It was wrong to deceive her. Even more wrong to continue sleeping with her without revealing his identity.
His cock stirred at the thought of what they’d shared the night before. If he said he didn’t want a repeat performance, he would be lying. Again. Still.
“Damn.” He flopped back on the sand, eyes clenched against the bright morning sun. The sound of the surf should have relaxed him. Instead it reminded him of the minutes and hours ticking past. Minutes and hours with Penny. Minutes and hours he would never have again.
Did he really want to spend that time agonizing over something he could do nothing about? He’d made a solemn promise to his brother. Sure, he knew Brae would have no problem breaking a promise. But promises meant something to him, and despite his brother being a screw-up, he intended to honor that promise.
At least for a while. And that meant he had to continue deceiving Penny. But he would tell her. Eventually.
With a sigh, he got to his feet and jogged toward the beach access.
Maybe he was no better than Braedon. He wanted nothing more than to lock himself away with Penny, making love, and learning all he could about her. No matter what spin he put on it, the bottom line was he would still be lying to her by omission.
He paused on the patio and bent at the waist, taking deep, cleansing breaths. He didn’t know what to wish for: that the mess with Braedon be cleared up soon so they could both resume their lives, or that it continue indefinitely to allow him more time with Penny.
Penny rolled to her side at the sound of Braedon’s voice.
“Hey, kiddo, you planning to sleep all day?” He elbowed the bedroom door open wider and stepped into view, carrying a lap tray. “I’ve already gone for a run and showered.” He hefted the tray and smiled. “Hungry?”
Yawning, she nodded and sat up, scooting over to make room for him to sit beside her. “What’s all this?”
“I thought that was obvious.” He winked and handed her a napkin. “It’s breakfast.”
“There’s only one plate. Are we sharing?”
“Nope.” He brushed a kiss across the surprised O of her mouth and stood. “I already ate.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Maybe we can share breakfast in bed tomorrow.”
The heated gaze he sent her way had thoughts of food leaving her mind. “What’s wrong with sharing it today?”
He leaned to lave her nipples, then kissed each one before pulling the sheet up and tucking it beneath her armpits. “I already ate.” He smiled. “But I’ll definitely take a rain check.” He grabbed her toe through the sheet on his way out. “Get a move on! We’re burning daylight. We have things to do, places to see.”
She swallowed a bite of toast and washed it down with a quick sip of orange juice. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. Wear something casual, and comfortable shoes. We’re going to be doing a lot of walking.”
“Okay, but again, where are we going?”
“The aquarium,” he said, closing the door.
“The aquarium,” she muttered under her breath. “Great. I’ve finally found my sex drive and he wants to go look at fish with a bunch of schoolkids.”
She finished the scrambled eggs in record time and chugged the rest of the orange juice. Holding a piece of wheat toast between her teeth, she picked up her coffee mug and carried it into the bathroom with her.
She’d just been complaining to Braedon the other day that he never took her anywhere. Evidently, he’d listened. Even though the aquarium wasn’t at the top of her to-do list, Braedon was, so it looked as though she was going to the aquarium.
“I heard about this place on the news,” Penny told Ryan as they walked through the turnstile, “It hasn’t been open very long.” She took a deep breath and smiled up at him. “I love the way the ocean smells.”
He swallowed and tamped down the guilt he felt at the trusting smile she gave him. Instead, he leaned to nuzzle the side of her flowery smelling neck. “I love the way you smell,” he said, his nose buried in the fragrant hair by her ear.
She giggled and hugged his arm close, her breast pushing against his tense muscle. Stopping, she pointed. “Look! I read about that. It’s the dolphin habitat. There’s an observation cave where you can watch them swim underwater.”
“Okay, let’s start there.” Dolphins were a safe thing. There would probably be a bunch of schoolkids around.
The cave was noticeably cool and smelled of humidity, fish, and stale popcorn. Once his eyes adjusted, he saw they were alone in the semidarkness with nothing but the blue glow from the dolphin tank to light their way.
So much for children acting as a buffer to his baser instincts.
Penny snuggled closer, so close he could feel her rigid nipple against his arm.
“Brr!” She did a delicate little shiver that made his body clench. “It’s cold in here. Oh, look!” Yanking on his arm, she dragged him deeper into the darkness. “Look how fast they swim!”
She moved in front of him, wrapping his arms securely around her, the weight of her breasts against his forearms.
He stood ramrod straight, willing his traitorous body not to react to her closeness. It wasn’t listening.
He swallowed a groan when she twisted to look up at him, the action causing her sweet bottom to rub in a very disturbing way against him.
“Thank you for thinking of this,” she half-whispered. “I was beginning to feel as though you didn’t want to be seen in public with me.” At his frown, she hurried on. “We never go anywhere anymore. I didn’t want to fight about it, but I appreciate you taking the initiative and planning this.” She brushed a kiss on the tip of his chin, the sensation zinging through to his extremities. “I love you.”
He swallowed and forced his gaze to the tank, and watched the cavorting dolphins. Anything was better than looking at the expectation in her green eyes. He wasn’t stupid. He knew she was expecting him to return the declaration of love. Although he was already a liar by omission, he could not force the verbal lie past his lips. Damn Braedon for putting him in such an awkward predicament.
“I do, you know.” She snuggled back against him. Was she deliberately rubbing his erection? “I also know you love me, too.” Her laugh seemed sad. “I know you told me you wouldn’t have proposed if you didn’t love me, but sometimes it’s nice to actually hear the words, you know?” Her eyes wide, she glanced back at him. “Not that I’m trying to force you to say anything you’re not ready to say. I understand. And I can wait until you feel comfortable enough to say the words. No matter how long it takes.” Her cool lips brushed against his chin again. “I know you don’t like to hear me say it too much, but I do love you.”
Okay, that settled it. His brother was a total asshole. He had a hot woman who loved him completely, unconditionally, and he’d made her feel guilty to even tell him she loved him. Unfucking-believable.
Penny rubbed her head against his chest, occasionally pressing her bottom suggestively against his rock hard erection.
While he stood, trying to process her body language, she tucked one of his hands under her tank top, pushing on his wrist until his fingers closed around her bare breast. How could he have not noticed she was braless? His cock surged with excitement.
Gradually, they backed deeper into the shadows. To the side of the tank, the rough faux rock jutted out to form a small bench. When the back of his knees touched it, he sat, pulling Penny onto his lap.
As soon as he confirmed they were still alone, he took her mouth, his kiss revealing his pent-up desire, his hands beneath her top, kneading her breasts in time to the movement of his tongue.