Determined: To Love: (Part 2 of the Determined Trilogy) by Elizabeth Brown Read Free Book Online Page B

Kona, Mrs. Keith?”
    I didn’t bother correcting her this time, either. “Actually, yes, it is. David suggested it. It was kind of a last minute thing.”
    “Well, if there is anything we can do to ensure your stay is enjoyable, please let me know.” I thanked her, and she disappeared back inside. I stayed outside, watching the sun as it started to dip into the ocean, filling the sky with swaths of electric pink and orange. A few moments later, I felt someone behind me. I knew it was David. He didn’t need to say anything; I could tell it was him. There was this kind of magnetic energy between the two of us, an energy that sent my pulse racing whenever he was close.
    “This is incredible,” I said, knowing he could hear me. He pulled up next to me on the railing, mirroring my stance. He didn’t touch me in the slightest or even look at me. And the physical gap only served to build the charge between the two of us. His control and ability to resist drove me crazy, but I didn’t want to be the first to give in. Desire pulsed through me, threatening to rip me apart as we stood there, pretending to not look at each other.
    Eventually, the sun dipped below the horizon and a blue glow took over the sky. David turned around and leaned back against the railing, his hands shoved casually in the pockets of his chinos. He was dressed for the location, in a loose white linen button down and brown leather flip-flops. The contrast of his relaxed clothing with his controlled countenance was appealing. He didn’t say anything. Instead, he just looked at me, his dark eyes surging with intensity. His eyes dipped down and traced the outline of my body, slowly, following my curves. It was incredibly erotic to feel him on me without any physical touch. The hair on the back of my neck prickled with anticipation.
    “What are you thinking about?” I asked finally, breaking the silence.
    He paused, thoughtfully, before answering. “You.”
    It was my turn to pause. I looked up at him, and his eyes burned into mine. “What about me?”
    “How incredibly attractive you are.”
    I blushed hard and looked back out at the darkening ocean.
    He continued. “I mean, here we are, in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and all I can look at is you. You’ve destroyed me, Samantha. When I’m with you I can’t concentrate on anything else. You have ruined me for everything else beautiful and wonderful in the world.”
    I caught his eyes with mine. “So ruin me back,” I whispered. A bolt of lightning ripped through us.
    “Mmm.” He grunted, pausing for a moment. I could see the gears cranking away, and then he scooped me up and over his shoulder, and slapped me hard on my ass. The delicious, erotic pain sent pleasure pulsing straight into me as he carried me off to the bedroom.
    ~
    We spent most of Saturday lounging on the beach. It was a perfect, sunny eighty degree day, and I wore one of the swimsuits David had stocked in the suitcase. Normally I gravitate toward one-piece suits, but David’s selection didn’t give me much of a choice in the matter— they were all of the small and smaller variety. I guess the ‘lack of fabric’ was okay when he knew I’d be on a private beach. I chose a white bikini with an underwire because it offered the most support up top for the girls. We spent the day reading and napping and drinking things from coconuts that had little umbrellas. A couple of times, David retreated to the house for a phone call, but I understood—being the head of an empire meant always being on.
    He came back from one of the calls as the sun was setting. Sitting down behind me on the chaise, he rubbed my back as we stared out at the ocean.
    “This was a really good idea,” I murmured, enjoying his strong hands on my shoulders.
    “Are you having a good time?”
    “Uh-huh. Aren’t you?”
    “I love being with you, Samantha. I could be happy anywhere with you. You know that.” The words were right, but his voice