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hungry gaze all he could think about. He adjusted himself as discreetly as possible in his swim trunks.
    It being a weekday, most people were at work, and other than another couple at the far end of the pool, they were alone. Alone with thoughts he shouldn’t be entertaining for a woman who was still playing it cool with him.
    “I didn’t realize Ian kept his apartment after he and Riley moved to their new house,” Madison said. “It was nice of them to let us hang out here. And on a work day, no less.”
    “Perks, Angel,” he reminded her.
    “Something tells me you only asked Riley for permission,” Madison said.
    He grinned. “I’m connected, not stupid.”
    She burst out laughing, the first freely given laugh since he’d seen her again in Ian’s conference room, and he soaked in the joyful sound. Damn, he had it bad.
    He’d driven her home to drop off her car and let her change clothes before stopping by his place to do the same. He’d called Riley for permission while Madison was getting her stuff together. They’d then headed here. Thanks to the confined car, he now knew she smelled of peaches and cream, and his cock had been at attention ever since.
    He hoped seducing her was the answer to this all-consuming need, because he didn’t know what else would satisfy him. Nor did he know how long it would take to achieve his goal. At the thought of sliding into her wet heat again, he stiffened even more. He raised his knee up to deflect attention.
    She lay down on the lounge chair and clipped her hair up, revealing her slender neck. His tongue begged to run down the smooth skin.
    Slow down, asshole, he cautioned himself. Where Madison was concerned, he had a lot to prove. So he’d wait her out and would be here on her terms.
    For as long as it took.

FOUR
    A fter an hour under the blazing hot sun, watching Alex in swim trunks, his tanned six-pack glistening with sweat, those tattoos looking delicious enough to lick, Madison was ready to cave in to every carnal desire running through her mind. And she’d had plenty.
    Needing space, she rose and headed inside the cabana behind them. She dug through her bag for a bottle of sunscreen and sat down on the recliner inside to apply it. She’d finished her face and arms when a shadow loomed in the entryway.
    “Need some help?” Alex stepped into the cabana, taking up the rest of the small space and what remained of the oxygen.
    “I’ve got it.”
    He settled in beside her. “But where would the fun be in that?”
    He took the bottle from her and poured a liberal amount of cream into his big hand. She wanted to suggest they go back outside, but they were almost equally secluded there, and she needed a break from the intense heat of the sun.
    “Lie back,” he instructed.
    She tensed, sensing this was a turning point. If he put his hands on her, she was done for. But it was her decision to make, and she had to choose whether to trust him enough to let him back in.
    She thought about Riley’s words. You won’t know unless you open yourself up to possibly being hurt again. Seeing Alex at the lawyer’s office, so compassionate and interested, made her want to try again. She had to ignore those urges. But her desire to sleep with him? To have mind-blowing sex and quell the need he inspired? Well, that she was ready for. Granted, she was no expert on sex without emotion, but she had no choice. She remembered the pain of heartbreak and abandonment all too well. So this time, she’d keep her head and her heart protected, and she’d be the one to walk away first.
    So she lay against the back of the chair, stretching out completely. He gripped her foot with his big hands and began massaging the coconut-scented cream into her skin. Oh yeah, she was so done for. She tipped her head back and moaned, his sensual massage feeling so unbelievably good.
    This was no sunscreen application, and they both knew it. His thumb pressed deeply into her arch, abused from wearing