way his eyes roved up and down her body, she wondered for the hundredth time why she’d fought their connection. Why would any sane woman want to hold this man at arm’s length when he said genuine things like that, looking the way he did?

And James made it damned difficult to resist. As she’d drifted off to sleep last night, she’d decided she didn’t want to fight what was between them anymore. It was time to do something different.

Hazel, Miriam, and Aunt Louise all had a point. What am I waiting for?

"Thank you," she muttered, suddenly feeling bashful. She’d grabbed her favorite purple sundress for the occasion. "It's not every day I get to wear something other than my khakis, and I wanted to look professional while staying cool. I picked this up in a small boutique on Duval years ago, but never had a chance to wear it. So I…" Her voice dwindled, her gaze dropping when she realized she had been rambling.

Nerves weren’t normally a problem for Anna because she actively avoided most social situations that created unease. But this was different. She craved this time with James and wanted to look her best, wanted him to desire her.

Anna had only been to Sunset Key a handful of times, despite living in Key West most of her life. The majority of the small island, just off the northwest tip of Key West, was part of an exclusive high-end resort, while the rest included a handful of single-family homes.

The restaurant on Sunset Key was five star and well known for its romantic appeal. Normally booked out months in advance, it was a hotspot for couples hoping to catch a romantic sunset dinner.

So, it had been important for her to look her best today. The gleam in his gaze made it worth all the effort and hassle.

Anna’s eyes trailed slowly up his body, taking in the relaxed, white button-down shirt and distressed jeans he wore. He fit in well in Key West, looking more like a local every day. She frowned when she spotted his goofy grin. "What is that for?"

His expression deepened, highlighting the grooves in his cheeks. "What is what for?"

Anna pointed at his face, circling her finger in the air. "That expression right there."

A deep chuckled rumbled through his chest. "I don't think you realize how cute you really are."

Anna drew back as if he'd slapped her, her spine stiffening. No woman liked being called cute, especially after all the effort it took to look like this. " Cute ??"

"Beautiful, cute, sexy, gorgeous. Pick one, because you're all of them," he said quickly, diffusing her outrage. His words were so matter of fact, that the hot blush rushed back to her cheeks. She rolled her lips inward to keep from smiling.

"You look good, too," she commented, then bit her lip. The compliment sounded lame compared to his words, but he didn't seem to mind. "I mean, you look comfortable."

"I am. Thank you." He moved to the side. "Come in for a minute while I finish in the kitchen. We'll leave for the docks in fifteen minutes. They're sending a private ferry over for us."

Anna bobbed her head and stepped past him, noticing again the spicy, woodsy smell of his cologne. It made her want to do wild things… like drag her nose along his neck, rub her body against his, spread out on his bed to see if sex with him would be as good as it was in her dreams.

The scent of cooked bananas and baking spice finally broke through her sexual daydreams as she followed him to the kitchen. "What is that smell?"

"I made a batch of banana bread this morning. I like to make several loaves at a time and then freeze them for when I'll need them." He walked to the dishwasher and began loading dishes. "I was just cleaning up when you arrived."

"Mmmmm. Oh my god, it smells incredible. I haven't had banana bread in so long."

His lips curved mischievously. "I like to put a mix of peanut butter chips and chocolate chips in it. Really gives the bread a robust flavor."

Anna's mouth dropped open and she wondered for a second if she were drooling. His description had her taste buds screaming for a sample.

"Would you like a piece? It's still warm, which is the best time to eat it."

"Yes!" she cried. It sounded like heaven and had all but one of her favorite flavors: banana, chocolate, and peanut butter. If he'd included coconut, it would have been utter perfection.

With a chuckle, James pulled out a plate from the microwave which held a large loaf of homemade bread, steam still drifting from the top.

"It's my mother's recipe and I love eating it with my coffee in the morning."

"That sounds amazing," Anna replied as she propped on a stool at the island. Saliva collected in her mouth as she watched him cut the warm loaf.

"It really is." James set a small plate in front of her and dropped a fork next to it. "It's the perfect way to start the day."

Anna took a big bite of the bread and moaned loudly, her eyes rolling back in her head as the decadent flavors all converged on her tongue. It was ambrosia.

She finished her piece quickly, moaning again around each bite. Lifting the fork, she licked each tine clean then tilted her head back on a huge sigh.

Holy crap, that was incredible!

Her eyes traced to James and she nearly fell off the barstool when she met his hot gaze. He clenched a kitchen towel in both hands, his knuckles white from the force of his grip, and nostrils flared. His square jaw flexed, and she wondered if he was grinding his teeth.

Strangely pleased at his reaction, Anna placed the fork in the middle of her empty plate. "That was rude of me. I have no excuse other than it was the best banana bread I've ever eaten. The flavor combination was perfect."

She held herself very still, watching in fascination as he worked to master his control, breathing out a sigh when his shoulders finally relaxed. "I'm sorry," she offered.

James huffed out a bitter laugh. "You don't realize what you do to me, Anna. If only I could explain it so it didn't sound crazy."

"It wouldn't sound crazy." Anna didn't flinch when his gaze pinned her to the barstool.

"You don't know that," he ground out, his voice suddenly deeper. "You have no idea what I've dreamed about nearly every day since I set foot on this godforsaken island, or the sleep I've lost thinking about it."

Anna nearly swallowed her tongue, shocked he'd admit something so personal with her. But even more so because he had confirmed her suspicions.

It was more proof that this relationship was meant to be, and James was destined to be hers. Rather than terrifying her, the thought now excited her on an elemental level.

James dropped the towel on the island. "Come on. Let's get out of here before I do something stupid." Anna's lips curled at his teasing tone and his eyes narrowed as he continued, "Like drag you upstairs to my bed and not let you out until we're both too exhausted to move."

Her smile dropped, along with her jaw. A hot flash of lust washed through to her core. His admission unlocking the doors to her own inner cravings.

Again, she wasn't sure which stunned her more: that he blatantly announced his desires or that she absolutely loved it and now wished he'd follow through on his warnings.

Sunset Key

James held Anna's hand as she stepped onto the bobbing ferry platform.

"Careful," he muttered as he followed close behind, his hand dropping to her hip. The edge of his mouth twitched. He could say he was only doing it to steady her, but at this point, he looked for any excuse to put his hands on her.

She was a magnet for him, constantly attracting and drawing him in. The realization that she wasn't pulling away anymore or trying to put space between them brought a real smile to his face. His Anna had finally stopped fighting their attraction.

His Anna… My Anna. I love the sound of that.

"We're so glad you could join us, Mr. Armstrong." The resort concierge ushered them into the enclosed cabin that protected them from the wind and spray and motioned them toward a cushioned bench.

To his relief, Anna didn't hesitate to sit next to him. Rather she nestled herself into his body as he draped his arm around her. It was immediately intimate and comfortable in a way that warmed his heart.

He'd nearly lost his self-restraint earlier watching her eat that slice of banana bread. It had taken everything he had not to splay her out on the island and worship her body then and there. They wouldn't have left the house for days if he had done that. At this rate, he'd need to see a dentist from all the teeth grinding he'd been doing around her.

His spirits were buoyed by the fact that she merely watched him with an amused twinkle in her teal eyes as he fought for control. She’d boldly held his gaze, her sweet, plump lips parted in excitement.

Then he'd shocked himself by admitting to her that he'd been haunted by dreams every night since his arrival. And he’d nearly revealed that the dreams had been about her .

Now, she was nestled into his side, chatting with the concierge about the small island they were quickly approaching. It felt so right to have her next to him, like the final piece of his life's puzzle had been put in place.

She didn't know it yet, but there was no way he'd let her go now. If he did, there was no hope for him to stay sane. Anna was his, she was made for him. He'd do whatever it took to get her to admit she felt the same.

"I read once that Sunset Key had been a military equipment depot during the Cold War. They'd called it Tank Island, or something silly like that," Anna commented.

Her hand dropped casually onto his thigh, and his pants tightened as a rush of desire cascaded through him.

Damn it! I’m not a teenager anymore! At this point, I’ll be touring Sunset Key with a boner.

"That's right. I'm impressed you know that." The concierge replied, thankfully oblivious to James’s struggle.

Anna shrugged. "I love the history around here. It's always so colorful."

"I agree," the concierge answered. "Sunset Key was a depot for several decades, then the government sold the island to a developer in the late eighties. It took several years to clear out the old military equipment. After that, several individual homes were built along with the resort, which has only changed hands once since then."

"That's fascinating!"

Anna leaned into him, her head dropping on his shoulder. Not one to waste an opportunity, he pulled her even closer, his hand fitting onto the curve of her hip.

"I've lived in Key West most of my life, but I've only been to Sunset Key a few times," Anna continued. "It's so exclusive."

The concierge bobbed her head. "I think it's one of the things I love about it so much. Key West, especially in Old Town, can get so crazy with the bars and partiers, that the quiet of this island is a relief. You're still in paradise only minutes from everything Key West has to offer, but out of the insanity."

Anna smiled. "I know what you mean. It's why I chose my workshop on Stock Island. Still in paradise, but away from all the madness."

The concierge smiled and turned to James. "Mr. Owens has prepared a special tour for you and filled your catering request. I hope you'll let me know if there's any other way we can make your day more comfortable."

Oh, there was a way to make his day even better, all right. But it had nothing to do with anyone other than the beautiful creature snuggled into his side.

"Everything sounds great. Thank you."

"What's the catering request?" Anna asked, angling her head to look at him.

She looked so content and perfect, like a little kitten, that it nearly stole his breath. A surge of power rocketed through his body, and he felt like he could conquer the world.

It was going to happen… he and Anna were going to happen .

Anna straightened, a frown on her face. "James? Are you okay?"

James blinked. "Of course. Why?"

"I asked you a question, but you were staring off like your mind wasn't here. Are you alright? Should we reschedule the tour?"

"No, not at all." He tightened his arm, drawing her back against him.

"I was just thinking of business. The catering request is a surprise I have for you, and I'm not telling you what it is. So you'll have to wait."

Her answering feline smile was interesting. His Anna apparently enjoyed surprises. He'd tuck that bit of information away for future use.

Her head dropped to his shoulder, and he smiled as she let out a huge sigh. James fought the urge to drag her onto his lap, reminding himself they had an audience and this was a business visit.

He didn't need to traumatize the staff by exploring Anna's reception to his advances right now. He'd do that later, when they were alone, and he could see what his kitten was willing to try.

Kitten…It fits her perfectly.

James sat up as the boat began to slow before it pulled into the covered dock. Several people were clustered to the side, three dressed in professional uniforms and armed with clipboards, one suited businessman, and Carl Owens whose standard outfit was shorts, an obnoxious Hawaiian shirt, a straw hat, and flipflops.

If you met the man on the street or in a bar, as James had, you'd never know he was a billionaire several times over. He was nearly as wealthy as James, which probably explained why their conversations about Sunset Key had been so easy. They understood each other, and James knew from personal experience that it was a very rare thing.

The boat docked and as the cabin door opened, James led Anna onto the small pier. Taking the opportunity to hold her hand, he threaded his fingers through hers. He shivered at the sensation. It was almost a sensory overload, an intimate closeness with an effect compared closely with a drug.

"It's good to see you, James," Carl bellowed even though they were only standing a few feet apart. Carl was boisterous by nature and didn't come with volume control. But from what James could tell through his personal interactions and what his investigators told him, the man had a heart of gold, was a widower for whom family was everything.

"Thanks for letting us hop over here today, Carl," James answered with a grin. He strolled toward the huddled group, Anna by his side. "I'd like to introduce you to Anna Kingsley. Anna, this is Carl Owens. He'll be giving us the tour."

Carl stepped forward, taking Anna's other hand and bending over it. "It's a huge pleasure, Miss Kingsley." He dropped a light kiss on it, then let her go. "James tells me you're the artist who makes the most exquisite furniture for my favorite art gallery. Is that true?"

Anna's gaze flicked to James, a flat expression on her face. "How do you know it's me? Maybe James was wrong."

James winced. Not many people knew it was her furniture, and he knew she protected her privacy diligently. But when he’d first mentioned to Carl that he was filling his new house with furniture from his favorite art gallery on Duval Street, he’d had no idea it was Anna.

But the last time he and Carl had met for dinner, he'd bragged how the very same artist had furnished all the furniture for The Majestic. Carl had been curious enough to browse the gallery to see for himself. In fact, James was fairly certain Anna would see one or two of her pieces in the resort.

"I told him," James confessed. "Carl and I have dinner regularly and I let it slip who provided the custom furniture for The Majestic."

"And what James didn't know is that I had an advantage," Carl injected, speaking out of the side of his mouth as if he were imparting a secret. "Because I'm friends with the gallery owner, and they let me sneak in to steal a couple of pieces out from under this guy's nose. He was not happy with me when he found out," he added with a chuckle.

Anna laughed nervously and shifted to the side. James knew she was uncomfortable with attention and compliments, but he wasn't about to let her backtrack on him. She was probably annoyed that he'd revealed her identity as well, but that was too bad. It was a waste for her work to hide in the back corners of some dark gallery.

In fact, he’d make sure everyone knew whose furniture was featured in his hotel. She’d be turning down work orders left and right.

He squeezed her hand lightly and gave her a playful wink. "Are you ready for this tour? I've been promised that it's top notch."

Carl barked out a hearty laugh. "Only the best for you, James, and of course, for you too, Miss Kingsley. May I call you Anna?"

The old man grinned when she gave him a nod. "Well, let's get started, shall we?" He turned to his team, who’d watched silently from the side. At his signal, the leader of the group, the tall businessman stepped forward giving them a formal bow.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Armstrong. Ms. Kingsley. Please follow me." He pivoted on the ball of his foot and marched down the dock toward the gravel path that led toward the heart of the island, the rest of the group following his lead.

As they strolled behind the group, James listened halfheartedly while Carl entertained Anna with one of his many "war stories" as the old man fondly called them. They had nothing to do with war but were really the tales of his many business conquests.

She responded politely and even laughed softly at the appropriate times. But James couldn't focus on much more than the feel of her hand in his, their fingers laced tightly together. And what really made him smile was the clasp of her hand. It was as fierce as his.

It was all overwhelming, just too much for Anna to process. One man owned Sunset Key and nearly everything on it. How was that even possible?

Anna knew it happened on occasion, but she'd never met anyone who owned an entire island before. And here she was hand in hand with James as they strolled along the path, listening to the two men banter about the island's layout, features, and overall worth.

They spent the last couple of hours exploring various buildings: the resort's individual cabins, the restaurant, and lobby, where she'd also noticed one of her Bombay chests. Carl hadn't been teasing her.

She had to admit, she was flattered that her work had caught the eye of someone who most likely saw priceless art on a daily basis and could easily afford the cost.

Anna heard the chime of a bike bell and turned to see an inverted tricycle with what looked like a small freezer box in the front. The man pedaling it wore a huge smile and a white uniform as he rode toward them, ringing the bell again.

"Ah, here comes Mike." Carl turned to Anna. "He runs our ice cream shop and bikes around the resort several times a day to hand out gelato to our guests. The man is a marketing genius and came up with the concept himself. Would you like some?"

James gave her hand a light squeeze. "Anna's been known to go nuts for chocolate," he teased. "Does he have that flavor?"

Carl nodded. "Chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, I believe, caramel sea salt, vanilla, and… There's one more I'm forgetting."

"You had me at chocolate peanut butter," Anna piped up.

James chuckled, then leaned toward her. She shivered as his lips brushed her ear. "You wouldn't mind sharing with me, would you? It's my favorite flavor, too."

Anna grinned, intrigued by the playful side of him. "Not at all, so long as I get all the peanut butter."

"Deal. I'll just have to get my peanut butter fix from your tongue."

Anna gaped at him. He'd been such a gentleman all afternoon. It was shocking to hear him say something so sexy, much less in front of other people.

"Okay, you two. Here." Carl handed them each a pint of ice cream and spoons. "No need to make it awkward for the rest of us, thank you."

He pointed toward a lovely white, two-story Victorian style home that sat on the furthest point west on the trail. "We have your house ready if you'd like to see what we've done."

James followed the direction and smiled. "Ah! I'm glad to see it's even more beautiful in person than in the online pictures."

"As is everything on this island," Carl quipped. "With what you offered, the previous owners were more than happy to leave most of the furniture. We left the majority of it the same. But we did take the liberty of swapping out mattresses and the other items you requested. The bathrooms and refrigerator are all fully stocked, per your request."

James bobbed his head as they walked toward the house. "And the setup on the beach. Did you have any problems with that?"

"Of course not," Carl scoffed. "Our business is hospitality, James. It was child’s play." He glanced at Anna. "This guy! He calls me a few days ago, buys the house, sight unseen, and then calls back yesterday wondering if we can arrange a romantic dinner on the beach for you two." Carl sniffed. "Ridiculous."

"Dammit, Carl. You just ruined the surprise," James barked, just as Anna came to a halt mid stride, Carl's words registering.

"Wait." She peered up at James. "You just bought this house? Without even walking through it in person?"

James stepped in front of her, lifting her hand to his mouth. "That's all you heard?" The soft kiss he brushed over her skin sent pleasurable shivers down her spine.

"It's what I do, Anna," he replied softly. "I buy property all over the world without seeing them. My team is incredibly thorough and would let me know if there was a problem."

Anna blinked several times as her mind processed his statement. The concept of buying a multi-million-dollar house without viewing it in-person was alien to her, much less the fact that he did this all over the world.

She knew James had deep pockets from the furniture order for The Majestic. It wasn’t all that unusual in the hospitality space in Key West. But this was beyond even that. Her heart skipped a beat. Now that she'd finally warmed up to the idea of spending time with James, she wondered if the man was way out of her league.

Was she fantasizing about a man she could never truly have? Anna huffed out a breath as Aunt Louise's words played through her head.

Life is too short to let your insecurities lead the way, girl. Take the leap and stop worrying so much.

As usual, her aunt was one hundred percent correct: at the end of the day, neither his wealth nor his businesses were any concern of hers. She could only focus on him and her intense attraction.

In fact, the thought of exploring her time with James now excited her, and she'd be grateful for what she got.

"Was that the surprise? A romantic dinner on the beach?"

"It won't be a surprise if I tell you," James teased, his lips very close to hers.

Carl walked forward, throwing a playful grin over his shoulder as he passed them. "Let me show you what we've done. I think you'll like it."

He led the way around the side of the house and Anna gasped as the stunning view laid out before them. Towering palm trees dotted the pristine beach, leaves swaying in the light breeze, as waves softly lapped the white sand. It was breathtaking, and it would be the perfect spot to watch the famous Key West sunset.

"Oh my God." Anna didn't have words to describe what she felt. She'd lived in this paradise nearly her entire life, so she should be accustomed to scenes like this. But this was idyllic, with the sun shining brightly from the west as it arched toward the ocean.

She noticed a table set for two on a square pad between the house and beach. A bottle of wine sat to the side in a chilled metal container.

"Wow."

His thumb ran circles along her sensitive palm, sending goosebumps up her arms, the motion almost erotic. "I thought we could have dinner while we were here. What do you say? I've heard rumors that the sunset is amazing from this vantage point."

"I'd love that." Anna smiled, knowing full well that her emotions were splayed all over her face. It felt like James had torn down yet another wall in her heart.

They stood like that, staring into each other’s eyes for several moments until Carl cleared his throat awkwardly behind them. They turned toward the man in unison.

Carl handed them a menu. "I need your orders." They made their selections and Carl gestured to one of his entourage, who scurried off.

"Great choices. Give my team about twenty minutes to get your meal set. In the meantime, enjoy the beach. You'll find the water is crystal clear and at the perfect temperature."

"That sounds great. Thanks, Carl." James shook Carl’s hand and turned, bent his arm toward Anna, and smiled as she curled her hand around his firm bicep. "I'll be in touch."

Carl gave them a knowing smile. "I look forward to doing business with you. Enjoy the island." With a nod of his head, he sauntered off with the rest of his group following in his wake.

James kicked his shoes off at the edge of the beach and rolled up his pant legs. "I love walking on beaches. It's one of the best forms of meditation in my opinion." He glanced at her, his brows up. "You gonna join me?"

Anna realized she'd frozen in place as she watched him. He was charmingly relaxed with his careless grin highlighting the sharp planes of his face. The light breeze molded his white linen shirt to his chest, emphasizing his muscular build. She wanted to trace her hands over each and every bulge it revealed. The man exuded sexuality even as he kicked off his shoes.

She was beginning to wonder if he practiced voodoo or perhaps was a wizard in his spare time. She was enchanted, drawn to his every movement.

"Yes, of course." She kicked off her sandals and bunched the bottom of the dress up, holding it at her side as she took the hand he extended to her. "I feel like I'm in a fairy tale right now. Like this is a dream and I’m about to wake up."

James led her to the surf, sinking his toes into the wet sand with a sigh as the small waves splashed to the shore, the warm water lapping at their ankles. "Do you want me to pinch you?" he asked playfully, an adorable, mischievous grin on his face.

She laughed and slapped his bicep. "Stop teasing me."

"How about if I splash you with some water? Would you believe it's real then?" He squatted and flicked some droplets toward her, sprinkling the bottom of her dress.

Anna squeaked, and on instinct, kicked a plume of water toward James. The water soaked the front of his white linen shirt and he stared at her agape, his eyes wide, jaw dropped.

"Oh no!" Anna gasped, horrified at her reaction. "James, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that."

James snorted, standing up with his eyes wide. "Yes, you did. And I deserved it." His tone was good natured, and he chuckled softly as he unbuttoned his shirt, peeling the edges apart to expose his firm chest.

Anna's mouth went dry as she took him in, unconcerned that she stared hard . The breeze had done a good job on the linen shirt, but it completely left out the way his wide, muscled expanse was cut and defined, with padded pectorals and a set of washboard abs that any New York model would give their eyeteeth for.

A swathe of dark hair sprinkled across his chest, dwindling to bare skin over his abs and then resuming in a sexy trail just below his belly button. She felt like a cat in heat, wanting to rub herself against him and lick every inch she saw.

He asked her a question, but Anna was so distracted that it only registered as an odd muffled background noise. His head tilted as he gazed at her questioningly. "Anna?"

Anna blinked as if coming out of a trance. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"

His lips curled in a lecherous grin as he reached for her hand. "This is your fault. If unbuttoning my shirt is going to offend your delicate sensibilities, you shouldn't have splashed me so hard."

"You don't—" She cleared her throat and shook her head, wishing her brain would work again. "You're not offending me."

His smile grew even wider, and he tugged her hand. "Come on. Truce okay? No more splashing. Let's walk and enjoy the beach."

"No more splashing," she promised.

"What do you think of this?" James asked after a few quiet moments.

"You mean the island? The tour? Your new house?" They'd seen so much in the last few hours she wasn't sure what he was referring to.

"Yeah, all of that. I want your perspective."

Anna tipped her face toward the lowering sun. "I don't know where I've ever seen a more beautiful and perfectly curated spot. I can see why people spend a fortune to vacation here."

James nodded, pursing his lips. "I agree. I bought the house because not only would it be a good investment, but I also wanted to see how they handled the transaction and any other strange requests I made."

He was quiet for several moments, staring at his feet as they inched slowly through the light surf. "I've been thinking of selling off my Northeast businesses and investing down here, in addition to The Majestic, that is."

He pinned her with his fierce peridot gaze. "With Key West my home now, the thought of commuting back and forth every other month to New York for meetings is repulsive to me."

"I don't blame you. I'm sure it's a lot to manage while you're here."

"It's not as bad as you think. Most of the companies operate on autopilot, and the ones that don't, have solid teams in place. On top of that, my assistant is a whiz and handling my affairs in New York. But…" he dwindled off and came to a stop. "I just don't have the same drive for that cutthroat life anymore. When my mother died, my priorities shifted in the blink of an eye. But this feeling goes well beyond fulfilling her last wish even though it’s what originally brought me to Key West.” He sighed with frustration. “It's difficult to explain."

"I understand what you mean,” Anna injected. “It's like a part of you is gone and you have a new normal."

"Yes. That's it exactly." The corner of his mouth lifted. “And I want my new normal to be down here."

Anna's bottom lip dropped and her pulse accelerated as his eyes followed the movement. She held herself still as his hand cupped her cheek, barely breathing and praying that he didn't stop.

"Anna," he breathed softly before his lips captured hers in a sweet kiss.

His mouth molded to hers, gently encouraging and enticing her to let him in. With a moan, she lifted onto her toes, pressing herself against him as her tongue entwined erotically with his. With a deep growl, his arms encircled her, lifting her to his chest as he deepened the kiss.

She gasped as he cupped her bottom, kneading her sensitive globes in rhythm of his tongue. Her core clenched as sensation poured through her body. Anna threaded her fingers through his silky, brown hair, refusing to let the kiss end until she got her fill.

The clanking of dishes broke them apart and they glanced in unison at the staff wheeling a cart across the dirt path toward the table.

"That was probably for the best." James cleared his throat and set Anna back on her feet. "I don't want our first time to happen in the sand with an audience," he added, a twinkle in his green gaze. He took her hand and kissed her palm. "Come on. Let's have dinner. You can tell me what you think of Sunset Key.”

Holy lord! This man is determined to drive me crazy.