Read Online Just This Once by Rosalind James - Free Book Online

explain. One of En Zed’s most famous exports, along
with kiwifruit and wool.”
    “And rugby,” she reminded him.
    “That too,” he agreed. “We like to think so, anyway.”
    “I had no idea,” she repeated. “I’d like to learn more about
it, though.”
    “Well, Rotorua’s the place for that.” But he frowned as he
spoke. “When do you leave?”
    “On Tuesday. Three days from now.”
    “Not much time. Are you busy tomorrow?”
    “I hadn’t decided yet. I’m trying to take a break from
planning too much on this trip. I do a lot of that. Planning.”  
    “Why don’t you let me take you tramping, then? Since I know
you won’t snap photos all day, or natter about the views.”
    “You mean hiking? Are you sure? Isn’t this supposed to be
your fishing vacation?”
    “I’m sure. I can fish any day. Not many beautiful women want
to go tramping with me, though.”
    “Then yes, I’d love to go. I like to walk more than
anything, in beautiful places,” she confided. “Except maybe swimming. And
walking is much safer, isn’t it?”
    “Long as you don’t fall off the track. Reckon I’d better be
there, just in case.”
     
    After dinner, Drew suggested a walk on the beach, and Hannah
gladly accepted. Her tension returned, though, as they left the
restaurant—getting his picture taken again in the process, she noticed. She was
ridiculously attracted to him, but reminded herself how awkward she would feel
afterwards, sleeping with someone she had just met. She had tried it once
during her college years, and still winced at the result. The guy hadn’t called
again, and when she’d seen him later on campus, she’d wanted to hide. After
that, she had become even more guarded. She just didn’t seem to have the casual
sex gene.
    If Drew wanted to take her to dinner, it would have to be
for the pleasure of her company, she told herself firmly. And if he didn’t want
to see her again because of that—well, who knew if he’d want to see her again
if she did sleep with him? She wasn’t sure she’d be much good at it
anyway, after this long.
    She pushed the thought from her head and focused on the
sights and sounds of the ocean at night as they walked down wooden steps onto
the long beach stretching to either side beneath the restaurant. She shivered a
little in the breeze, and Drew turned to her.
    “Too cold?”
    “No, I brought a sweater,” she told him as she pulled it out
of her bag.
    He took the cardigan and held it for her to pull on, then
took her hand as they continued to walk. The heavy, rhythmic swish of the waves
approaching the shore, the steady pace, his warm hand around hers began to
relax her, and she sighed with enjoyment.
    She smiled. “It’s like a personals ad, do you realize?”
    “Pardon?”
    “You know. I love a glass of wine and moonlit walks on the
beach.”
    He laughed. “We aim to please.” He turned and pulled her in
to him. Put his hands on either side of her face, then just stood and looked at
her, her eyes raised to his.
    “I love your mouth,” he told her. “This little bow on your
top lip.” He traced the shape of that protruding bow lightly with his tongue.
“Been wanting to do this all night.”
    His mouth closed over hers, gently at first. She sighed and
moved further into his arms. He smiled down at her, then kissed her again, his
hands cradling her head, his mouth moving over hers as her arms crept up to
hold his shoulders. He felt her slide her hands down his back, and reached out
to pull her closer. He’d been waiting to do this all evening. Watching her
mouth as she talked and ate, looking at her smooth, untanned skin and her
slender hands. Wanting to feel that skin under his hands, his mouth. Wanting to
feel her hands on him. He ran his own hands down her sides to her waist, held
her there.
    And kept kissing her, until he had to have more. He pulled
back, looked around for the bench he remembered, pulled her into his lap.
    “I’m too heavy,” she