Private Lessons by Donna Hill

away to look more closely at the beautiful boats, while Brice talked with the rental agents. Moments later he was at her side.
    â€œThere will be another ship sailing off in about a half hour. The tour is along the beaches and around the mountainsides. Food and refreshments are on board.”
    â€œSounds wonderful.”
    He stepped up to her, taking her by surprise, and kissed her softly on the lips.
    â€œI’ve been waiting to do that all day.”
    â€œWhat took you so long,” she said in a heavy whisper, looking up into his dark eyes.
    â€œWhy don’t I just make up for lost time?” He leaned down and kissed her again, not a brushing of warm lips, but a full, deep and stirring kiss, and it made her head light and her heart race.
    He stepped back with his hands still around her waist, and looked at her with pure fascination, asking himself for the countless time what it was about Naomi Clarke that had gotten under his skin.

Chapter 6
    T hey spent the afternoon sailing around the island, sipping juices, munching on island delicacies and absorbing each other’s company. There were several other couples aboard, and when the captain turned on the music the sailing turned into an onboard party. By the time they returned to the hotel they had been thoroughly entertained, were wobbly on their feet and totally enamored of each other.
    Naomi wasn’t sure if it was the breathtaking atmosphere, the warm rays of the sun, the enchanting lifestyle of the Caribbean, or if it was simply being with Brice that had her feeling as if she was floating on air. She could not remember feeling so close, so compatible with a man. They touched on so manysubjects, from politics to religion, and family, movies and music. They enjoyed and appreciated so much of the same things in life and were passionate about each of them. How she wished that she had not lied to him, that she had started this all off the right way. That was the only shadow hovering around her world of happiness.
    There had been so many times throughout the day that she wanted to tell him the truth. But she had no way of knowing how he would react. She couldn’t stand the idea of what he would think of her when she did. Best to just leave it alone, she continued to remind herself when the words were sliding up her throat and moving across her tongue. She didn’t want anything to mar the magical time they were having together.
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    They returned to the hotel exhausted but happy, laughing and talking the entire way back about the sights they’d seen throughout the day.
    â€œTired of me yet?” Brice asked as they entered the lobby of the hotel.
    She turned to look at him. “No. Why would you think that?”
    â€œGood. Because I want to spend the rest of the evening with you. I made dinner reservations in the hotel restaurant, and then we can see what happens.” His gaze held her in place. Her pulse throbbed in her ears.
    â€œI’d like that very much,” she managed to say.
    â€œThat’s the answer I was hoping for.”
    They crossed the lobby hand in hand and walked toward the elevators.
    â€œToo bad we’re on different sides of the hotel,” she said.
    â€œAnd why is that, pretty lady?”
    She turned to face him fully. “Makes it more difficult to tap on your door in the middle of the night.”
    His dark eyes explored her face. “Who says we have to wait until the middle of the night?” His voice lowered and stirred the cauldron of heat that had been simmering in her center all day.
    The elevator doors whooshed open and several people got off, laughing and talking, oblivious to the currents of tension that popped like downed electrical wires between Naomi and Brice.
    The door began to close. Naomi took his hand and pulled him inside just in time. He backed her up against the far wall, his hands skimming her curves while his lips played teasing games with her cheeks, her nose,