“Or...not.”
She laughed softly. “Don’t tell me. You have a strict skinny-dipping-for-all policy that you personally enforce for every employee of your new company.”
“I like the way you think, Ms. Lemanski. Ideas like that will have you promoted in no time.”
“Promoted to what?”
Very slowly, very carefully, he tucked his arms under her and eased her on top of him. “Over me.” Perfect. Her slender legs slid right over his, her hips slipping right where he wanted her.
“Is that my promotion or position?”
“Both.”
As she settled against his chest, he was only slightly surprised to feel her heart beat steady and strong and a little fast. He stroked her back, up and down, sliding into the dip of her waist, then inching over the rise of her backside, getting the tiniest whimper in response.
Pressing a kiss on her hair, inhaling the sweet floral scent of her, he let his hips rock once. She looked down at him, nibbling that lower lip.
“So what’s the company policy on making out?” she asked.
“Not required, but always...encouraged.”
She smiled and offered her mouth, their first kiss warm and full of promise. When it ended, she pulled back and looked into his eyes. “Don’t you have more questions about my qualifications and background?”
“Your qualifications are obvious—you proved yourself in the field today. Background?” He considered what he really wanted to know about her. “Yeah. Why don’t you have a boyfriend?”
“What makes you think I don’t?”
“You’re here on this lounge with me. You’re not the type of girl to do that if you were involved with someone.”
She smiled. “So true. Well, I’m involved with a guy who stands forty inches tall and has a weakness for chocolate milk and purple dinosaurs. What’s your excuse?”
“Honestly? I can’t commit, have questionable taste, and don’t trust anyone who might be after things other than true love.”
The response made her bow her back as she lifted her body in surprise. “Really? Is all of that true?”
More or less. “I have to be careful, for obvious reasons. And I have been known to choose unwisely when it comes to women. And commitment? Let’s just say it’s eluded me. I haven’t met the right girl yet.”
“I understand. I haven’t met the right guy yet.”
He brushed some hairs off her face and took another long trip in the beauty of her eyes. What would it be like to be the “right guy” for a woman like her? “So where does that leave us, Liza?”
“Us? I guess...boss and employee?”
“Nothing more?”
She gave him a slow smile. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
“I’d like...to know you better. Nothing official, nothing committed, just better.”
She drew in a breath, regarding him. “In other words...almost-not-quite anything.”
“Depends on your perspective.”
“Right now,” she whispered, closing her eyes, “I feel like I’m too close to have perspective.”
“But close enough for this.” He pulled her in for a long, slow, deep kiss, sliding his tongue between her lips to part them. Her body felt boneless and limp in his arms, sweet and soft and womanly as she intensified the kiss. Their legs meshed, their hips rocked, and their mouths began exploring everything they could taste.
Blood thrummed hot in his veins, swelling him against her, making him move in a natural rhythm that she met with each strained breath.
He moved his hands up and down her back, one settling on the lovely curve of her backside, the other tunneling into silky hair. He angled her head and curled one leg around hers, somehow making them fit as though they were made for each other.
She tasted like chocolate and peppermint, smelled like roses and salt air, and felt like...heaven.
“You’re as good at this as everything else,” he whispered, tipping her chin up so he could plant tiny kisses on her throat.
“Not from too much experience,” she said. “Certainly not with billionaires on megayachts.”
“I don’t want to be a billionaire on a megayacht.”
She laughed. “Hate to break the bad news, but you am what you am, baby.”
But he wanted to be more. Different. Better. “Forget that, Liza,” he whispered gruffly.
She answered with a slight whimper when he found a sweet spot right above her collarbone.
“Forget who and what I was,” he whispered.
“Naughty Nate?” she teased. “How could I?”
“I hate that name.” His voice was thick with repugnance.
“Then don’t be...naughty.” She kissed his mouth, his cheek, his forehead and went back to his mouth for more, making it impossible for him to be anything but.
His hand touched her warm, smooth thigh, lightly stroking her skin, sending another explosion of response through his already electrified body.
“Kiss me again, Liza.”
She did, arching her back, giving him the chance to plant kisses on her throat and in the V-neck of the dress, inhaling the feminine scent and licking the delicious skin. Unable to resist, he dragged one hand up her side and curled around to brush her breast, getting a soft sigh of pleasure in response.
And a splat of rain on his face. And another hit his hand where it rested on her thigh.
“There’s the rain,” she said, turning to look up at the charcoal sky, the moon well hidden by thick clouds. “I guess Mother Nature’s giving us a message. Time to stop.”
“Here’s what I say to Mother Nature.” He reached down to the side of the chaise, patting the leather for the button. “There we go.”
A low electric hum preceded the awning, which rose from behind them, as if by magic. Liza lifted her head to follow the navy blue canvas as it flattened out over them.
“Are you kidding me?” She laughed.
“We’re on a sun bed, Liza. Sometimes people want shade. Or rain protection.”
She sat up, straddling him, the white skirt bunched around her thighs, her hair falling back as she looked up at the awning in wonder. “That is...oh my God, so cool.”
She looked beautiful in the newly formed shadows, her hair tumbling over her shoulders, a smile of pure joy across her face, her slender body wrapped around him.
“You hiding any other tricks, Nate?”
“Well, in case there are any mosquitoes...” He pressed the second button on the panel below him, and sheer gauze netting rolled down from all four sides.