"Yes, sorry. I drifted," she answered.

His lips brushed her head, then he released her and walked over to his chair. "My apologies, kitchen issues."

"Is everything okay?"

"An irate customer." He shrugged. "We ran out of the catch of the day. I went and talked to him." He checked his watch. "Let's eat and go catch the sunset."

Adam kept the conversation light while they ate. She learned about the Aquilani charities helping battered women and troubled teens. He told her about the investment he, Jason, Forrest, and now Blake put into the Vineyard to provide activities for the children on the island, especially during the quiet season when the population was about fifteen thousand or less. She learned a little about his life in Italy, his condo in Rome and house in Verona. He even shared childhood stories of him and his parents. He kept her laughing.

As they left the restaurant for the beach, he took her to the kitchen to say goodbye to Guillermo, who hugged her tightly and made her promise she would come back again. Feeling giddy from the food and the company, Lily promised to return.

"Let's go catch the sunset," Adam whispered. She tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and allowed her body to fall to the rhythm of his steps to the beach. Their contact was broken momentarily for her to remove her strappy heels.

The cool sand floated between her bare feet. She followed Adam and sat on the cooling dunes. A comfortable silence settled between them as they watched the seagulls walking along the sh.o.r.eline. The sandcastles slowly dissolved, the waves washing away all signs of the children's efforts that day, as shadows crept over the land. A few beachgoers smiled at them. Some locals waved at Adam but left him alone.

"I've been to many places, but the sunset here is one of the best I've ever seen." His arm came to rest on her shoulder and pulled her closer to him.

Lily focused her eyes on the magenta sky. The sun was setting on the horizon, painting the water with the reflection of brilliant pink and orange that spread across the sky. The silence continued, but that was okay. Mesmerized by the beauty of the scene, she nestled a little closer to Adam and gazed at the place where the sun went down.

"Breathtaking, isn't it?"

The words, heavy with s.e.xual desire, ate through her like a wildfire in a desert. The yearning inside her burst forth.

"Yes, very much."

But it was autumn, the ocean breeze was cool, making her shiver.

"Let's go home," he whispered huskily in her ear. As he came to his feet, with arms extended he gently pulled her up with him.

His arms wrapped around her comfortably, sending sparks flying, heart fluttering, emotions building. Lily heard the soft whisper of his breath as he exhaled. Before she could say anything, Adam tilted his head down and kissed her, sending a shiver down her spine.

"I never agreed to the new rule," she said once their lips were finally disconnected.

He shook his head, reaffirming he was going to stick to this no-s.e.x nonsense. His arm slid along her back to guide her closer and held her to his heart. His chin pressed gently on top of her head. "I discovered something tonight," he said in a low rough voice.

"What's that?"

"I'm liking you a lot more than I originally planned."

His steady, strong, powerful heartbeat drummed in her ear. Lily closed her eyes and lost herself in the moment. Her fears over his lifestyle and career choice still lurked in her conscience, but she knew she needed to stop being afraid of what could go wrong and focus on what could go right.

Chapter Sixteen.

"Boys, if you like her, if she makes you happy, and if you feel like you know her, don't let her go."

Nicholas Sparks Adam's stomach felt like a whirlpool ready to engulf him with no remorse. He couldn't breathe, the oxygen suffocating his lungs.

"No!" he screamed the word 'no' in Portuguese, the weight of his heart bringing him to his knees. Black tears fell easily from his eyes and rolled down his cheeks as he watched the light fade from her eyes. Her soul slipped through his fingers as her body lay there stiff.

He examined the woman's lifeless features, her lifestyle etched harsh on her face. She was a prost.i.tute, a drug addict. No one would miss her, not her pimp or her clients. Except for him; she gave him life. He loved her. Even with all of her flaws.

With trembling hands, he brushed the matted black mane away from her face and swiped his hand over her eyes. His gaze lingered on the empty syringe on the floor, a drop of blood still trickling from her vein. Inches from her body lay what finally ended her life. He reached over and gripped the cold metal. Young adolescent fingers wrapped around the gun as he rose to his feet, and headed for his fate.

The door creaked open. He spotted his target right away. There on the bed, waiting to be hunted. Blinded by fury, he took aim. With the strength of a man, his eight-year-old body held the semi-automatic pistol as steady as possible. His finger pulled the trigger and bullets spat relentlessly, one after another.

As his body fell further into the abyss, a soft feminine voice, like the harmony of angels, called out to him. He recognized the sweet sound right away. It breathed life into him. Lily. But it wasn't enough to pull him free. He closed his eyes and gave himself away to the darkness. Her voice grew stronger, nearer. Soft hands touched his naked arms; not the thin skinny limbs of him as a child, but of him as a man.

He tried to emerge from the dream, but his head was filled with images. Lily's smile, her face in the throes of pa.s.sion, his parents and a baby wrapped in a wool towel with a ma.s.s of dark hair similar to his. He couldn't tell if it was a boy or girl; it didn't matter. It was his child. He walked over to pick it up. The more steps he took, the further it moved out of his reach. Adam blinked and rushed his strides as images of the black curls faded away.

He came to a halt, paralyzed to the spot, a menacing aura holding him in a tightening grip. He spotted the infant. Brown trusting eyes glanced at him. Then they turned to look into the face of a dark-haired man. A knot formed in Adam's throat. He tried to move forward, to run and s.n.a.t.c.h the child to safety, but his feet would not allow him to do so. He opened his mouth to speak, to beg, and spare a life, but terror sucked the breath from his mouth and silenced his scream. Adam stood, ice-cold, as the man stroked the baby's arm, the end of a syringe shining in his hand.

A sudden, sickening sensation ran through his body.

f.u.c.k!

Not another addicted baby. He needed to stop it. He fought against his weight, but heaviness kept him deathly still.

"Adam. Adam." Lily's voice was subtly sensual and smooth, a velvety whisper.

He struggled to open his eyes.

"Adam." Her voice had a little more urgency this time.

He woke up with a gasp, covered in sweat, and breathing heavily. His mind reeling.

s.h.i.t!

He closed his eyes momentarily and grabbed hold of his consciousness. When he opened them again, Lily was sitting by his side, her short hair tousled from the night. The thin straps of the little thing she slept in slipped off her slim shoulders. Her face masked with concern. The sight caused his heart to stop. "Liliana," he said when he was sure his voice would not shake. "Did I hurt you? The baby?"

She shook her head, but grief reflected in her big brown eyes. He knew she wanted to break his exterior defenses. He felt it last night for the first time. He wasn't ready for that, and G.o.d d.a.m.n it, she needed to understand that.

He swung his feet to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed. Sunlight seeping through the curtains touched his face, as Lily's hands traced down his back and found the curve of his waist. She pressed her face against him. Her lips followed; sweet and tender, kissing away every second of the memories that flooded his mind like waves of destruction.

"Liliana." It wasn't fair to take from her. Not when he couldn't show her everything that he was. Still, he sat there and got lost in the feel of her lips for what seemed like the millionth time.

"Are you going to tell me what that was about?"

"No."

A long sigh came from her lips. Her breath caressed his skin. "You're not ready." Her hands moved to his shoulders and slowly started to work out the kinks. "But when you are, you will find out I'm a big girl." She let out a nervous chuckle. "I can handle things."

His hand moved to hers and held it still. "Like unexpectedly getting knocked up."

She laughed.

A little laughter, like the sun breaking through stormy clouds; it illuminated the darkness inside him. He edged over a little more so he could face her. "You're sure I didn't hurt you?"

Lily scanned Adam's face, his eyebrows drawn together. Beautiful and haunting, yet full of sadness and pain. She was seeing the man behind the cool, laid-back exterior for the very first time. He was a puzzle and just maybe with some broken pieces. Still, she was permanently in love with him, always and forever, with all of the secrets and smiles. Everything. She had fallen hard and just wanted him. Her fingers stroked the scar above his left eyebrow, the first time she allowed herself to touch one of his perfect imperfections.

"Not physically, you didn't." Emotionally, her heart had been ripped out of her chest as she sat there watching Adam struggle to emerge from whatever dark hole he had fallen into. This side of him was new to her, it shook her a bit. Not fear; this much she knew. But a confirmation in so many ways that they were strangers. "How did you get this scar?"

"Playing ftbol." He rose from the bed and moved across the room. The hardwood echoed his pressured steps. His long arms leaned against the window sill on the opposite side of the room. The muscles on his back turned rigid, shutting her out once again. "I'm going gliding," he announced over his shoulder.

He meant plane-gliding, another one of his extreme sports, cheating death each time. He was Superman and life was his stage.

"I can think of better ways to release tension."

He turned and stared at her, long and hard, as if contemplating her invitation, before his lips cracked into a genuine smile. "Don't you have to meet with Minka and the others?"

"I can push it back." She shrugged. "Say three hours."

He laughed and Lily saw some of the tension leaving his body. She sank on the plush mattress, inviting him to come join her. After a slight hesitation, several long strides brought him to her side of the bed.

"I'd need more than three hours."

"You have that much tension?" she questioned with a brow raised.

He nodded. "A full load." His eyes were serious, as was his tone.

"Good thing I'm around to help you release."

His hands found her hips and pulled her to the edge of the bed. Her skin bristled at his touch. Needing to be closer, Lily hoisted herself to a full sitting position and clamped her thighs around his. Her fingers found the waist of his boxers briefs and slowly ran her hand over his crotch. He groaned.

"You want me," she whispered, and lowered her lips to tickle the fine hairs that cover his lower abdomen.

His muscles tightened under her touch. "Yes," he said low and husky. "But-"

"No buts."

He released a heavy breath then gently pushed her back on the bed. He stood still as his eyes took in every inch of her. Lily's hands found the hem of her delicate cotton nightie and inched it up high, exposing crystal pink hip-hugger lace panties.

His eyes darkened and dropped to her thighs. Under heavy lids, she watched him struggle to maintain control. Then his hand brushed her inner thigh, spreading her legs just a little wider. He stroked a thumb over the thin material, teasing her swollen flesh. Hypersensitive to his touch, every nerve in her body tingled with pleasure as her hips rocked in gentle motion.

"More," she begged.

But he pulled back and stepped out of her reach. Lily searched his face, his eyes burned with emptiness. A boiling fury swelled inside of her. She rose to her feet and walked up to him. Chest to chest, she glared at him.

"What's that about?"

"We agreed-" he began in that typical cool as a cuc.u.mber voice.

"No," she stopped him, her voice louder. This time she was the one who moved back and stepped out of his reach. Needing a moment to breathe, she gave him her back. After a second, she whipped around and peered at him. "You made that stupid rule, Adam. I didn't agree to it."

"What do you want, Liliana? You want me to f.u.c.k you to release my demons? You want to be a subst.i.tute?" The questions hung in the air. A look of great bitterness swept across his face. "Well, too f.u.c.king bad. You've never been that."

"Then talk to me."

Time stood still like never before.

"I can't." He walked past her and slammed the bathroom door behind him, leaving her standing there fuming.

Three hours later, Lily's whole being still seethed with anger. She slumped on to her chair, alongside Keely, Claire and Minka at West Chop, a steakhouse restaurant on the pier overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. After picking out the floral arrangement for the wedding, lunch had been suggested. Lily wasn't sure if she agreed or not, she just found herself sitting there and for once she wished she was anywhere else. All day, her mind had been preoccupied with thoughts of Adam.

"Earth to Lily," Claire said with a wave, flashing her colorful bohemian bracelets. "Whoo-hoo! Over here, honey."

"You're not sitting straight," Keely said gently.

Without looking at her friends, Lily ran her fingers over the rim of the teacup. She inhaled the ginger and citrus aroma of the tea. Although this one was not laced, it still made her think of Adam and his hot toddies. "So?"

"That means you're sad." That great observation came from none other than her BFF Minka.

"What's eating you, girlfriend?" Claire asked. "I thought all was well in Adam and Liliana land now."

She took an appraising look around the table, and then focused her gaze on Claire. "You grew up with Adam, right?"

"Technically, I grew up with Jason."

"I don't mean in the same house. I mean around them. You are that pain in the a.s.s little sister, right? No offense," Lily added.

"None taken." Claire shrugged. "That's how they all describe me." She took a sip of wine. "I am close to Adam but..." Her voice lingers. "He spends half his time in Europe."

Lily sat a little straighter. "What happened to him?"

Claire blinked. "What do you mean?"

"He..." She caught herself and looked at Claire, Keely and Minka. Concern filled their faces. They were her friends, but she didn't want to betray Adam. "Never mind." She brought her attention back to her tea.

"Have you ever Googled Adam?" Minka asked after a brief silence.

"No, why would I?" Lily asked without lifting her gaze from her tea.

"You Googled Jason," Minka continued.

Lily looked up then and smiled at the memories. "Yeah, but that's because I was being a concerned friend. And I was dying to see what he looked like. Total hotness by the way, but I've told you that like a million times."

Claire feigned choking on her food. Keely and Minka chuckled.

"And you know," Lily continued, "Adam and I were pure s.e.x."

"So let's look him up now," Keely suggested and started to reach for her phone.