Under the cover of moonlight, on a boat cruise sailing in the still clear water, two friends tumble together in the sheets. A night of intense passion passes but daylight comes too soon. For despite the solace and intimacy they find in each other's arms, their romance must remain a private affair.

She was a forbidden date to him because she was his best friend's little sister. Alexander had always found Emma more than compelling. It didn't help that her innocence and naivety made him overly protective of her.

The urge to claim her as his was more than he could bear. And when she confessed that she felt the same way and offered herself to him, it took every bit of his control not to claim her where she stood. Now that he had, he figured he wanted more. Only, he had to be content with what they had.

He should never have lingered for so long in her heart.

Sure, he was attractive and every lady's dream but, Emma felt more than attraction for him. Five years after graduating from high school had done nothing to quail her feelings.

In fact, he was more irresistible than ever and Emma knew she was undone when the chemistry between them got unbearable. He would never make the first move; he was too much of a loyal friend for that. But she had no qualms getting him out of his head and into her bed.

Alexander had built a company from the ground up. He had worked with his hands, gotten into fights, was even considered ruggedly dangerous and yet, his biggest challenge was keeping his hands off his best friend's sister. Worse still, she wants theirs to be a secret relationship, a private affair. It wasn't what he wanted but Emma got whatever she asked from him.

So, their relationship begins under the cover of moonlight doomed to remain there. Emma knows the backlash and criticism their relationship would get. The fear of how it would affect Alexander forces her to insist on a secret relationship. The risk is great and many times, they come dangerously close to being discovered. Her penchant for getting into trouble without meaning to acts as a catalyst for the discovery of their affair. When her brother realizes the truth, he is beyond furious and a fight ensues between him and Alexander.

Ever the loyal friend, Alexander steps back from his relationship with Emma with great difficulty. Annoyed with her brother's interference with something she had struggled to build, Emma takes matters into her own hands. Her efforts are met with Alexander's impenetrable wall of defense which prompts her to spiral into a dangerous phase.

He could handle almost anything Emma threw at him, but seeing her hanging on another man's arm and kissing him was the last straw. She belonged to him and him alone, loyalty be damned. Alexander and Emma finally take their relationship public and in no mincing words, tell everyone to step in line with it.