hips, meeting him stroke for stroke, matching his rhythm in a primitive dance. He shifted positions and grasped her ankles, holding her legs together at his shoulder. The change drove her closer to the edge. She slipped her wrists out of the belt then tore the blindfold from her eyes. The sun was coming up and it took her a moment to adjust to the light. Chase’s expression was a study in concentration and sheer bliss. “I want to see you when you come,” she told him. He smiled then pulled out of her, but not for long. He kneeled on the ground, sat back on his haunches and helped her climb onto his lap facing him. She took him inside her, rocking up and down. Another orgasm stormed through her, not as earth-shattering as the last, but powerful all the same in a different, more intimate way. Chase helped her climb off him and he started stroking himself as he stared deep into her eyes. She covered his fist with hers and joined in his quest. He shut his eyes, gasped then detonated in their mutual grip. She’d never acted so forward, so completely wantonly and it felt great. Chase grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her possessively to him for a scorching kiss. When they finally drew apart, his eyes were wide and his grin infectious. “Wow!” “Same here.” They curled up together on the ground. She closed her eyes and let herself drift to a peaceful rest. She woke to bright shards of sunlight streaming through the holes in the roof of the shelter. Her heart drummed so hard it sounded like an engine. Only it grew louder. She sat up and prodded Chase, afraid she was dreaming. He opened his eyes and bolted up at the engine noise. “Oh God, we’ve been rescued!” But what if that wasn’t the case? “Unless that’s the kidnappers, back to finish us off.”
Chapter Seven
Chase yanked on his shorts at lightning speed then moved the open side of the shelter to glimpse the shore. Three men were inside the motorboat as it stopped twenty or so yards from shore. A yacht sat anchored in the harbor. “It’s not the kidnappers. Thank God.” But his relief at being rescued was tempered by unexpected regret. He and Diana were just getting to know each other in so many ways. He hated the intrusion of real life and wondered how it would change things between them. “First thing I’m going to do is call my family.” Diana was dressing and straightening her tousled hair. He was being ridiculous. They could hardly live on a deserted island for any length of time. He waved at the men as two of them climbed into the shallow water and started toward the beach. “Hello.” “Greetings from Sheik el-Tayid.” The curly haired man waved back. “We rescue you.” Then he said something to the other man in their language. Diana raced past Chase and ran toward the rescue party. “Thank you so much.” Her voice broke on the last word. She let the men help her into the skiff. Chase followed and minutes later they boarded the sheik’s yacht bound for his private island. “How did you find us?” Diana asked the only crew member who spoke any English. “Your sign of fire,” he replied. “We search with airplane.” He gestured toward the sky. One of the crew yelled something at the man and he hurried away, leaving her and Chase alone on the upper deck. “I have mixed feelings about this.” He searched her face for any of the same regrets but he saw nothing but excitement. “Are you serious? We could have easily died on the island.” The breeze blew her hair all around her head. She wiped a lock away from her mouth. He tamped down an urge to kiss her, afraid things had shifted between them now that they’d been rescued. The thought left him feeling nostalgic and empty. “I guess you’re right.” The trip to the sheik’s island took less than an hour. They disembarked at a marina where three other luxury yachts were moored as well as what looked like a small cruise ship with the sheik’s