by Susan Hatler
Holding his breath, he kept his gaze on the road. She was silent for so long, he finally turned and looked at her. Her face was blank of emotion, and he expected her to launch into a lecture about safe sex or women's rights. Instead, she burst out laughing.
Relieved, he reached out to caress her leg. She stiffened, and her gaze immediately locked onto his hand. He stroked her in a soft, soothing motion. “Like I said, that was a long time ago, Melina. I'm much more discerning about who I'm with now.”
Her expression grew serious. “Unless it's an old friend who's sneaked into your hotel room.”
“Especially when it's an old friend who's sneaked into my hotel room. Believe me, seeing you lying in my bed turned me on more than that woman ever did.”
“You don't have to—”
He squeezed her knee warningly. “I'm serious.”
She shrugged. “Sure. Whatever.”
Turning back to the window, she clearly communicated that their conversation was over. He let her shut him out for a bit, but he kept his hand on her leg, reminding her with his touch that he wasn't going anywhere.
About thirty minutes later, he caught the yawn she tried to stifle. “We're going on a bit of a drive. Why don't you go ahead and go to sleep?”
She shook her head. “I can keep you company.”
“You will be keeping me company. Besides, you're going to need your rest.”
Her eyes rounded. “What are we going to do?”
He shot her a wicked grin. “Patience, baby. I'll reveal the class outline when we get to where we're going.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you trying to be funny?”
He slid his hand just a fraction higher on her leg, and she gasped. Just as he'd hoped, she reached out and grabbed his hand with her own. Satisfied, he tightened his hold on hers, resting their linked hands on her knee. “Just rest. I promise, you'll know everything in just a couple of hours.”
For a moment, their gazes held, and he brought her hand up to his mouth to kiss it. “Now close those beautiful eyes and sleep, Ladybug.”
He almost chuckled out loud at the way her eyes widened again. Leaning her head back, she stared at him while he focused on the road. He felt her gaze on him and rubbed his thumb in slow, circular movements against the back of her hand. Within minutes, he felt her begin to relax. Within ten, she'd closed her eyes. And within twenty, her soft, steady breathing told him she'd gone to sleep.
Gently, he brought their raised hands back to his lips for another soft kiss.
***
When Melina awoke, she was in the passenger seat of her car, and she was alone. Jolting up, she frantically searched for Rhys and immediately saw him standing near the front of the car, talking to a bearded man in a baseball cap. Pulling down the visor, she checked herself in the mirror, wincing at the sight that looked back at her.
Her glasses were askew, her hair limp, no makeup on her face. But the men had turned toward her, and Rhys was motioning her outside and she'd feel like an absolute fool if she didn't go out and greet them. So she straightened her glasses, took a deep breath, and opened the car.
“Melina, this is my friend, Rod. He owns the Holiday Harbor store.” Rhys gestured to the weathered, two-story building behind them. Beyond it, a long dock floated over a peaceful lake surrounded by tall redwood trees. “Rod, this is Melina.”
She held out her hand. “A pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure's all mine.” Ignoring her proffered hand, Rod pulled her in for a deep bear hug. “It's great to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you from the Dalton family over the years.”
Flushed with pleasure, Melina smoothed back her hair. “Th-that's nice.” She peeked up at Rhys, and he tucked his hand around her waist and pulled her closer. At first, she held herself slightly apart from him as he continued to talk to Rod, but then she relaxed, allowing herself to sink into him. He looked down and smiled at her in approval.
“Rod checks in on the place when I'm not around. I was just getting the lowdown on the lake. The water's been pretty low this year, but last month's rain has got it back up to boating levels. Rod's got a patio boat he lets me use when I'm here.”
“Where is here?”
“Lake Shasta. About thirty minutes north of Redding.”
“I-I didn't realize you had a place here.”
“It's something I bought a few years back.”
“Oh.” Her implication was clear from her tone. They hadn't talked enough in the last few years for her to know much of anything about him. But she was surprised Max hadn't said anything about it.
“Do you own it with Max?”
Rhys tensed for a moment. “Nope. This is something that I did completely on my own. Max has come up a few times, but he gets a little antsy when he's here. He's not much for roughing it.”
“Somehow I can't see you roughing it much either.”
Rod chuckled. “She's got your number, Rhys. But he does surprisingly well while he's here. He's got some good survival skills, not that you'll be needing them much. Rhys's house is great. It just took him awhile to get it in habitable shape.”
Rhys remodeled a house? He obviously had more skill with his hands than she'd thought. Flushing at her thoughts, she blurted, “Is there a restroom here I can use?”
“Use the one in the restaurant. It's nicer than the open restroom by the lake.”
She nodded. “Thank you.” She rushed into the building, acutely aware of the men's gazes on her. She walked through a little store on the way to the restaurant bathroom, noting the souvenirs and water products for sale. When she was done, she retraced her steps, stopping when a rack of bathing suits caught her eye. Biting her lip, she stared at a white halter-top bikini that was prominently displayed.
If they were going to be staying here a few days and Rhys wanted to go swimming, she'd need something, wouldn't she? She could just see him trying to persuade her to go skinny-dipping, and she wasn't sure she could actually go through with that. Still…
She flipped through the suits on the rack. There were several one-pieces that looked just like the one she had at home. Modest. Flattering. But her eyes kept straying to the white two-piece. She'd never had the guts to wear a bikini before, but hadn't Rhys said being unpredictable was sexy? Maybe this was her chance to prove what a good student she was. Before she could change her mind, she picked it up.
“Would you like to keep the hanger?” the cheerful teenager behind the register asked.
“Um. No, thanks.” She handed the girl two twenty-dollar bills.
“I love this suit. I wore it in black just the other day.”
Melina briefly closed her eyes. Of course the girl would wear a bikini. She was tall, slim, and had the curves to fill out the swimsuit the way it was meant to be. Melina tried to picture herself wearing the bikini while standing next to this girl's similarly dressed form. Her stomach clenched in horror.
Her hand whipped out to grab the bikini back just as the girl held it out. “Here you go. Have a great day.”
Melina stared at the skimpy swatches of fabric, no longer sure the bottom half would cover all that needed to be covered. “You know, I didn't know you had this in black. I think I should wait until you get that in.”
The girl frowned. “Oh. I'm sorry, but the bathing suits aren't returnable.”
“Sure. But I just bought it,” Melina explained with a bright smile. “It's not like I went out and wore it.”
“Well—”
“How about I just exchange it then?” She grabbed a black one-piece from the rack. “This'll do for now. And, look, it's on sale, right?”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“Then I'll take it. You can even keep the difference.”
The girl looked nervously at the door that led outside. “I don't know. I guess I could talk to Rod. Explain you changed your mind. Why don't I go out and—”
“No!” Melina yelled in a panic, causing the girl to jerk. “I m
ean, I don't want to be a bother. I guess I'll take the white bikini after all.” She stuffed the thing in her purse and headed for the door. “Thanks,” she called. Before she could change her mind, she rushed back to where Rhys and Rod were still talking.
What had she been thinking? She'd never worn a bikini in her life, let alone a white one. She couldn't even wear white pants without it looking like her hips had expanded by several inches. The one-piece would have been safer. But, she reminded herself, that would also have been so predictable of her. Give yourself some props for bravery, she urged herself.
“Your store and restaurant are very nice,” she said a bit breathlessly to Rod. “We'll definitely have to come back sometime.”
“I'd like that.” Rod beamed at them. Inside, Melina was aghast. Had she just implied that she and Rhys would be back sometime in the future? Together? As in a regular couple? She opened her mouth to correct her mistake, but Rhys put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. Once more, his expression radiated approval, which confused her even as it made her heart fill with joy.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Melina. You take care of your man here, you hear?”
Her gaze still on Rhys, she saw the flush stain his cheeks. The thought that he might be a little thrown by what was happening between them calmed her nerves. Take care of Rhys? That was exactly what she was here to do, wasn't it?
So what if she'd never worn a white bikini? Who cared if she never wore the one she'd just bought? She could pretend she was the type of woman who would wear it, right? Doing just that, she lowered her lids and tried to put her breathlessness to work. “Oh, I definitely will take care of him,” she murmured.
Both Rod and Rhys looked poleaxed, and an enticing ripple of power thrummed through her. Suppressing a smile, she turned and walked back to the car, putting a little extra swing into her hips. When she glanced back, Rhys's eyes were planted firmly on her behind.
Rhys had failed to tell her one thing about thumbing one's nose at the tried-and-true. It was as much a turn-on to the seducer as it was to the person being seduced.
She climbed into the car and patted her large purse. She'd almost panicked back there, but buying the stupid bikini had changed her. It was like a sexy little secret that only she knew about. Even if all she did was act like the type of woman who could wear the thing, no one would be the wiser. And it would be worth it to see that look on Rhys's face again, a combination of surprise and approval, mixed in with a whole lot of desire.
When Rhys got back behind the wheel, he smiled. “Ready to go?”
She placed her hand high on his thigh and squeezed.
He gasped, stared at her hand, and then looked up at her. She kept her eyes wide and innocent. “I'm ready for anything. The question is, are you?”
With a deep breath and a slightly dazed expression, he started the car and pulled back onto the road. Melina leaned back in her seat and smiled. No one could ever accuse her of being anything other than a fast learner.
***
Rhys was so aroused by the gentle pressure of Melina's hand on his thigh that he was afraid he was going to pass out. As he pulled up to the property, however, his nerves somehow managed to overshadow his lust.
He tried telling himself he was being ridiculous. He'd never brought a woman here, true, but it wasn't like he was trying to impress Melina with the house. There was nothing grand about it. It wasn't even on the lake, although the water was just a few short minutes’ drive away. The house was pre-manufactured, but it had been in such sorry shape that Rhys had had to rebuild about a third of it. Given his touring schedule, he didn't have all that much time to devote to it, but when he did, he worked with utter devotion. He loved puttering around this place. It was as much of a home base as he'd had since he was a kid. He just didn't get here nearly often enough. And while he sometimes called on Max or Rod to help him out with a job or two, for the most part he enjoyed being by himself.
Today, however, he'd felt compelled to show it to Melina. Like it or not, he was nervous to see what her reaction would be.
He needn't have worried.
“Oh, Rhys,” she breathed when she caught sight of the little house on an elevated lot at the end of a dirt driveway. “It's wonderful.” She got out of the car and turned slowly in a circle, taking in the view of redwood trees and hills. “What a beautiful setting.”
He could tell she loved it. The wonder on her face was genuine and closely mirrored the way he'd felt when he'd first seen the land. “Thanks. I like it.”
“How did you find it?”
“Rod and I have been friends for a while, ever since Max and I rented a houseboat on the lake years ago. I mentioned that I wouldn't mind having some vacation property up here, and he gave me a call when this lot became available.”
She smiled, a broad, carefree smile that made his breath catch. “Will you show me around?”
He laughed. “There's not much to see, but sure, I'll give you the grand tour.”
About thirty minutes later, he rubbed his palms together. “So let's go for a picnic by the lake. Take a swim.”
She frowned. “But what will I do for a swimsuit?”
A grin split his face. He'd liked the underwear she'd worn last night. He was hoping she had on another set just like it. “I think we can come up with something.”
She hesitated, then lifted her chin. “Okay. That would be nice.” She moved toward the guest bedroom, stopping when Rhys called out.
“We'll be sharing the bed in the master bedroom, Melina.”
She blinked and blushed. Her eyes darted nervously to the open doorway, where his big bed was clearly visible. “Oh. Sure.” Changing course, she stepped into the master bedroom and shut the door.
When the bedroom door opened, Melina came out wearing baggy sweat shorts and an oversized tee. Although the clothes did nothing for her figure, Rhys didn't sweat it. Even if he couldn't talk her out of her clothes, water did wondrous things to a white tee.
“I'm ready,” she said softly, sounding far less sure of herself than she had when she'd placed her hand on his thigh. Once he'd gotten over the shock, he'd recognized the satisfaction his response had given her. Melina definitely liked a challenge, and he was about to give her the biggest one so far.
“Great. I’ll be right back.” He went into the bedroom and swiftly changed into shorts and an open button-down shirt.
When he walked out of the bedroom, Melina smiled and turned toward the front door. “Wait,” he called. “There's something I need to do first.”
“What's that?”
He gently clasped her arms and she tilted her head back, her eyes wide, her lips parting slightly. “I need to give you your first pop quiz.”
Chapter Seven
Dalton's Magic Rule #8: Encourage active participation.
The idea of a pop quiz obviously wasn't something that turned Melina on. She pulled away from him and crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes immediately reflecting her discomfort. “I'm not really big on pop quizzes.”
Amusement tipped up one corner of his mouth. No, she wouldn't be. Melina liked to prepare. Research. Have the answers in hand so she could control the situation. Lucky for her, he was here to nudge her out of her comfort zone. “There's no wrong answer to the question I'm about to ask.”
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Then it's not really a pop quiz. A quiz implies by its very nature that there's a right answer or a wrong answer.”
A huge grin split his face now. “What about multiple-choice questions? Haven't you ever answered a question with D, all of the above?”
“Well, sure,” she began hesitantly. “But—”
“There is no 'but,'” he said softly. “Not in this scenario.”
Looking like she wanted to argue some more, she simple shrugged and said, “Fine. There are no wrong answers.”
“Good. The other thing about this question is that you don't answer it right away. You just think about it. And you
answer when you're ready.”
“So what's the question?”
“What would you do to have me?”
She stared at him blankly. “Excuse me?”
Reaching out, he rubbed his thumb against her bottom lip, loving the way her eyelids suddenly grew heavy. “That's the question for you to think about. What would you do to have me? Sexually, of course.”
Her brows furrowed. “I'm not sure I understand the question. In the context of our…our agreement, I suppose I'll do whatever you tell me pleases you.”
“So that's how you plan on handling the next man in your life? Letting him have carte blanche? Anything goes?”
“Well…”
“Bondage?”
Her eyes rounded. “I guess it depends…”
“Sex toys?”
She glanced away, blushing to the roots of her hair. “I-I don't have a problem with—”
“How about multiple partners? Two women? Two men?”
Her eyes snapped back to his. “No. I'm not having any luck keeping one partner satisfied. I don't need an extra person in my bed to worry about.”
“How do you know that's your stopping point? Have you ever tried it?”
“No. I've never tried eating worms, either, but I know that's never going to happen.”
“Okay, so you have a definite sense of what you wouldn't do. Not so much of what you would.”
“Why don't you just tell me what you want, and I'll let you know if it's something I'm not comfortable with.”
His expression grew serious. “And is that where your willingness to learn ends? With the obvious answer?”
She reacted just as he expected she would. Challenge Melina's thirst for knowledge and complexity, and expect her to sit quietly and take it? No way. Hands on hips, she thrust her chin out. “Just what are you getting at, Rhys?”
