Read Online Don't Tempt Me by Julie Ortolon - Free Book Online Page B

Please, God, don't let me screw this up.
    As if in answer, a burst of night wind kissed her cheeks and ruffled her hair. She hugged the moment to her, committing it to memory: the scent of flowers blooming below her, the rustling of the palm trees, the chill in the air, all held a sense of magic.
    A soft click came from behind her, but it sounded as loud as a gunshot in the quiet. She whirled just as one of the tall windows into the hall swung open and she realized it was a door, like the one that led into her room. Adrian stuck his head out.
    "I thought I saw someone out here."
    She slapped a hand over her racing heart. "You startled me."
    "Sorry." He stepped onto the balcony. "I expected you to be sound asleep, or sitting in bed reading the diaries."
    "I meant to do just that." Her senses, already alive with the night, tingled at his nearness. "But I'm too anxious about tomorrow to read or sleep. What has you up prowling at this hour?"
    "Same thing, I guess. Plus, I remembered I hadn't made my rounds to lock up." He came to stand beside her, leaning sideways against the rail, his expression playful. "If you're interested, I know the perfect cure for sleeplessness."
    "I just bet you do." A laugh escaped her.
    "Good God, the woman laughs." He put a hand to his heart.
    "You've heard me laugh before."
    "But not often enough. A shame, too." His gaze held hers. "You have a really great laugh. Low and sexy with no girly giggling. A woman's laugh."
    Her heart sped up at his words. Flustered, she looked up at the sky. "Do you know, I think you can see nearly as many stars from here as you can out in the Caribbean."
    "Really?" He looked up. "Hey, I have an idea. Let's grab a blanket and go lie on the beach to count stars. You know, sort of like counting sheep."
    "Yeah, right!" She laughed. "Adrian, tell me, honestly, do you ever think about anything but sex? Or food, of course."
    He cocked his head, studying her. "Actually, I was serious." Then a mischievous smile had his dimples flashing. "But if you'd rather have sex, I'm game."
    She shook her head and resumed stargazing. "I like your family."
    "Let's see, changing the subject means no to sex, right?" He gave a loud sigh. "Okay, but I've heard it's a great sleep aid."
    "Are you saying sex with you would be so boring, it would put me to sleep?"
    "Oh, you are a cruel woman, throwing out a challenge like that when you know I can't take you inside and prove you wrong."
    She cocked her head, studying him. "This flirting really is just a game to you, isn't it? You have no real intention of seducing me."
    It was his turn to scoff. "As if you'd let me."
If only he knew! "I'm glad to see you're smart enough to recognize an impossible feat."
    "You are tempting fate, now, with two challenges in a row."
    She leaned slightly toward him and pitched her voice low. "Maybe I like living dangerously."
    His gaze dropped to the scooped neck of her top. "Must be all that pirate blood."
    "Must be." He was right, though, she was tempting fate standing alone with him on a moonlit balcony.
    "So, how about it?" He rested his weight on one elbow, bringing his face down to her eye level. "You wanna walk down to the cove and lie on the beach?"
    "Do I look stupid? I know what happens when a man and a woman take a blanket down to a beach at night. Besides, don't you have to be up early to cook breakfast?"
    "I'll manage." His gaze moved over her face. "And we already agreed I'm not going to seduce you, so you have nothing to fear."
    "No. We agreed that I won't let you seduce me." She grinned at him, feeling reckless. "However, I'll tell you what I will let you do."
    "Oh?" His eyes lit with interest.
    She stepped before him, and he turned to face her, his back to the rail, his weight on both forearms. His expression turned wary when she straddled his feet and placed her hands on the rail to either side of him. She leaned so close, their bodies nearly touched, but not quite. With her lips near his ear, she could