“I cannot … I am not able to give more. You must forgive me.” He shook his head, his French accent stronger with his distress. “We have two nights and two days. Just two. Just us. Give them to me?” he asked.

My breathing stuttered, and heat in my belly grew. “Is that a request or a demand?”

“You can say no.”

“God, no.”

His expression dropped. “No?”

“No! I mean yes. Yes. Oui. Two days.” My face blazed. “Two nights.” I blew out a breath and a self-conscious chuckle. “Good to see how disappointed you were though.” I sucked my lips between my teeth.

He growled. God. That sound. Then he brushed a finger across my bottom lip and down my throat to hook into my t-shirt. He tugged me close and pressed his lips to mine. It wasn’t enough and he’d already pulled back. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” he murmured. “You can change your mind at any time. You don’t owe me anything.”

God, I appreciated him saying that so much. I smiled. “You can change your mind too, but I’d really hate it if you did.”

He gazed down at me, his blue eyes honing in on my mouth again. “I have to try to get some work done now,” he said. “Mon dieu, aide-moi. But meet me for champagne on the top deck at seven?”

I licked my lips and nodded, my hand reaching for the railing as the boat dipped into another wave. “What did you just say in French?”

“Mon dieu, aide-moi. It means, God, help me. Because I don’t know how I’m going to concentrate on work. It’s been impossible for weeks already.”

“Huh.” I grinned, pleased. “Oh, by the way. How do you say ass in French?”

“Ass?”

“Yeah, like ‘he’s got a fine ass.’”

“I do?”

“Shut up. You know you do. Soo, what is it? What’s the word in French?”

“Cul.”

I laughed. “Meredith was right.”

“Meredith?”

“My best friend back home. I heard you talking to Evan, and she said you were talking about my ass.”

He chuckled out a breath and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Nobody can keep a secret on a boat.”

“So you were?”

“Talking about your ass?” He winked, and his hand slipped down behind me and grabbed a handful, bringing me hard against his body.

I squeaked.

“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”

Oh yes. This playful Xavier was a really nice surprise. “I’d rather not have my anatomy discussed by the boys in the locker room.” I feigned annoyance, even while the heat of his hand burned through me.

He laughed, teeth gleaming and eyes crinkling, making my heart rate triple.

“D’accord. I’ll only discuss your ass with you.” He leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss on my lips.