“You hacked before they gave you a license?” she asked with a wink.

“I can neither confirm nor deny that I made my first billion that way.”

She bit back a smile.

He knew she thought he was joking about making money that way, but in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t matter. The past was the past, and if corrupt governments lost millions that were going to go to war machines, he’d rather use that money for good.

“Did William know that when he hired you?”

Blake laughed at the thought of getting anything over on the founder of MI. “He did. In fact, he invented some of the technology that made it possible for me to... er, hack.”

“Wow.” She sipped on her glass of white wine and lay back against the netting at the bow of the boat. Her eyes closed.

He plucked the glass out of her grasp and set it safely away from them, then stretched out to enjoy the day. Surprisingly, she scooted closer to him, until he was able to wrap his arms around her.

They stayed that way for hours, sharing tidbits about their childhoods, their likes and dislikes, and life in general until the sun began to set.

“Both of my parents passed when I was in my early twenties—they drank themselves to death, which left Ravenswoodshire completely in my care—debt and all.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, and he knew that she meant it.

After the grilled ham and cheese debacle, he’d researched Ella’s past, shocking the hell out of himself when he found out the truth of her upbringing in a squalid section of the city, raised by a druggie aunt. He knew Ella’s parents were dead, killed in a house fire while she had been away at a friend’s house. She had been only five years old at the time, but since she hadn’t shared that, he wasn’t about to push her for information.

Everything in due time, he reminded himself.

“Thank you.”

“Do you have any other family?”

“Cousins who want the estate and title to pass to them should I not produce an heir,” he said. “Funny thing is, I actually want children, but not for a legacy. I want a family.”

“I do, too. It’s no fun being an only child,” she said, and then cleared her throat, as if the conversation had turned serious. “You have a real title?”

“Baron, but it’s not really used anymore.”

“I was a queen once,” she said.

“Really?”

She nodded. “Yes. I was crowned Little Miss Peanut Queen when I was four.”

“A most deserved honor, I’m sure.”

Elbowing him in the ribs, she said, “You’re just jealous because I got to wear a crown.”

“You may be on to something.”

She sighed, settling down against him. He tucked the blanket more firmly around them both, watching as dolphins jumped ahead of them.

“Today was wonderful, Blake. I want you to know that.”

“There can be more days like this,” he said slowly. “If you want to spend more time with me.”

She glanced up at him. “I think I’d like that.”

***

The next day, Ella lay on her stomach, enjoying the private, outdoor massage she’d scheduled. The ocean roared in the background, the wind blowing a warm breeze while gauzy, white drapes fluttered.

Strong hands rubbed the tension straight out of her upper back. Tension that was completely Blake’s fault.

She was out of her mind. Not only was she having an affair with the man, but she was also going out with him on planned excursions without being blackmailed into it.

And she had enjoyed every single minute of it. Except she felt so guilty. He had shared so much, while she had shared so little about herself.

Then again, wouldn’t he, as the CTO already know everything about her? She hadn’t lied on her application about where she was from, but then again, she’d worked very hard to never return to her old life.

In high school and college, she’d worked her tail off for her grades and to keep food on the table. That left little time for dates or parties, and the very few men she let into her life were short term. They were never allowed too close to her. Ever.

She had goals, and no one would keep them from reaching them.

“Relax, miss,” the masseuse murmured for what had to be the third time.

Ella winced before taking a deep, relaxing breath.

“Better. Keep take deep breaths,” the woman encouraged.

After a moment, Ella let her mind wander again, taking her back to when she first arrived at MI as the main receptionist in the lobby. She’d worked her way up from that position to become executive administrative assistant to Drew, earning a living that never in her wildest dreams could she imagine.

Suddenly, the hands on her body seemed to grow stronger, hitting her in all the right places. She let out a contented hum.

Those magic hands traveled lower, until they cupped her butt for a moment, then they were gliding up the towel, touching her inner thighs. She rose up, twisting her body and ready to scream... until she saw the man standing there.

“Blake,” she breathed.

He wore nothing, not a stich of clothing. Looking like a pagan god, he was all golden-skinned and muscled. His penis was fully erect, a drop of pearl liquid on the end tempting her to taste.

Except they were out in the open.

“We can’t.”

“I’ll stop, if that’s what you want, but no one can see us. No one will disturb us either,” he said.

The beach was private and the tent shielded them from the view of the resort, but still the—

“I paid the masseuse to take a very long break.” His fingers dipped between her thighs, finding the heat of her. She gasped, parting her legs. “I’ve thought of everything, love.”

He teased her with each pass of his fingers, dipping inside to find her wet for him. While his fingers played, he began to nibble on her shoulders, kissing his way down her back while his other hand touched her everywhere. It felt as though she was drowning in a sensation of desire like she’d never felt before.

“Blake.”

“I missed you, Ella. Breakfast wasn’t enough for me,” he said. “I need you. Say yes.”

She let out a moan. “Yes. Yes.”

He stroked her clit, sending her higher and higher, until she thought her body would fall apart into a billion pieces.

The rip of foil sounded in the distance, and then he was pulling her to the edge of the table, lifting the towel, and spreading her legs. Her toes sank into the sand, even as the large head of him began to work its way inside her.

Inch by inch, he pushed his thick cock in, making her claw at the sheet below her. His hands gripped her hips, holding her still for his erotic invasion until he was so deep that she could practically taste him.

His hand moved from her hips, reaching around her to cup her breasts as he began to move. He began to whisper how pretty she looked taking his cock, how damn good she felt squeezing him... that she was the only woman he’d ever wanted like this.

It was pure decadence to be made love to like this, out in the open and under the sun.

His hips moved lazily, as if he had all the time in the world to hold her like this, to take his fill of her, and make her crave him.

The table rocked, her towel fell away, and she knew what a picture they made. Her facedown on the table, fully nude, while he stood behind her, plunging and stroking, his lickable body on display.

“Rub yourself,” he commanded.

Letting go of the sheet, she slipped her hand down, placed two fingers on her swollen, wet clit, and began to touch herself. Unlike before on those long, lonely nights, she didn’t have to pretend it was a real, hot-blooded man inside of her. She didn’t have to pretend that the lips on her skin, skating down her back as he bent over her, were real.

He was real.

He was hard.

And he was about to make her come.

Long fingers pinched at her sensitive nipples while his hips drove his cock deeper and deeper. She spread her legs wider, wanting more. Needing more.