Lana turned her head to see the lei po’o of exquisite pink and yellow frangipani they’d placed on her head and how it contrasted with her dark hair. Not to mention the to-die-for scent that she would never get enough of. Matching flower Kupe’e encircled her wrists and ankles, and a necklace of polished nuts hung about her shoulders. The ti leaf skirt hung low on her hips and ended at her knees. A flesh-toned bikini-style top made it look as if her breasts were naked.

  The ladies then shooed her down an outdoor pathway through an arched ceiling of palm fronds. Grant waited for her at the end. He had changed his clothes as well, and now stood shirtless, barefoot and wearing a decorated loincloth. Lana’s mouth dried up when she saw him. It made her realize that she hadn’t really seen him without his clothes on. Last night the lights had been low, and then they’d been under the covers.

  His hair was loose and he also wore a lei po’o, but his seemed more masculine, made of forest greens. His shoulders were broad and strong. Her gaze hungrily traveled over his muscled chest, dusted with just enough hair, down to his hips. Her belly fluttered when she saw the ridges on either side of his hips disappear beneath his loincloth. Good Lord, his legs were fantastic, his thighs muscled and bulging as he shifted feet, his rough thigh scar didn’t detract from his deliciousness. Even his calves were beautiful. He was heart stopping, and right about now, if they’d been anywhere but here, she’d have crawled all over him.

  Instead, Lana swallowed and put on her best sexy saunter, swayed her hips and let the spirit take her. Perhaps she could get him as turned on for her as she was for him, building the sexual tension until...well, just until. Later.

  “C’mere, gorgeous.” Grant wrapped her in a big hug, his hands sliding over her bare back and pulling her flush so they were skin to skin.

  There was no mistaking the bulge that pushed against her, which only skyrocketed her arousal. Tipping her head back she gazed up into his eyes and placed a hand on his cheek. She tugged him down so that their lips met in a gentle kiss, which, she knew, could erupt at any moment into volcanic explosion.

  Sliding her arms around his neck she lifted her head enough so that she was able to murmur against him. “This has been the best day of my life. I hope it has for you, too.”

  Grant led her along a path resplendent with tropical foliage, towering palm trees and the sweet scent of flowers. It was pure heaven.

  “It’s almost time for the call-to-feast celebration.”

  “What’s that?” Lana asked, snuggling in tighter to him.

  “It’s the nightly ceremonial torch lighting. Have you ever seen the movie Blue Hawaii with Elvis Presley? They show it in that movie.”

  “No, I haven’t. But I guess I’ll be looking for it when I get home.”

  “An old resort on Kauai did it nightly until a hurricane devastated the place back in the 1990s. They replicate the event here. First we’ll be called to gather by the blowing of a conch shell. And then a runner goes through the grounds, swinging a flame at the end of a rope so that it hits each torch on the ground, lighting it. It’s quite spectacular.”

  “It sounds—oh! Is that what you mean?”

  A low-pitched, haunting keen filled the air, sending shivers down Lana’s spine.

  “Yes. Quite lovely, isn’t it.”

  “It gives me goose bumps. Are we close? I don’t want to miss the torch lighting.”

  Grant chuckled and squeezed her shoulders. “Just up ahead now.”

  They emerged from the tropical tunnel of flowers to stand in front of a low wall made of stone or coral. A few people dressed similarly to them had gathered there, some holding wineglasses and others coconuts with straws. Lana was enraptured by the view of the darkened palm grove beyond the wall and the lagoon in front of them. Everything was hushed, making Lana hold her breath. Even the night birds were still.

  “Stand in front of me,” Grant instructed, his voice a whisper. She stood with her knees pressed against the wall and Grant sandwiching her from behind. He slipped his arms around her waist, his fingers softly brushing the skin on her stomach. Lana curled her fingers around his forearm and hugged him tighter, anxiously waiting for the show to begin.

  The conch shell blew again and then a male voice shouted out a chant. Moments later the night air was filled with the throbbing beat of Hawaiian drums. Lana’s heart nearly burst with emotion at the sight before her. A Hawaiian man dressed in traditional clothes emerged, swinging a ball of fire on the end of a rope. Then he started to run in time with the beat of the drums. On every second swing he somehow managed to hit one of the torches on the ground. Each burst into flame as he continued to the next one and the next, sprinting through the breathtaking palm grove until all the torches were lit, creating an ethereal sight.

  “Oh, Grant. First a night at your beautiful house, then a day exploring the island, a helicopter ride, then the sunset and now this.” Lana turned in his arms. “I’ve never been shown a better time. I swear, I’ll never forget this as long as I live.”

  He smiled, showing a dimple on his left cheek she hadn’t noticed before, and her heart melted. Lana reached up and pushed her fingers through his hair, guiding his head down to her, desperate to feel his lips on hers, but he pulled back.

  “Easy now, there’ll be time for that later, trust me. Now we must find our seats. Whilst you were being readied, I made sure we had a prime table.”

  Lana blinked and shook her head, bringing herself back to the present. Yes, they had all night. But the night started now.

  They followed the other guests down a sandy path and emerged onto a wide beach. The sun had long since set, and the shoreline was scattered with torches flickering in the evening breeze off the sea. Delicious aromas wafted around them, making Lana’s mouth water. The bakery treats were a distant memory, and she was famished.

  They followed a gorgeous young woman with a body to die for to their knee-high table set before the stage. Covered in kappa cloth, its surface was decorated by tropical flowers and leaves, with candles tucked among them. Colorful cushions were arranged on a blanket over the sand for them to sit on. Lana curled her legs under her and leaned against the handy backrest. Grant settled beside her and pulled her close. It was quite cozy.

  “I’m guessing you’ve never been to a luau before, ya?”

  Lana smiled, still unaccustomed to his South African accent, and shook her head. “No, I haven’t. This is my first trip to Hawaii.”

  “Then you are in for a treat.” He reached for the pitcher on the table in front of them and filled her glass. “This is one of the better luaus in the Hawaiian Islands—exclusive, private, discreet. And the food is top-notch.”

  “What do you mean ‘discreet’?” Lana inquired, but somehow she knew.

  His lips beside her ear and his breath fluttering her hair, he said, “Pretty much anything your heart desires can be attained here.”

  Lana sat up and looked around, taking in the groups of people scattered in front of the stage. She hadn’t really noticed how seductively everyone was dressed. Looking at the couples and groups, she could see the sexuality and romance oozing from them. The air was thick with anticipation. Surprisingly, it didn’t make her feel self-conscious in the least, only more aroused.

  The first course arrived and Grant explained the dishes laid out before them. She gave up trying to remember all the different foods but made sure to taste everything. There was nothing, except perhaps the poi, that she wasn’t fussy on.

  The entertainment on stage was traditional and quite beautiful. Lana loved the drums and the voices and the dancers. The fire dance was stunning, and by the time it was over she was sated, had a nice buzz from the mai tais and was very content curled up next to Grant.

  “Don’t get too comfortable yet, my lovely. The best part is yet to come.”

  Before Lana could ask what he meant, a handsome Polynesian man came and took her hand. Grant helped push her to her feet and when she turned to him he nodded his head to the stage.

  “Go on then. Show me what you’ve got.” His smile was contagious and she returned it having no idea what lay in store for her.

  She let herself be led to the stage, along with a few other women dressed like she was. A lovely woman, tanned and lean, stood before them in an elaborate Hawaiian dress. Her skirt was made from strands of shells that hung to her knees, and two highly polished coconut shells, held together with the thinnest of strings, covered her breasts. She wore an elaborate spray of feathers on her head. When she did a graceful turn before them, Lana saw a matching spray of feathers in the center of the waistband right over her bottom. Her black hair hung to her hips and when she was facing the women once again, her beautiful smile was infectious.

  “Now, ladies, please watch me and I will teach you a few simple moves so you can dance for your man.”

  Lana’s heart leaped to her throat. She was never a great dancer, but damn if she wasn’t going to give this a good old college try. The drums started, and the thumping, rhythmic beat got into her blood. She was dumbstruck watching the seductive, hypnotic moves of their instructor. The hula dance was beautiful, sensual and fluid. Lana found herself completely enjoying this experience, trying her best to be as graceful as their teacher.

  Then it was their turn to show their stuff.

  * * *

  GRANT WAS VERY pleased with the day. Lana appeared to love everything they’d done and now, with her up on stage, he couldn’t wait to see how she moved. He was lucky that Dan, his friend and owner of Sunset Tours, had had a helicopter available to whisk them to the Big Island. And then having space at Paradise Luau was even better.

  He kept his eyes on the stage, watching all the ladies practice, smiling to see how happy Lana was. He took a deep breath. Tonight they’d go to his house on this island. She would be the first woman, other than his ex-wife, to see it. Amanda had tried to get his island homes in the divorce settlement, but no way was he going to allow that. She’d hated Hawaii, complained every time they went that she’d rather be anywhere else. But she’d tried to get the houses in the settlement because she knew how much he loved them. He’d never imagined when they first married that she could be so spiteful, but he’d learned quickly. The only thing he could thank her for was his wariness around other women.

  But seeing Lana laughing and swinging her hips on the stage...well, maybe not all women had an agenda. He picked up his glass and tossed back the mai tai in one big gulp. Then reached for the pitcher to fill up both their glasses. Lana seemed genuine, down-to-earth, and her reaction to the sunset helicopter ride had surprised him. She seemed able to live in the moment.

  The drums’ rising beat echoed under the banyan leaves. The ladies lined up across the stage, and his gaze met Lana’s. Her face was flushed and her violet eyes sparkled in the flickering light. Her hands hung by her sides as she slowly swayed her hips. Grant wondered if she realized she was doing it or was just feeling the music, allowing it to get inside her as much as it did him. She blew him a kiss and winked. That spunky little gesture made his heart jump, which surprised the hell out of him.

  This woman was electric and he couldn’t wait to see her move in time with the drums.

  She didn’t break eye contact with him as she raised her arms in perfect time with the other women. She lifted her heels, bent her knees, made her hips swing while she moved her arms and fingertips in a gentle wave. Turning and really shaking her hips, she glanced over her shoulder before facing him again. Her breasts jiggled in the skimpy top and her belly was perfection.

  Grant touched his lips with his tongue, remembering how good she’d tasted last night. Her sensual dance turned him on in no time, his cock hardening with the promise of what was to come. He dropped a hand into his lap to keep himself from potential exposure, the whole time not looking away from Lana.

  She reached her arms in front of her and turned her hands palms up, using her fingers to beckon him before turning, working her hips so her ass shook deliciously under the skirt, and then faced him again. The crescendo of drums ended abruptly and silence filled the grounds before applause erupted around him.

  When she finally descended the steps he stood to greet her. Her eyes dropped to his groin and she smiled. He no longer cared—all he could think about was getting her back to his house so they could make love.

  “What did you think?” Her excitement was contagious.

  “You were fantastic. I couldn’t look away.” Pulling her down, they tumbled onto the pillows. He pressed his hips against her so she could tell how turned on he was before sealing his lips over hers.

  She kissed him back, her arms around his neck holding him tight. Grant raised his head and looked at her. “Let’s get out of here.”

  She nodded, her eyelids heavy with passion. “But where can we go?”

  “I have a surprise for you.”

  “Oh, Grant. Haven’t you given me enough surprises today? This is getting too much, it’s overwhelming.”

  “Are you complaining?” He smirked, stood and reached for her hand to help her up.

  She shook her head, catching the exotic scent of the flowers in her hair. “Not at all, it’s just you’re giving me so much. How can I thank you?”

  “Didn’t you ask me that earlier?” He led her back to their car. “But you’re not getting out of that outfit, until later of course. I want you to dance for me again.”

  7

  “MY, MY, MY. Whose house is this?” Lana was dumbstruck. It seemed she was traveling in the rich-folk stratosphere. “This is absolutely stunning.”

  Grant walked across the highly polished wood floor to drop the bag with their clothing on a sand-colored chair. Clearly this home had been professionally decorated. Either that or the owner had impeccable taste.

  “Do you like it?” Grant asked as he approached her.

  “Yes! It’s gorgeous.” She turned to look out the tall, vast windows that ran the length of the room. “This isn’t on the beach though, is it?”

  “No, we’re up the mountain a bit. On one of the coffee plantations. In fact, the oldest one.”

  She turned to face Grant. He’d come up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. “So we get to spend the night here and have great coffee in the morning again, eh?”

  He laughed.

  “That’s the first Canadian-ism I’ve heard you say. ‘Eh.’”

  “Well no different than your South African twang, ‘whilst’ this and ‘ya’ that.” She giggled, liking how they seemed to be able to tease each other. “But I like it. It’s sexy.”

  “Ah, I see. So whilst I’m making love to you, I should speak so you can hear my South African accent, ya?”

  “Most definitely!” Lana slipped out of his arms and walked to the windows, purposefully swaying her hips as she searched for a sliding door. “Here we go...oh my God, even in the dark the view is something else.”

  “You can’t see anything, just the lights of the houses in town below.”

  “I know, but the way they twinkle, and the moon over the water, and look—” she gasped and pointed “—there’s a ship out there, too.”

  “We get lots of cruise ships through here.”

  Lana shivered when Grant’s warm hands gently grasped her shoulders. He massaged her softly and ran his fingers along the tops of her shoulders up her neck, then back down to grasp her upper arms. He turned her until they stood face-to-face.

  “Haven’t we done enough sightseeing for one day?” Grant inquired, and she was caught in the chocolaty softness of his gaze.

  Lana nodded and swallowed. Her stomach tumbled over itself, and even though they’d spent the day together grabbing kisses and touches whenever they could, things were about to get much more serious.

  “Do you know your way around this house? Maybe you can find a bedroom.”

  “Ya, I do.” Grant lifted her into his arms. “But I have a much better place in mind.”

  Lana wound her arm around his shoulder and snuggled into his chest. Still in their little costumes, their bare flesh touched and she sighed as his dusting of hair tickled her. In his arms she felt safer than she ever had in all her life.

  She didn’t care where he was taking her, as long as they were together. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder, enjoying being wrapped up in his arms. She heard the whisper of a sliding door but she kept her eyes closed until he instructed her to open them. She did and gasped.

  “Oh, it’s an infinity pool!”

  Grant let her legs go, holding her tight to his chest, her toes dangling next to him. She kept her arms wrapped around his neck, looking up into his eyes. “Another beautiful house. You must know so many people to have pulled off a day like today.”

  He smiled and the dimple deepened in his cheek. “I have my connections.” He lowered his head to her and she watched him descend. When their lips touched, her eyelids fluttered closed and she lost herself in the sensation of their kiss. She opened her mouth to him, her tongue touching his. Unable to deny the arousal roaring through her she pulled his head roughly down to her, tighter, not wanting him stop.

  Grant let her slide down his body slowly, her breasts against his chest, her hips against his, his cock pressing her belly until her toes touched the floor. His large hand slid down her back and grasped her ass, pulling her snug to him. She moaned into his mouth and they stood as if fused.

  His hands seemed to be everywhere on her at once. The bikini top fell away and excitement trilled through her when her breasts finally came in full contact to his chest. He pushed down the skirt, which dropped with a rustle of leaves around her ankles. His mouth never left hers. She hooked her thumbs through the waist of his loincloth, then slid her hands around to the front and dipped them beneath the fabric.