Marco swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "I don't think that would be a good idea."

She pressed back against him, dragging a groan from his chest. "Feels like it would be a very good idea. Please. Marco?"

A war erupted between his brain and his body. "Jesus, Aly." He bent his head, trying to think, and his lips found the stretch of skin where her neck sloped into her shoulder. He kissed her, once, twice, his tongue snaking out to taste the crisp lake water from her skin.

Alyssa inhaled and tilted her head to the side, inviting his exploration.

He couldn't resist. He licked and kissed up her neck until he reached the soft indentation beneath her ear. He sucked at her there until she was panting in his arms.

She reached back and grasped the material at his hip, using the leverage to pull them together. Marco let out a harsh breath at the sudden friction between his front and her rear. His grip slipped, one arm sliding up to rest under her breasts as he slid the other down to hold her low across the abdomen.

"Touch me," she whispered.

Oh, God, he had to. He spun them in the water so that they were facing away from shore, out over the broad expanse of the mountain lake. "Aly," he breathed.

"Please, Marco." She gripped his hip and brought him firmly against her again.

He gave in, thrusting forward as she pulled, pressing the hard length of his dick against the indent of her soft ass. He cupped her breast and sucked her earlobe into his mouth as the warm weight of her flesh filled his hand.

"Oh," she said, a soft, plaintive exhalation. She turned her face to his.

Goddamn if the desire shining from her eyes and shaping her lips wasn't the sexiest thing he'd ever seen. He could read what she wanted in her gaze, but he wasn't going to make her ask. Not when he wanted the same thing so badly.

One hand cradling her jaw, Marco lowered his mouth to hers. Their lips met softly, tentatively. Soft presses turned into nibbles as they pursued each other again and again. She turned in the circle of his arms, and this time he let her. She wrapped her whole body around him-arms around his neck, legs around his waist.

And Marco was gone.

Chapter Ten

Alyssa couldn't believe this was happening. Marco Vieri had kissed her, was still kissing her, and it was the most incredible moment of her life. Everything but them disappeared-the water, the people, the mountain, the blue sky. The world narrowed to the two of them and the feel of his soft lips and hard body against hers. He guided the kiss, silently asking her to open to him. She moaned as their tongues touched and swirled. God, he tasted so good, so much better than she'd imagined.

She pulled herself tighter around him, feeling like she could never be close enough. The firm ridge of his erection pressed and nudged between her legs, and soon Alyssa couldn't help but rub herself against him as they continued to kiss and nibble at each other's skin. As if his body wasn't an incredible enough turn-on, kissing Marco revealed an erotic soundtrack of small curses and heated declarations, panting breaths and rumbling groans. Each sound felt like a victory to her and made her want to extract more of them from him.

"Damn, Aly," he whispered as he tilted his face to the other side. He dove right back into kissing her, deeply and completely. One big hand tangled in her hair, the other slid down until it cupped her butt.

Alyssa rocked her hips into his hard length once, twice, more. Soon, Marco helped guide her movement with the firm grip of his hand on her bottom. The kissing stole her breath, but the friction was making her lose her mind. Slowly, a ball of energy gathered low in her stomach, an incredible pressure that found relief each time she rubbed against him.

He pulled back from their kiss but kept their faces touching, his eyes blazing into hers.

She gasped with every movement of their bodies, suddenly scared of what was about to happen. Power was moving through her, gathering an unstoppable momentum. She met Marco's gaze, trying to tell him, to warn him.

"God, Alyssa." He thrust against her, their movements confined by the buoyancy of the water and the others she knew were out there somewhere. "Hold on to me," he whispered, his hand leaving her hair and joining his other on her butt.

Her mouth dropped open and she held her breath, afraid she'd scream if she didn't. He pressed against her harder, faster, little movements concentrated exactly where she needed them. "Oh, Mar...co...I'm-"

His mouth came down on hers, hard and demanding. His tongue penetrated and her body detonated. She moaned into their kiss as sensation ripped through her in concentric circles of pure, hot bliss. She couldn't stop moving against him, greedy for the feeling to go on and on.

Marco groaned, and the sound captured her attention. She opened her eyes and found his face frozen in the most incredibly erotic expression. Locking her ankles more tightly around him, she pressed herself against him, hating the scraps of fabric separating their bodies but hopeful this was only the start of something beyond her wildest expectations.

"I want you," she whimpered, taking charge of the kiss this time.

His hands clamped down on her flesh as his lower body jerked against her. He groaned his release into their kiss, which was all passion and pleasure. She'd been with one other man in college, but nothing had prepared her for the ecstatic fulfillment of making love to Marco.

Did he think that's what this was? She didn't know, but surely the fact he wasn't fighting the chemistry between them anymore was a step in the right direction.

He stroked her hair as his kiss softened. She felt cherished, wanted, safe in his arms. He leaned his forehead against hers, his eyes closed, face relaxed. He was so beautiful.

And she loved him more than words could say.

She kissed his forehead. "Thank you," she whispered simply. "That was incredible."

He kissed her ear. "I'm speechless, Aly. 'Incredible' doesn't cut it."

She grinned. "Do you think anyone noticed we were out here so long?"

"I hope so," he said. "Maybe the guys will all take a hint now."

She scoffed. "What does that mean?"

"Only that they all suspect you're as great as I know you are. Come on, I'm starving now." He gave her a last kiss, grasped her hand, and led her through the deeper water back to shore.

Alyssa felt like she could've lit up a small city with her happiness. That things still felt normal and easy between them was everything she'd hoped.

He reached their towels first and tossed her shirt at her. "Put this on, will ya?"

She made a face at him. "I'm all wet."

He cocked an eyebrow at her, a smug smile on his face.The expression was sexy as hell, not that she was going to tell him that.

"I need to get something from the car. Be right back." He kissed her cheek, a quick brush of lips on skin that sent her heart flying.

She gently shook the sand out of her towel, glad the sun could explain away the heat suddenly infusing her cheeks, then dried off enough to slip the shirt on over her suit.