Tango in Paradise by Donna Kauffman Page A

it, either.”
    April reached up to grip Jack’s shoulders for support, barely drawing enough breath to fill her lungs. His body was hot and hard against hers and she had a sudden desperate need for him to lift her up so that his erection would be pressed against the ache between her legs instead of being wastedagainst her stomach. “Jack?” Her voice was a low rasp.
    “What,
mi tesoro
?”
    My treasure
. The endearment was at once rough with need and tender with concern.
    “I do want you.” She gasped as he groaned and gripped her hips tighter, pressing himself more deeply against her. “But, I think …” She looked down at their bodies. How wonderful it felt to finally be this close to him. “I may hate myself for this.”
    Jack shifted his arm behind her back so he could tilt her chin with his finger until she looked him in the eyes. “No regrets, April. But stop me now if you don’t intend to finish this.”
    “I want to eat lunch first.”
    “What?” His tone was the epitome of disbelief. “
Now
you’re hungry? For food?”
    “No, not in the least.”
    “You’re not the only one confused here, lady.”
    She reached up a trembling finger, pressing it against his lips. “I meant it, what I said earlier. I just need to go a bit slower. Does it have to be all or nothing?”
    Jack blew out a deep breath, struggling with his need for her, to be on top of her, inside of her. He let his finger trail along the side of her jaw. “It shouldn’t be, no. I’ve known you less than a week and yet it’s taking every bit of my willpower not totug you down on this tile floor, lift that skirt to your hips, and do everything I can think of to make you beg me to be deep inside of you.”
    He watched her pupils expand as he spoke until the brown was almost swallowed by her black irises. He was fascinated by the convulsing of the muscles in her slender throat as she tried to come to terms with her body’s response to his words. His gaze dropped lower and he had to forcibly restrain himself from lowering his lips to the tightened nipples straining against her thin blouse.
    “Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” His voice was deep and dark.
    “You have no idea,” she finally choked out. With that cryptic statement, April eased out of his arms and walked to the kitchen.
    Jack let her go, very unwillingly, but knowing she’d been right to put a halt on things. She wasn’t the only one who felt out of her depth. He cleared his throat and followed her into the tiny kitchen, leaning against the bar. “If you still want to, I sorta thought we could eat on the beach. I figured you’d know all the secluded spots.” She darted a quick look at him and he added, “And the crowded ones.”
    “I think we’d better stick to the public beach.”
    Jack relaxed as she smiled, her tone dry, her voice even. He grinned, allowing himself to switch back to the comfortable charm he used to keep people at a distance, and winked. “Just remember,I still haven’t had my turn at kissing yet. Are you sure you want to risk it?”
    He was close enough now to see the quick flare of desire darken her brown eyes before she looked away, and he cursed himself for teasing her. He also made a mental note to start wearing baggier shorts around her. “Don’t answer that.” He grabbed the basket. “I’ll haul the food, you tote the blanket. Deal?”
    “Deal.” She scooped up the woven cotton blanket and he stepped aside to let her pass. She headed out the door and down the path without looking back.
    April glanced briefly at her watch, then turned her attention back to the action on the beach. She couldn’t believe she’d been playing hooky for two hours. Thoughts of what she should be doing skittered away as she watched Jack’s bare chest expand and the muscles of his arm bunch as he soared into the air and slammed the volleyball down over the net. The referee called a foul and April leapt to her feet, yelling and pumping her fist with the