Harbour of Refuge Read online

  “He invited us.”

  “And they came with him.”

  Mila pouted. “Whose side are you on?”

  “Yours, of course, just pointing out facts. Like the one where you already have a man.” She wiped some of the condensation off her glass.

  “What’s wrong? You’re quiet, even for you.”

  Just preoccupied with that hot-ass man over there. “Nothing’s wrong.”

  Mila moved at her own speed and tended to worry about her often, although Halyn had always been the quieter of the two.

  “I’m fine. Don’t hang here on my account. Go jump in the pool with the others circling him. Or one of the other racers here.”

  “You’re making him sound like a piece of meat, Halyn.”

  As opposed to how you’re talking about him? She merely shrugged and waved as Mila headed off, insinuating herself closer to the man of the hour.

  Halyn danced and laughed as the night went on, having a wonderful time even though she avoided the racers. Grateful for a breather, she grabbed another water from the bar and found a spot outside, along the outskirts of the party.

  “Not your kind of thing?” a decadent voice asked from behind her left shoulder.

  Her insides did the same thing they’d done when he’d put his arm around her for the picture—tightened and quivered. She shook the feeling off, determined not to fawn over him as these others were doing.

  “Just catching a break.”

  She turned and inhaled sharply. Could a man grow more handsome within a few hours? Or was it she was merely lightheaded from dancing? Nope, this one had. Somehow. Perhaps it was a trick from the lights? Nope, wrong again.

  A day’s growth of stubble graced his face and she had this insane urge to rub against it. His eyes—which watched her intently—were light brown and did crazy things to her belly all over again.

  He moved to lean beside her on the glass deck railing and she had to lock her knees at the masculine scent that accompanied him. Warm and spicy, it reminded her of cold, snowy nights before a roaring fire.

  “Tell me about you, Halyn.”

  Okay, so she was doing a little jig internally that he remembered her name. But her levelheadedness surfaced. What did he want? She was obviously not the type of woman he usually hung with. Past his shoulder, she spied her friend toasting her with a mixed drink, her arm around a different racer.

  “Nothing to tell.” She gave a small shrug.

  Enzo turned so he faced her completely. His eyes mesmerised her. Under the cotton of both shirt and bra, her nipples drew taut. Her breathing hitched and her panties grew damp.

  He could be so much trouble for her. She wasn’t an idiot, nor was she naïve, despite the fact she was from a small town. However, she wasn’t a block of ice, either, and he…was getting to her. Yep, she would be hard-pressed to say no to a night with him.

  “Why do I not believe that?”

  Wow. That voice of his was so sensual and smooth as it flowed over her flushed skin.

  “Probably because most girls you chat up can’t keep their mouths shut.”

  He blinked a few times before a wide smile split across his face. “And what do you know of the company I keep?”

  Damn her wayward tongue. “Not a thing.” She never could keep opinions to herself.

  “You’re right, you know,” he said after signing autographs for two giggling females.

  She stared at her water and sloshed the contents in the bottle. It amazed her at how these women were so uninhibited with what they wanted him to sign. He’d barely blinked when one had pulled off her shirt for him to write his name on the top of her breast, which was clad in a very skimpy bikini top.

  “About?”

  “Those women.”

  “Must be hard for you,” she said drolly.

  “Hey, I like a real conversation.”

  Was it her imagination or did he sound as if he were actually affronted?

  “I’m sure you do.” She cast her gaze around to locate Mila. Her friend was dancing, sandwiched between two hot men. One would never guess she had a devoted man waiting for her back in the States. With a deep breath, she turned to face the Med.

  “Have I done something to offend you?”

  Eyes wide in shock, she whirled towards him. “Of course not, why?”

  “You seem as if you are trying to avoid me.”

  Facing him completely, she allowed her gaze to roam his chiselled features. “I’m sorry,” she said with contrition. “I’m just not a huge club kind of girl.” And you make me feel out of my league.

  “Come with me.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “Why would I do that?”

  “Because I can get you out of here and somewhere quiet.”

  She grinned. “I can do that on my own, merely by walking out.”

  “True, but I want you to come with me.”

  “Why? Seems like you’ve had plenty of offers for bed partners, even while standing here with me.”

  “Like you pointed out, they can’t shut up and when they talk there’s not much substance.”

  She smiled and her heart skipped at the answering sparkle in his eyes. “And you want conversation in bed?” There went her mouth again.

  “I was thinking at a table or bench, but sure, bed works.” He gave her a grin, which had her gravitating towards him before she caught herself.

  “So you want me for my conversation skills.”

  It was hard not to squirm beneath his intense stare. “Yes.”

  Goodness, she almost melted at the heat from that one word. “I’m not much of a talker.”

  He held out his hand. For a second she wondered what it would be like to be wanted by this man in a straight-up, sensual way.

  At the door, she paused and he tilted his head to look at her. “What?”

  “I need to tell my friend.”

  “I can leave a message with someone for her.”

  Nope. “I’ll be right back.” She wove through the dancing crowd to her friend, feeling his gaze on her the entire time.

  “Mila!” she called out over the music.

  “Come to join us?”

  They didn’t really give her a chance to reply—she was manoeuvred between Mila and one of the guys.

  “I’m heading out,” she said, her hips moving to the pulse of the music. “Are you going to be okay?”

  “I will, will you?” There was no mistaking the seriousness in her gaze.

  “Yes.” The man behind her gripped her hips and ground against her. She fluidly stepped away and he pressed into Mila again without missing a beat.

  “I’ll want all the details,” Mila said with a wicked grin. “Call me and let me know you’re okay.”

  Halyn made her way back towards the door, only to stop when she found Enzo waiting for her there in the middle of the dance floor. She tipped her head back, struck again by how good-looking he was. His stare bored into hers and the intensity with which he watched her made her pause.

  “Change your mind?” she asked. Even if he answered in the affirmative, she would still leave.

  They were surrounded by people but she felt as if they were alone. He snaked a hand around her waist and pulled her flush to him.

  She licked her lips at the feel of his thick erection pressing into her. “You want to dance?”

  He still didn’t speak. At least not verbally. The music pulsed around them, loud and heavy. Her gaze remained locked with his as they moved in harmonious tandem with one another.

  Moisture gathered as they mimicked sex. The vibrations augmented her experience. Sweat rolled down her spine, the heat between them amplified by all the bodies pressed tight on the floor.

  His hands settled on her hips. Two fingers on each side, dipping below the waist of her shorts. Sex. It was foremost on her mind. Correction—sex with Enzo.

  There was no way a man who moved his hips like that would be bad in bed. She’d bet he wasn’t a selfish lover either, and botto
m line, she was horny.

  Repositioning her arms around his neck, she tangled her fingers in the ends of his hair. She didn’t press him with questions, just accepted the dance. She liked being in his arms.

  One song merged into another, yet he moved them to the door, side by side. His silence ended outside as the night breeze cooled her heated skin. She shoved her hand through her hair before lifting it off her neck.

  “You could have said you wanted to dance.” Enzo’s voice was deep and rasped along her skin.

  “Didn’t know I did until you danced with me.”

  She watched him in the lights as he tucked some hair behind her ear, his knuckles skimming her cheek—the move so profoundly intimate her breath caught.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  Words she wasn’t inclined to believe, coming from a player. “And you hand out compliments like candy.”

  “So you don’t believe me?”

  “Can’t say that I do.”

  His expression seemed oddly perplexed as he led her down the street. They paused by a bench overlooking the harbour. He brushed close when he encouraged her to sit and she blew out a breath as she strove to rein in her out-of-control sexual impulses.

  “Your first time?”

  “Excuse me?” She glanced at him. Sure, she might be nervous but surely he didn’t think she was some untried virgin.

  A lazy, sensuous smile lifted his entirely too kissable lips. Damn it all, why couldn’t she stop imagining what it would be like spending a night in his arms?

  “To Monte Carlo.”

  Grateful for the night, which kept her flushed cheeks better hidden, she nodded. “Yes. Mila has always wanted to come for the race. She’s fascinated by powerboats, so when she got her tickets she said I was accompanying her.”

  He leant back, stretching his legs out, keeping his stare upon her. “Not into powerboats then?”

  “Never really paid them any mind.” Her response was honest.

  “Would you like to see one up close and personal?”

  He was talking about the boat, right?

  Chapter Two

  Enzo observed Halyn as she thought about his question. Rarely did a woman hold his attention so thoroughly. They were typically nothing more than a momentary distraction. Not her.

  From the first moment he’d run into her it had been different. He’d felt a spark between them, despite her not fawning over him as the other woman did. Yes, she’d found him attractive, he’d seen that in her gaze, but that was it. No coy looks, no silent—or verbal—invites and no asking him to sign body parts.

  Okay, so the last one was a bit of a shame. He could have had a lot of fun signing her body.

  Right now, she was sitting beside him, staring out at the water that reflected the marina’s lights. Since her attention had been taken by the stunning display before them, he utilised the opportunity to memorise her.

  She was the classic girl next door—not smoking hot at the first glance, but that was because she downplayed her appearance. There was something about her which made him want more than a first glance. He wanted to stare and stare, then touch.

  Her curls were a devilish temptation to him, he wanted nothing more than to feel them, test their springiness and discover what it was like to have them in his hands as he kissed her.

  She wore a white T-shirt that had a black dragon on both front and back, and her shorts looked like they used to be jeans, cut off so they barely covered her ass. The frayed edges and lack of material had him stiffening in his pants.

  Lots here wore skimpy outfits. None of them affected him like this woman. Haughty cheekbones, a flatter nose and full plump lips complemented her large, thickly lashed eyes.

  “Well?” he prompted, needing not to focus on what he wanted to do to her.

  “You sure you want to take me there?”

  Oh hell yeah, he was sure. “Scared?”

  “No.” She looked at him, an impish smile on her lips. “Are you?”

  Christ, could he get any harder? He laughed instead of kissing her. “Should I be?”

  “Could be a ploy.”

  “I think I’m safe. You’re not like the others. They usually chase me. I’ve been after you.” Even he couldn’t ignore how deep his voice dropped on that last sentence.

  She stood. “Perhaps I’m just that good and made you think that.” The wind ruffled her hair and he was jealous it had the chance to do so. “I could be evil and conniving.”

  Right. He got to his feet and stepped in close to her. “I find it hard to believe you’re evil. You don’t have the look about you.”

  Her white teeth flashed briefly with her smile. “Neither did Lucifer. Either way, I’m not that innocent.”

  Her throaty voice covered his shaft with titanium and it threatened to punch free of his jeans. “Is that so?” He settled his hands along her waist.

  He watched her pupils dilate as she swallowed. “That’s right.”

  There was no more resisting his desire to kiss her. He cupped the nape of her neck, drawing her close. Despite the pulse-pounding need to rush his claim on her mouth, Enzo took his time.

  Her breath was minty and he groaned in pleasure at the first touch of her lips, soft and pliant. He dragged his tongue along the seam of her mouth. She opened for him and he explored.

  A cool, sugared mint. That was her taste and it was addicting and intoxicating.

  She wasn’t shy. Halyn pressed tight to him, her breasts flattening against his chest. All lushness and curves. His blood segued straight to his groin. He felt lightheaded. He slid his other hand around to palm her denim-clad ass, caressing her silken skin just below the frayed hem.

  His cock throbbed and he tightened his grip on her, almost afraid of what would happen if he let her go. Their kiss deepened and the rumble that tore up from his throat was a shock. He’d always been in control with a woman—until now.

  All he could think of was stripping her naked and…well, that wasn’t hard to finish. She writhed closer and released a tiny mewl, one which jacked up his arousal another hundredfold.

  Damn, she’s responsive. Imagining all her fire beneath him, in private, drove him to distraction. Her nails dug into his skin and he bucked his hips, pleased when she acted in kind.

  “Come on,” he rasped, after reluctantly ending the kiss.

  She moved back and stared at him. No coy expression, only one filled with straightforward lust and desire. Seconds ticked by before she flashed a charming grin.

  “You have to lead the way. I don’t know where your boat is.”

  Honestly, he wasn’t sure he knew the way after that kiss. He was so focused on her. She curved into his side and he draped an arm around her waist, anchoring her there. This…this felt right.

  They strolled slowly and he couldn’t help but to compare her to the others he’d walked back to his boat with. Not Lexy—but she wasn’t a potential bed partner. Anyway, the other women had chatted incessantly and had filled his nose with overly sweet or musky, cloying perfumes. Not Halyn.

  Her scent was soft, almost non-existent, yet powerful enough to evoke deep-rooted emotions within him. He wanted to know what it was, and whether the scent lingered all over her skin or whether it only existed in certain areas.

  She fitted against him and kept pace as they strode to where his powerboat waited. He stepped on it, then reached back for her hand.

  “You sure this is okay?”

  He smiled. She’d asked that when they’d passed security to get on the pier, too, but this time he wondered if he detected fear in her voice. “Of course.”

  When her hand—with a remarkably strong grip—settled in his, he released a breath he’d not been aware he was holding. The moon peeked out from behind a cloud and shone upon them. It danced along her hair, showing off the multi-hues. He was going to have fantasies of her hair and the way it would feel against his skin. Hell, he already was.

  He opened the top of his boat, pausing at the soun
d of his name being called. Halyn stiffened and he moved beside her, arm slipping comfortably around her waist.

  “Enzo!”

  “Luke, what are you doing here?”

  The lithe man jumped on and joined them. “I could ask you the same thing but”—he cut his gaze to Halyn—“I get the idea.”

  Enzo bristled. “It’s not like that.”

  “Of course not.” Luke looked at Halyn and gave her the typical flirtatious grin. “Aren’t you gorgeous. Name’s Luke. Luke Conlan.”

  “Halyn.”

  She didn’t make a move to distance herself from Enzo and it pleased him greatly. Luke was a handsome man. His tall, dark looks drew many an eye.

  “Luke here handles the throttles,” Enzo said, moving his fingers in circles on her hip.

  “And you’re the driver?”

  Hmm. She didn’t seem impressed at all. Most women fawned over him for that alone. He was the one who handled the catamaran at high speeds. Luke smacked him on the arm and flashed a smile that told him he’d picked up on Halyn’s lack of being impressed.

  “I forgot my good luck charm.” That explained why Luke had come down. He rarely went anywhere without the coin his great-grandfather had given him.

  Enzo tugged Halyn down beside him and they leaned against the windshield. Silence hung comfortably between them until Luke left with a short farewell. Drawing her closer, Enzo rested his other arm on his propped-up knee.

  “What do you think?”

  “I think I was crazy to believe you brought women here to get in their pants.”

  The way she said it made him realise she was more talking to herself than him, so he didn’t respond. He knew she thought it would be too small inside but if she wanted to find out first-hand, he would be more than happy to show her how exactly it could—and would—work.

  He touched her hair and nearly groaned. It was so soft, he wanted to shove his hand deep into the curls and hold her close while he…damn, he really had to stay focused.

  “Why is that?”

  He watched her in the light of the moon and the few lit poles around the pier.

  “Not much room in there, so unless you’re into exhibitionism I fail to see how it would work.”