Damien brushed a hair back that had caught on her lip. “This isn’t a one-night stand. It’s not just about sex. It’s about being together, enjoying each other, if only for a few hours.” It was about loosening the suffocating chains of loneliness and reaching out for something simple and uncomplicated. “But I’m not looking for a relationship either.”

He couldn’t believe he was about to admit this, but he wanted her to understand, wanted her to know what this—she—meant to him. “I haven’t been with a woman in three years.”

“You haven’t been in a relationship in three years?”

“Yes, but I also haven’t had sex in three years.”

Understanding dawned in her eyes. “Oh. Oh, my.” She stroked his forearm. “Since Jess?”

He nodded, not willing to say any more. “That’s been a conscious choice I’ve made, and now I’m making the conscious choice to change that. Let me have you tonight, Mandy.”

There was no way she was going to say no. He could read the acquiescence in her eyes, the way she leaned toward him, stroked his arms and opened her mouth. Her breasts pressed against him as she tilted her head to the side and gave a small, sweet sigh.

“Oh, I’m not a bloody idiot, Damien. I have every intention of doing this—I just needed to make sure we were clear on what it was, and that you don’t think I’m some sort of swinger who sleeps with her boss in the Caribbean on every job she takes.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That definitely wasn’t on your resumé.”

She gave a soft laugh and wet her lips, making him want to suck on both her lip and her tongue, taking turns. “What if I don’t meet your expectations? Three years is a long time to wait. I’d hate to be a disappointment.”

That was a joke. He’d be lucky if he got a full five seconds in her before he exploded. “As long as you don’t have some sort of objection to oral sex, we’ll be fine. I have it in my head that I’d really like to taste you.”

Her breathing quickened. “Funny, that. I had a dream you were doing that very thing to me, and I was really quite enjoying it.”

Damien’s groin tightened. What the hell were they doing standing here then?

“You know, you’re usually much more efficient than this. Move it, Mandy. Before I drop your sundress here on the sidewalk.” And he reached for her zipper.

Mandy had taken Damien’s threat seriously, and a quick two minutes later they were in his room, her beach bag tumbling to the floor as she reached for the buttons on his linen shirt.