TONY: Slow Burn (Raging Fire Book 1) by Kallypso Masters (the false prince TXT) 📕

Carm’s stomach dropped into her pelvis, and she grew wet remembering that night—and all she could picture was him going down on her. “I was turned on—especially after our hike on the Ute Trail—even though I tried hard not to admit it to myself,” she said through a surprisingly constricted throat. “I’ve had some sleepless nights fantasizing about you.”

He smiled ever so briefly, then grew somber. “I can’t promise you anything beyond this week, Carm.”

“Who’s asking for anything more than that?”

He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again. Finally, he said, “If you’re okay with a vacation fling, then we’d better stop to get some condoms after dinner.”

She hadn’t brought any protection with her because she’d expected to spend the week alone. Thank goodness one of them was still thinking clearly. But she couldn’t help but taunt him a little. “What if this is the most incredible sex you’ve ever had, T.G. Will you be able to walk away after only a week?”

He swallowed hard. “That’s what I’m afraid of. I’ve never been able to maintain a relationship with a woman for very long, which is why I’ve been trying to ignore the chemistry between us for weeks now and have tried my best to keep my hands off you.”

Carmella had never met a more exasperating man in her life—but damn it all, he still captivated her. She wanted to see where this might lead. Perhaps they’d both be surprised. They’d gone from disliking each other to tolerance to being friends. They could take the next step to being lovers—even if only temporary lovers, if Tony would take that step with her.

If they were anywhere near as compatible as she thought they might be, she’d do her damnedest to be the most exciting lover he’d ever had. She didn’t delude herself. There’d been many women in his past that he could compare her to. She wanted this thing between them to last longer than a vacation fling.

“Let’s eat, T.G.” The relief on his face—as if she was being the sane one and putting an end to this discussion about having sex—was almost comical. “Then we can make that stop at the pharmacy.” His eyes opened wider in surprise.

If he didn’t change his mind tonight, she intended to have him in her bed within a few hours. At this point with Tony, the evening could go either way.

The evening sun made Carm’s skin glow in a way that made her even more beautiful, which Tony would have thought impossible. Or maybe that soul-shattering kiss accounted for the glow.

Tony was used to being the pursuer in relationships with other women. He’d held himself in check so many times with Carm that he figured she’d decided they wouldn’t get anywhere if she didn’t step up to the plate. That she’d initiated the kiss had been the biggest turn-on he’d had from a woman in a long time.

Then why did you fuck it up?

Tony had no clue. A sudden thought about not wanting to hurt her when they returned home had slammed on the brakes. Tony liked sex as much as the next guy but had only engaged in it when there were no strings attached. Not that Carm was trying to tie him up in knots of commitment, but she deserved that kind of relationship. Not one with someone who would hang around a while then move on.

As they continued toward the strip of restaurants, he was dogged by the fact that they’d go back to reality after a week. Could they still be friends if things fizzled out romantically? He liked spending time with Carm and didn’t want to return to merely tolerating each other when forced to attend joint family gatherings. He wanted their friendship to grow, not be destroyed by raging hormones. Could he give Carm what she needed to be happy beyond a fling this week?

Not when he was still trying to work out the aftermath of the drownings. He wouldn’t sleep with her—actually sleep—for fear of having a nightmare or something. But could he do casual sex with Carm and then return to his room down the hall? Was that fair to her?

“Here it is,” Carm announced when they came upon a restaurant with a colorful sign emblazoned with The Sea Sprite. The check-in area had at least twenty people standing or sitting around, and the hostess gave them a thirty-five-minute estimated wait time.

“Should we find another place?” Tony asked, hoping she’d say yes, because after that kiss, food was the last thing his body needed or wanted.

“I’d rather wait, if you don’t mind. There’s a line for a reason. My friend says their conch fritters and chowder are to die for. I’ve had my heart set on them since she told me about this place.”

“No worries.” He took the buzzer from the hostess and glanced around to find a place for Carm to sit, but most of the people seated were older than they were.

“Their pan-seared grouper is the best on Provo,” said a man behind them using the island’s nickname. Tony and Carm turned together to acknowledge the speaker and found a group of five men wearing T-shirts from fire departments in Illinois and Texas.

Tony introduced himself as a brother from Colorado. During the round of introductions and pleasantries that followed, Carm chimed in.

“I told Tony I always have at least one first responder in my dive classes. Are you guys here to scuba dive?”

Turned out they were indeed.

“Why don’t you guys join us?” a man named Ryan asked. “We can add two to our reservation, and you will probably get to eat quicker.”

So much for a quiet dinner for two. While Tony normally loved talking shop with his brothers, tonight he really wanted some romantic alone time with Carmella. But if they were seated faster, that could mean they might get back to the villa earlier.

Carm nodded her agreement to his silent question, and Tony accepted Ryan’s offer. Sure enough,