Page 102 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

He kicked them off to the side with the swift move of his foot, one after the next, and moved in even closer.

Kat inhaled the handsome scent of him while studying his face. She lingered over the chiseled set of his jaw, accented by that five o’clock shadow, admiring him with new eyes. Eyes that saw what an incredible man he was on the inside as well. Strong, sensitive, and kind. The more she discovered about her groom, the harder she fell. And falling had never felt so good.

When her gaze lingered on his mouth, sparks ignited low in her tummy. Those perfectly sculpted lips could put her under his spell in a blink—he’d proven it. And while the vision of him was impressive no matter where she looked, it was his gaze that always rendered her weak.

She fixed her eyes on his, nearly hypnotized by the depths behind them now. She was really getting to know this man. He was someone she admired. Someone she trusted. And someone she was definitely falling in love with.

His face tightened for a blink, a sudden strain capturing his expression. “Question,” he said, voice raspy and low. “If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island with one person—anyone in the whole world—who would it be?”

It would definitely be him, there was no doubt, but she didn’t want to admit that just yet. “You first…” The simple request came out in a whisper.

His grip on her wrists lightened before he captured both of them in just one of his hands. Slowly then, he lifted her arms into the air and over her head, putting her in a state of surrender too. Making her feel like his captured prey.

Her heart pumped out of rhythm, hot and longing thumps aching in her chest as he moved in, ever so slowly, and cupped her hip with his large, heated hand.

At last he brought his masterful mouth to hers, thrilling her with a slow, passionate kiss.

A whimper sounded in her throat.

He released her wrists and wrapped his strong arms around her. Kat did the same as he kissed her again. She was very aware of the bed at their side. Yet just as she wondered if he might lead her onto the soft folds of the bed cover, he pulled away the slightest bit and spoke against her lips.

“That was my answer,” he said. “Now it’s your turn.”

Another thrill rippled through her at his words. They were answering with actions, were they? Caught up by the feels of falling in love. Drawn in by the knowledge that this man was, in fact, her husband, Kat gripped hold of his hands, took one backward step toward the bed, and then another.

Her already racing heart skittered wildly out of beat. Stirs of anticipation swirled in tingly waves over her skin. No, she hadn’t planned to do this. In fact, Kat had planned to not do this until she and her groom decided they were going to stay married once the eight weeks was through.

But the emotions stirring and brewing inside her made that seem like an unrealistic—not to mention unnecessary—plan. They’d waited this long, hadn’t they? And he’d been a perfect gentleman thus far. Perhaps it was time to show him just how deep her feelings had gone.

“Wait, Kat,” he said, eyes growing wide suddenly. He squeezed her hands, looking from the bed, to her, then back at the bed once more. “I think we should wait a little longer before…you know, we take it there.”

The heart flutters stopped. In fact, it felt as if her heart stalled altogether. Kat tried to keep the hurt off her face. A flood of embarrassed heat filled her cheeks as she dropped her gaze. Perhaps his feelings weren’t as strong as hers. Perhaps hints of the L-word hadn’t even floated to the surface of his mind just yet.

Part of her wanted to vanish. Part of her wanted to question him and find out just where his head was in all of this. But the better part of her wanted to carry out the night—even if it consisted of nothing more than curling up to him and enjoying his kiss—and hope that he was simply being a gentleman where intimacy was concerned.

At once his hand slipped gently beneath her chin. “It’s not because I don’t want to, Kat.” His lips grazed her cheek, then moved along her temple where he pressed a warm, tender kiss.

His heated breath teased her skin as he proceeded to trace over her forehead, placing kisses along her brow. His lips were soft and silky, a contrast to the short, bristly scruff from his five o’clock shadow.

“You’ve been hurt before,” he rasped. “I want you to have full confidence that…that that’s not the kind of man I am. I’m not someone who would ever hurt you.”

Kat glanced up at him, and was pinned by the intensity in his blue, brooding eyes. He did want her. She could see that much. Feel it even, in the palpable connection between them. The delicious pull that had her tossing caution out with the throw pillows.

“How about we just do this…” He came in once more, pressed a kiss to the corner of her lips. “And this,” he mumbled, voice low and raspy.

The kiss he gave her then told Kat they could have a very fulfilling night doing this very thing. She wrapped her arms around him then, and sighed as he worked his masterful spell over her mouth. The push and pull of an ocean tide. He was strong, passionate, and sexier than any man she’d known. And it wasn’t just the contoured muscles and a flawless physique, it was his strength in character that made him all the more attractive.

She found herself convinced once more—perhaps the show had succeeded after all. Perhaps they really had found her very own Mr. Right.

CHAPTER 18

Zander had heard of the honeymoon phase a million times, and he figured he had a pretty good idea of how great that time must be. But after last night, he realized he’d had no clue. And the funny thing was, all he’d done was hold her in his arms throughout the night.

Still, it was nothing short of heaven. Of course, he’d found himself waking periodically to inhale her tropical scent, kiss the gentle bend of her neck, and drift back to sleep feeling more content that he’d been in years. He loved her, and the knowledge thrilled and petrified him all at once.

Sunlight poured into the beach house as Zander sliced up vegetables for a breakfast skillet. Fresh zucchini, baby red potatoes, and shitake mushrooms. In a couple of hours, their ride would be there, and he and Kat would say goodbye to their private island. For now, anyway; if Zander had it his way, he’d bring Kat back to their special place in the Maldives often.

He’d gotten used to the pattern they’d established since their arrival. Kat sleeping in while Zander got up, worked out on the beach, and prepared breakfast.