She didn’t have time to ponder that. He’d already pulled out her chair and stood waiting for her to sit. Reluctantly she stepped forward then sank down onto the soft cushioned seat. She thought he was going to sit, too. Instead he wheeled a food trolley toward the table. As he lifted the silver domes that covered each dish the air was filled with a variety of delicious aromas and her mouth watered when she saw the feast of fish fillet in a creamy sauce, a mélange of steaming hot vegetables, savory wild rice and a basket of warm bread rolls that smelled freshly baked. The lower level of the trolley had soup, salad, an assortment of dressings and, to Asia’s delight, a cheesecake.
“My goodness,” she breathed. “How are we going to eat all this?”
“One bite at a time,” Rico said with a laugh. “Bon apetit.”
Asia had to admit, Rico played the perfect host at dinner. As they sat eating in the soft light cast by the candles he entertained her with stories of his life in France, Spain and Britain, and of his large Greek family in which he boasted twenty-one first cousins on his father’s side.
“My father has eight siblings,” he explained at her look of shock. He chuckled. “It could have been worse.”
Asia could not imagine being part of such a huge family. How did they keep track of one another? Compared to Rico’s family, with the collection of intriguing characters and gregarious relatives he’d told her about , her family seemed dull and boring. Both her parents and her eighteen-year old sister still lived in her hometown of Oakville in Canada, visiting her maybe once or twice a year. She also went home each Christmas. A family gathering for them was their household of four people. She had cousins, of course, but combining all those she’d acquired from both parents, she reached a total of eight. Even so, they rarely had gatherings where they all met. Probably only at weddings and funerals. They were a far cry from the hundred-person parties that Rico told her about.
As Rico sipped his after-dinner cup of coffee Asia stole a furtive glance at him. No wonder he was the way he was. As a child he’d probably had to bold and assertive just to be heard in what must have been a busy and boisterous family environment. She could just imagine the interaction among the cousins, particularly the boys, each trying to outdo the other as they fought for dominance. Rico would have had to be strong and forceful to hold his own.
A smile tickled her lips as she thought of what he must have been like as a youngster in the Megalos family. With his lean figure he must have been a scrappy little thing, fighting his way past bigger, brawnier boys until he was able to compensate with a height that probably exceeded the majority of them. Rico was at least six foot one, taller than the average man, and that would have definitely worked in his favor.
“What are you thinking?”
Asia blinked. Rico’s question brought her back to earth with a bump. “Oh, nothing,” she said airily. “Just enjoying my tea.” To prove the point she picked up her cup and took a sip.
“Very good,” he said with a nod. “I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the meal.” Then he smiled and reached for her hand. “Now it’s time to burn off some of those calories.”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes snapped to his and she made to pull her hand away but he held it fast. His smile took on a mocking twist. He must have guessed what she’d been thinking. “Let’s go for a walk.”
Still holding her hand he stood up, forcing her to rise, and then he turned her toward the stairs leading up to the deck. “Up you go.”
He helped her up, following close behind. Up on deck the cool air of the salty ocean was a contrast to the intimacy of the cabin below.
A light, almost imperceptible shiver ran through her. The light silk of her blouse was poor protection against the night air which had dipped a few degrees since they’d boarded the yacht.
Rico must have seen her involuntary shiver because, before she knew what was happening, he’d gathered her in his arms, holding her so close she could feel the beating of his heart. As he held her he stroked her arms which were practically bare in the short sleeved blouse she wore.
“Let me warm you up,” he whispered as he stroked, his movements slowing to a seductive caress that was making a heated blush suffuse her body. He’d said he’d warm her and he was certainly doing that…too successfully. She suddenly felt so hot she was almost panting.
She swallowed. “I’m…alright,” she tried to say but it came out as a weak whisper then a gasp as, without warning, he dipped his head and captured her mouth with his own.
Dear God, what was happening? She knew, of course. Rico Megalos was masterfully and expertly taking over. He was seducing her and she couldn’t do a darned thing to stop it. She didn’t want to.
His lips, so strong and hard in the boardroom, were warm and pliable on hers. He was gentle with his kiss, as if soothing her fear, calming her jangling nerves, filling her mind with nothing but his kiss. Then, as she relaxed into him, reveling in the hardness of his body against hers, he deepened his kiss, sliding his tongue past her lips to explore her even more.
And that was when she knew the battle was lost. He was an expert kisser, teasing and taunting, probing then plundering until all she could do was cling to him as he swept her away in the seduction of his caress.
Heart racing, ni**les taut and tingling, she moaned when he pulled his mouth away to trail his lips down her neck and toward the curve of her collarbone. There he tempted her with tantalizing kisses until she arched her back, wanting more of him.
A fire raged in her belly, the flames reaching up inside to lick at the taut tips of her ni**les. Oh God, she wanted him. She needed his lips, his tongue on those tortured ni**les. She wanted him to soothe, to quench the fire that threatened to consume her.
“Please,” she gasped and reached up to slide her trembling fingers through the sleek silk of his hair. Without hesitation he moved his mouth lower. With powerful hands he lifted her higher, his mouth sliding down to the crevice between her br**sts.
He knew what she wanted. Dear God, he knew. Asia arched her back, her body clamoring for more. He answered her plea when he took the top of her bra in his teeth and pulled it down to expose her distended bud to the air. And then, to her sweet relief, he sucked it deep into his mouth, sending a tremor rippling through her body. God, that felt good.