* * *

Nicola looked at Marcus over the small round table by the window where they’d just devoured pancakes and sausages and a huge bowl of fruit. How was it, she wondered, that eating breakfast together could feel as intimate as making love?

Probably, she told herself, it was simply that she hadn’t shared a leisurely morning-after like this with a man in a very long time. Ever, really, considering Kenny had always been too hung over to wake up much before noon.

Although Marcus worked in the wine industry, she couldn’t picture him drunk. It was just one more thing about him that made her feel safe.

Suddenly wanting him to know how much she appreciated him, how much she was enjoying their stolen, secret hours together, she said, “I know how much you must have to do at your winery.” She reached for his hand across the table, thrill bumps moving up her arms when he threaded his fingers through hers. “Thank you for spending this time with me.”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” he said, and then, “What do you normally do on your days off?"

She bit her lip. “I don’t know. I haven’t had many since I started singing.” Especially this past six months after her heart—well, her pride, actually—had been broken, it had been easier to focus all her attention on her music and her career.

“It’s the same with me. Like you said, the vines demand a lot of attention.”

For all the obvious ways that they were different, Nicola was surprised to realize they weren’t at opposite poles on all fronts.

She grinned at him. “Aren’t we sad, two workaholics who can’t figure out what to do with a beautiful day off?”

He pulled her onto his lap. “I can think of a good half-dozen things."

She giggled as he nibbled on her neck, ridiculously tempted to spend the entire day in bed with him. Especially when he was being playful like this. She turned her face to meet his as he lifted his mouth to hers and sank into the sweetest kiss anyone had ever given her.

“How about I take you to one of my favorite places?”

Marcus had struck her, from the first, as a very private person. His offer meant even more to her because of that.

“I’d love that.” She hated having to remind him, “The things is, most places I go get pretty crazy.”

“Don’t worry, I think the spot I have in mind will be perfect.” He brushed his finger across her lower lip, sending shivers through her. “It’s very remote.”

Her voice was barely more than a breath as she said, “Remote is good.” Images of those half-dozen things they could do to each other somewhere remote had her blood running even hotter than it already was.

She was about to press her lips against his when he murmured, “If I kiss you again, we might never leave the hotel."

“Okay.”

A split-second later, his hands were in her hair and he was pulling her mouth down to his. Starved for him again, she straddled him in the chair as they made out.

It was the first time she’d been in control of their lovemaking and just as much as she’d loved obeying each of his sensual commands, she loved this too, loved knowing that she was driving him crazy with her mouth, with her hands on his chest as she ran them beneath the long-sleeved shirt he’d put on after their shower. An incredibly sensual shower that should have kept her sated at least until the sun went down.

Only, her need, her desire for Marcus, knew no rational bounds. Fortunately, she thought with a smile, he seemed to feel the same way.

She broke their kiss and said, “I’ll be right back.”

Slipping off his lap, before he could catch her, she went to get a condom. When she returned, she was pleased to note the surprise—and desire—light his eyes at the fact that she’d stripped out of her clothes.

Still shy with her nakedness, it was the pleasure in Marcus’s eyes as she moved toward him that made her bold. He reached for her as she came closer, but instead of getting back on his lap, she slowly dropped to her knees between his.

“Nicola?"

His voice was raw, almost hoarse, as he said her name and her hands trembled as much with desire as uncertainty as she went to unzip his pants.

He took her hands in his. “You don’t have to do this.”

She met his gaze head on. “I want to.” And she did, wanting it so much it shocked her.

Praying that he wouldn’t be disappointed with her technique—or lack thereof—with his help, she managed to pull his pants open and his boxers down. She reached out to touch him, to stroke her fingertips down the soft skin covering such incredibly hard heat.

“That feels good. So good, Nicola."

Without thinking, she bent forward and tasted him. On a loud groan, his fingers came to her hair. She knew he could have taken control of things, could have turned the tables on her and held her there while he took his pleasure in her mouth, but even though she was realizing a part of her would be pleased by that dominance, this time around she was glad that he was letting her take things entirely at her own pace.

His skin was clean and salty all at the same time and she realized one taste wasn’t nearly enough. But before she could do anything more, Marcus finally took control and lifted her up from her knees to straddle him again.

“I wasn’t done,” she protested.

At that he pulled her mouth down to his and kissed her hard. She was so lost to his kiss she was surprised to realize he’d put on the condom until he pushed into her, so hard and fast she gasped against his lips.