“I love this place,” she said, doing a little spin on the sidewalk. Jason laughed. “Seriously. I’ve never been anywhere. The ocean, the palm trees, the sun…I love it.”

“You’ve never been anywhere?”

She shook her head and made a little face. “No. My parents were the ones who travelled. I’ve always wanted to see different places, but it just didn’t happen.”

“I get sick of travelling.” His eyes danced though, as he took in her enjoyment. “But with you it’s fun again.”

“Where will we go for dinner?”

“The rooftop restaurant at the hotel is supposed to be good.” He took her hand as they strolled back toward the hotel. “And the view is spectacular.”

They went for a swim, a lazy, sexy swim, then showered together and changed for dinner. They were just sitting down at their table when Remi’s cell phone rang again.

“Kyle, I said I’d call you.”

She rolled her eyes apologetically at Jason, but he just laughed.

“Okay, so I wasn’t sick sick,” Kyle said. “But I still have to write that exam.”

“If you weren’t sick, why’d you miss it?”

A pause. “I was hungover.”

Oh, God. She met Jason’s eyes, which crinkled with amusement. She sighed. “Kyle.”

“I’m sorry, Rem, but we went out the night before…”

“When you should have been studying!”

“I did study! I swear I did. I was ready for the exam. I just went out for a while and a friend had some beer and…”

“Kyle. I can’t believe you want me to bail you out because you got drunk and slept through your exam.”

She caught Jason’s eye and he made a face at her that brought a smile despite the serious conversation.

“Remi! You have to! Please.”

She wavered. She sank her top teeth into her bottom lip and looked at Jason, whose face had grown serious. He slowly moved his head from side to side.

“What?” she mouthed at him, frowning a little.

“Don’t do it,” he said. “He needs to stand on his own two feet.”

Torn, she still hesitated.

“Remi?” Kyle said.

Jason shook his head again. “Remi, you have to let go,” he said.

“He’s just a teenager,” she whispered.

“What?” Kyle said. “Remi, come on.”

“He’ll never learn if you keep bailing him out.”

Who was he to tell her how to handle her family? He was nothing but a big kid himself, with no responsibility whatsoever. What the heck did he know about being a parent?

He watched her, though, head tilted thoughtfully, his steady eyes full of intelligence and concern. Hell. She felt pulled in two directions, her love for Kyle and guilt about not being there for him warring with the logic of what Jason was telling her. Finally she spoke into the phone.

“No. Sorry, Kyle. You’re old enough to be on your own at college, you either get yourself out of this or you face the consequences.” Her stomach clenched. Even though she knew it was the right thing to do, it was hard, gut-wrenchingly hard. Her insides cramped up.

“Good job,” Jason said when she hung up. She bit her lip and looked at him across the table.

“I hate that,” she said. “I know I have to do it, but…the stupid thing is, I’m the one who’s going to pay the consequences of the extra tuition for him to do the course again.”

“Make him pay it. Tell him to get a part-time job.”

She nodded. “Yeah. I guess he could. But I want him to do well at school.”

He shook his head, but smiled at her. “You love your brother and sister, don’t you?”

“Well, yeah.”

“And you like to be needed.”

She eyed him warily. “I suppose.”

“D’you ever think maybe you enable them by helping them out all the time?”

She frowned at him. “What are you saying?”

He lifted one big shoulder and turned his water goblet in his hands. “I’m just saying that you’re not doing them any favors by bailing them out. Kids have to grow up and be independent and deal with the consequences of their actions.”

“What do you know about it?” she snapped, stung by his words. “You’re not a parent.”

“Neither are you.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Not technically! But I’m responsible for my brother and sister…”

“Remi, they’re legally adults.”

She blinked at him.

“You don’t need to take on responsibility for them.”

“Yes, I do,” she whispered. “I love them. They’re my family.” She glared at him. “You don’t understand.”

“I have a family,” he said quietly. “I love my brothers. I’d do anything for them. I’ve fought for them when I had to. And just because I’m not a parent myself doesn’t mean I don’t know anything about growing up and learning how to take responsibility for my actions. I’m not always good at it, but I’m learning. I had to learn, when I was young, if I wanted to succeed in my career goals.”

She studied his face, the intensity in his expression, the blaze in his eyes. There was no questioning his dedication to his sport and all that he’d achieved and she supposed she’d never really thought much about what he’d had to do to get there. Her chest squeezed. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I guess I just didn’t like someone telling me how to deal with my family.”

“I’m sorry too, then,” he said. “For interfering. I care about you.”

She sucked briefly on her lower lip. “I know.”

“You’re going to be an awesome mother someday.”

She blinked at him and sat back in her chair. Her deepest, most secret wish, to someday be a mother with children of her own, was not something she was going to share with a guy she was having a fun little fling with. But his compliment pleased her and made her heart swell in her chest and her eyes sting a little. She shook her head and reached for her water goblet. “Maybe someday.” She gave him a bright smile. “Sorry for all the drama. This doesn’t happen all the time.”

“Uh…I beg to differ.”

She tipped her head to one side.

“The first night we met you used tae kwon do moves on me and took me down. Then the cops showed up at your place. Then your sister had a meltdown and you had to go home to her. Now your brother’s got a crisis. But at least your life’s never boring.”

She stared at him. Was he making a sarcastic joke? It didn’t appear so. She shivered. Her life was nothing but boring compared to his! What was he talking about!

“Let’s order,” he said.

The nighttime sex in the king-size bed was even better.

Jason knew now what Remi liked and didn’t worry about accidentally crushing her. Well, maybe just a bit. But now he knew what she needed. She was strong and feisty and she wasn’t looking for soft and gentle. Which was fine with him. He was a physical guy, always had been, and sex was his favorite sport. And thank God, it was Remi’s too, apparently.

They rolled across the bed together, mouths fused, bodies joined, sweating and panting and hearts hammering.

She reached for his cock, small hands closing around it, and her touch sent sizzles up his spine. His balls pulled up tight, ready to explode.

She squirmed against him, her little body all curvy and warm and rubbing against him as she moved down the bed, laying hot, wet little kisses over his chest, then his stomach. His abs quivered. Then she kissed his stomach below his navel, so sensitive, and he throbbed in her hands.

She made little moaning noises of pleasure as she combed her fingers through his pubic hair, then slid them down around and under his cock to stroke his balls. Delicate touches, making him groan and writhe.

She fisted his cock again in two hands and pulled, long firm strokes, just how he liked it, and when she bent her head he hissed out a breath. Her mouth on the head of his cock was like sweet heaven, hot wet heat and hungry suction. She swirled her tongue around and her teeth grazed the sensitive rim, making him jump.

“Fuck,” he groaned, sliding his hands into her hair. He held her head as she moved up and down on his shaft, her mouth sublime. “Remi. God, your mouth. I love your mouth.”