dock to a boat. Kayla stopped mid-stride. For some reason, she'd expected a small craft. Instead, she found a cruiser with a cabin, and she couldn't help wondering if there were sleeping quarters below.
“Wait here and I'll help you.”
Armand stepped aboard the vessel, grabbed her by the waist and picked her up. He slid her down the front of his hard muscles in the most intimate manner. Her nipples puckered and moisture flooded her apex before her feet hit the deck. If she questioned her earlier intentions of wanting this man to devour her, she didn't after the surge of arousal he stirred within her. Her body was on fire. Never had she experienced such intense heat.
“Ah, thanks.” How she had managed to get the words out without stammering surprised her.
She followed Armand to the helm and took a seat. He pulled the rope free of the dock then slowly maneuvered the boat to open water. Once past the confines of the marina, he throttled up and they moved along at a nice clip. Kayla enjoyed the wind blowing across her skin. For once, she tried to cool herself rather then the other way around.
The view was even more breathtaking from the boat than it had been on land. White tufts in a blue sky floated by and majestic mountains reflected in the crystal water. She looked over the edge of the boat and spotted large boulders looming up toward them. She'd never seen water so clear.
“How deep is this?”
“One hundred sixty-five feet. Give or take.”
He glanced her way, but his eyes were hidden behind mirrored glasses so she couldn't read him. She hoped he took them off because she loved looking into the gorgeous blue depths. She could drown in them. Besides, for this whole seduction thing to work she needed to gauge her progress, and that would be more of a challenge if he were wearing sunglasses.
Whatever. For the moment she leaned back in the seat and tipped her face to the sun. She'd deal with seducing him later.
*****
Armand cursed. Why the hell had he lifted Kayla from the dock and pressed her body to his? He'd been sporting an erection ever since he spied her long, silky-smooth legs clad in short denim. Actually, he questioned why he'd invited her on this excursion but he knew the answer. She was beautiful, sexy and vulnerable and he was a fucking prick who wanted to get laid. For some godforsaken reason guilt ate at him, but he shoved it down. When her body touched his it was like ice sliding along hot steel and he wanted her coolness pressed against his naked, hot flesh. He also wanted the curse broken and if there was even the slightest chance she was the key, he'd take it.
He maneuvered the boat to his favorite spot and let the motor idle while he tossed the anchor off the back to hold the craft in place. “We're here.” He turned off the engine and began gathering the cooler and plastic tote to lower them into the water.
“Can I help?”
“We're going to wade in and float these”— he pointed to their cargo—”to shore. The water's only about waist deep here, but if you have your suit on you might want to leave your clothes here.” Dear God, did he ever want her to leave her clothes on the boat. Every last stitch.
She nodded and reached for the hem on her shirt, pulled it over her head and tossed it onto the seat. Mounds of golden flesh spilled out of a red bikini top and tempted him. Holy mother of all that is sacred. His fingers actually itched with the need to trace a line where flesh met fabric, and his lips wanted to taste every inch of skin then wrap around her sweet nipple and suckle until she moaned his name.
Kayla didn't stop. Next, she unbuttoned her shorts and lowered the zipper. He suppressed a groan as she slid the material past her hips and down her thighs. If that wasn't enough, she kicked them aside and now stood before him in two pieces of red material. Scanty material at best.
“I'm ready,” she announced.
Right. So was he. Ready, willing and fucking able and the